Tonya is a global intersectional leader with 35-years of experience

as a community organizer and movement maker. She is the

President & CEO of Lovelace Consulting Services, Inc. (LCSI), an

independent consulting firm that provides high-level consulting,

needs assessment, facilitation, coaching, technical assistance, and

training to individuals, organizations, and systems seeking social,

political, and professional transformation. LCSI is dedicated to

creating inclusive policies and environments, providing vital support

to those frequently overlooked. Current and recent clients include Global Men Engage,

Safe Sisters Circle, North American Men Engage Network (NAMEN), Black Women’s

Blueprint, and Teaneck Film Festival.

Tonya has spent 25 of those years working in the nonprofit organization management

industry and assisting local, state, national, Tribal, corporate, and government agencies

and entities in reaching those on the margins of the margins, working to end violence

against all genders and communities. As a survivor of child sexual assault, bullying,

teen dating violence, domestic violence, and anti-Blackness and the targeting of Black

women in leadership, the work to end structural racism, discrimination, violence, and

anti-Blackness is core to who Tonya is.

K.M Summers Public Relations CEO and Vice President of Tell The Truth Domestic Violence Awareness Organization

She would best characterize herself as a servant. A powerful speaker, M’Shairi shares her experience and her heart mainly with women, but has the ability to reach men, and teens at conferences, workshops and other speaking events. She wars to help others win their battle! This warrior is not only an author, but a leader in all she puts her hands to. M’Shairi is proud to be the mother to teenage twins and takes this particular role more seriously than any other role she has been entrusted with.

“I am a proud native of Brooklyn, NY and long time resident of Huntsville, AL. When I say the only thing I haven’t experienced is hard drugs, it is true. From low self-esteem and eating disorders to molestation, rape, alcoholism and everything in between. My survival of domestic violence helped me realize my passions and my purpose. I am here to help push people into their God given purpose while loving on them with a genuine Christ like love. Everything I have been through has set me up for my breakthrough! The fight to thrive and not let life overtake me, steal my sanity, my love, and my salvation has equipped me to help others no matter their journey or fight.  I genuinely love people and love to see them succeed and become the “Younique” person they were created for.” M'Shairi Bree

My name is Kandis McBride. I am a mother of three, Surviving Domestic Violence and the founder of Seven Purple Petals a Non-profit Domestic Violence Awareness Organization. My life’s is purpose to speak out and let others know there’s never a reason to stay in toxic abusive relationships. In 2018, when asked to share my story, of course I said yes with a smile. I formally accepted the invitation and was given my time allotted to speak, I texted back “Great,” with a smile emoji, all the while thinking, am I ready for this. I shared a very small portion of my story at an event with a few ladies from a woman’s group. Even then I wondered, am I truly ready to allow strangers a tiny peek into this window of my life. There are so many other windows; windows of achievement, windows of what seems like happiness, windows of smiles and laughter. But this window shows hurt, anger, tears, shamefulness, and abuse, this view is not pretty. The tiniest peek through these blinds show a little girl growing up seeing her mom get physically abused. It shows a little girl holding her bleeding mom in her arms begging God to please not let her mother die after being shot multiple times while simultaneously protecting her 2-year-old brother from the sight of his father pulling the trigger on himself, laying on the ground next to us with his brains splattered everywhere. This window shows me getting hit for the 1sttime by an 8thgrade boyfriend. This window shows me an adult woman dealing with 9 years of abuse beginning at the early age of 16 from one partner, leaving, immediately entering another 5 years and almost dying multiple times by the hands of a new abuser that now fathers my kids. This window shows the moment I laid down and gave up. The moment I gave up on my kids and my life all at the same time. It shows the many moments I thought death would be better than the life I was living. Who wanted to look into this window? More importantly did I have the courage to open the blinds to allow total strangers a tiny peek? Suddenly was taken aback and I quickly realized I had been given an assignment. My life trials had  become my purpose. I quickly realized if I didn’t tell my story and speak out other women would remain in a situation that she desperately needed and wanted to escape but didn’t know how. I realized I had been battling domestic violence daily for almost my entire life. Finally, I was reminded I am a conqueror, I have the victory and God has the ability to break generational curses, break chains, remove strong holds and break soul ties. June 17, 2016 decided to LIVE and not die. October 2016 birthed Seven Purple Petals. Why Seven Purple Petals? Seven is the average number of times a victim will return their abuser before finally leaving. Purple not only represents bruising (black eyes, busted lips, choke marks), it represents something so much bigger. Purple represents power, royalty, nobility, devotion, peace and ambition. Petals represents the beautiful lotus flower, which is a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth. What’s so amazing about this flower is its roots and grounded in the muddiest, dirtiest, darkest waters but despite its surroundings the lotus rises above the surface and the most remarkable most beautiful flower blooms. My message to all Victims; No matter how dark or ugly your circumstance looks, you have power in your voice and you’re destined to blossom into beauty. Breaking the silence, speaking out and no more suffering in silence brings beauty.  You’re a force. Stand strong, speak loudly and show others their situation does not have to be until [email protected]

Shelia Franklin-Cole was the Training and Technical assistance Coordinator at the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  Shelia joined LCADV in 2008 as a Project Coordinator.  Prior to working at LCADV, Shelia spent 9 years at the Capital Area Family Violence Intervention Center (C.A.F.V.I.C.), the local domestic violence service provider in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Shelia provided training and technical assistance to the 20 domestic violence programs throughout Louisiana.  She also provided trainings for allied professionals at state, regional events, several national trainings and was responsible for maintaining Louisiana’s statewide domestic violence hotline.    Shelia served on the Louisiana Interagency Action Council on Homelessness (LIACH) and the Louisiana Commission of Law Enforcement (LCLE).

Shelia has also done trainings for the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Women of Color Network.  She shared her knowledge of working with incarcerated battered women with domestic violence advocates in the state of Kentucky.

Shelia began working in the domestic violence field as a student intern at C.A.F.V.I.C.  Upon completion of her internship, she served as a crisis line volunteer for six months before becoming a full-time employee.   During her employment with C.A.F.V.I.C., Shelia held many positions within the agency, including:  non-residential advocate, residential advocate, outreach advocate, and shelter coordinator.  In her role as shelter coordinator, she was responsible for the management and upkeep of the 65 bed shelter as well as the supervision of 16 employees.  Shelia also served as a group facilitator at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, one of the longest running support groups for incarcerated women in the nation.

For the past seven years, Shelia has worked with Alzheimer patients , and patients with mental and physical disabilities.

Shelia earned a B.A. in Human Ecology with a concentration in Family, Child Consumer Science/ Human Service Management from Louisiana State University.  She also attended Baton Rouge Regional Technical Institute, where she earned an Associate Degree in Computer Networking.

Yolanda Carter is a survivor of domestic violence, an advocate and a writer of One Eye Witness: Breaking the Silence After Domestic Violence is the title of her  book.

March 22, 2016, Yolanda was fighting for her life, after waking up in  a pool of blood. Her boyfriend beat her on the head with a hammer leaving her for dead. Her left eye is gone and every bone in her face was broken. Yolanda Carter lives to tell her story to help others who are living in a domestic violence situation.

Lauren Eve Greco NASM, CPT, CNC Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach In Home and Online 

Facebook @bodybylauren

Instagram @stpetebodybylauren

 Hi my name is Stephanie Strom and I'm a Survivor of domestic abuse and human trafficking.  I was living a life of domestic abuse while being coerced to prostitute for over 20 years. I finally left the lifestyle 7 years ago. Through my journey of healing

I found a stronger relationship with God, peace, my husband and myself.

In the last few years I have actually helped three women get out of domestic violent relationships and that's where I found my purpose, and that is to end exploitation and violence globally. One thing great about having the experience is that it helps people listen to what I have to say. So from helping others I'm now on a journey of starting a nonprofit which will connect survivors of trafficking and domestic abuse with supportive resources to achieve personal long-term (recovery) goals.

I have over 7,000 followers on my Facebook page which is under Lady Storm Healing and everyday I'm building on my Instagram which is @ladystorm._ On those pages I share motivational and informational quotes written by myself and my peers. I also have a podcast called Lady Storm where I share my personal stories and always end with offering a resource to help survivors or their family and friends. 

This episode is a conversation with Attorney Angela Gatlin Keys as we discuss the laws in regards to domestic violence and the importance of restraining orders.

Angela Gatlin Keys was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.  The last of seven children, she was always called the “smarty-pants” of the family (for her grades and her mouth). She first learned that she liked helping “the little people” when she was a sophomore in high school.  Her father, who served as Union and Labor President at the VA Hospital, made her sit down one night and write out a grievance complaint against one of the supervisors who had wronged a nurses aid.  She enjoyed the process so much that she began to help her dad on a regular basis.  They would often sit at the kitchen table and hash out the complaints, study the regulations and write out formal complaints.  This father-daughter collaboration resulted in a changed environment for the VA employees during his tenure and sparked Angela’s interest in the law.

After graduating from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, she married her college sweetheart and they began a family.  A few years later, Angela fulfilled her life long dream and was accepted at Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans.  She started law school with two small children and graduated with 3. At one point, everyone in the household was in school and she and the kids did their homework together at the library.

She practiced a variety of law disciplines for several years and then assumed a position with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina forced her family to relocate to Shreveport where they remained “longer than they planned.”  They eventually landed in the DFW area in 2014. She became a licensed attorney in Texas in 2016, a licensed realtor in 2018, and published her first book, which is based on her blog, “A Woman’s Wit,” in  July 2020.

Angela is the mother of three and is the Gigi of two grandbabies – affectionately called Ladybug. & JuJubug. She’s also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and has served as Praise and Worship Leader/Minister of Music at a variety of churches for most of her adult life.

On today's podcast we welcome Tony Richard, Artist, Rapper, Poet. Tony was born in Houston Texas and raised in Lafayette, La. Grittyvibes.com describes Tony as "An Artist for the Culture". Tony is well known for his portraits of athletes and musicians such as Jay Z, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Sade and many more. Tony has also established himself as Rap Artist with music featured on Spotify and other streaming platforms. He is married with one daughter and resides in Houston Tx. to commission any of his work please contact him through social media Instagram tonyri_chard Facebook Tony Ri'chard.