Sharing Stories from the Frontline
CONTENT WARNING: the following article references domestic abuse & violence, which may be upsetting for some reading. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 800-799-7233.
There are few things more powerful than a story. Stories unite us. Stories empower us. Stories create awareness and give us a better understanding of the people around us. And when we better understand the lived experiences of our neighbors, we can create change that improves lives and strengthens communities.
On April 27, we joined our partners – Alexandria House and The Corporation for Supportive Housing – for a night of storytelling at The Ebell of Los Angeles. This incredible event was hosted by our partners Stories from the Frontline – a nonprofit that works to lift up voices of those who lived through homelessness in order to help us understand this complex issue, and to learn about the successful solutions in our local communities.
Quenisha, an Imagine LA program participant and Social Benefits Navigator contributor, spoke of her life experience and the lessons she learned.
It’s not easy to speak up about violence. We heard resilient women’s first-person accounts about escaping domestic violence and navigating the social services system. As we watched these women speak of their experiences, we saw them relive their trauma and emotional turmoil. After every speaker’s harrowing recollection, they stated their name, and added, “I am your neighbor.” This statement further reinforced that violence and homelessness can happen to anyone – your friends and loved ones, the people you see every day.
MAID screenwriter & producer Molly Smith Meztler addresses the audience in a Q&A Laurie Schechter, Ebell of LA President.
To wrap up the evening, Molly Smith Meztler, screenwriter & producer of MAID on Netflix, shed more light on an unfortunately too-common scenario that impacts hundreds of our neighbors. Smith Meztler’s televised depiction of a young woman who escaped violence with her child – and found herself homeless, was so powerful that calls to the National Domestic Violence Help Line doubled in October 2021 – the month that MAID premiered.
We are in awe of the bravery of the evening's speakers for living through these experiences and sharing their truths. Sharing stories is an important way for individuals to reclaim their voices and advocate for change. In sharing their truths, these women are breaking down the stigma surrounding homelessness and domestic violence and working towards a future where everyone has access to safe, stable housing and relationships free from violence and abuse. Together we can change the narrative of homelessness in Los Angeles.
The evening’s brave storytellers.