Karen Earl

Karen Earl, Executive Director of
Jenesse Center Inc.

“Years ago, my friend Marguerite Archie-Hudson told me about Jenesse Center. She said she wanted me to work with a group of women in Los Angeles who opened a shelter. I had never heard of a domestic violence shelter. I never heard the words domestic violence. I saw violence as a child, however, I did not know it had a name. It was just personal family business.

As I worked with Jenesse founders, I saw how passionate they were. I wrote the proposals and raised funds. I can’t recall the exact moment I knew that domestic violence was a threat to the world. Maybe it was when I started to focus on the statistics during my research for proposals and program development. I think more than statistics, I noted the changes in families from the time they arrived at Jenesse until they left. They arrived brutalized and in despair. The Jenesse programs helped them to smile and move forward.

Once I focused, every day was a new “oh my God” experience. I asked questions like “when these families live in fear, how can they function?” I was surprised to hear the district attorney say that 100% of the men on death row grew up in homes where there was domestic violence. What did I do with all this?! I lost my shyness and decided to tell the story of families, particularly the children. Peace in our homes is a human rights issue.

The result has been a change in the conversations about domestic violence in our communities. It is not a women’s issue. It is a family issue. It is a community issue. Men are involved. We must teach self sufficiency and enable women to make good decisions for themselves. One of the most significant things I’ve learned is that what leaves the home enters the world!!”

Jenesse Center Inc, Domestic Violence Intervention Program

We provide victims of domestic violence with a comprehensive, centralized base of support to assist them in addressing their immediate crisis and changing the patterns of their lives. We seek to prevent and end the cycles of domestic violence through education, research, resources and advocacy provided to individuals, families, the community and agencies throughout the nation.

Website: www.jenesse.org or call Phone# 323-731-6500

Domestic Violence Hot Line: 800-479-7328

Our program philosophy is based on the following principles:

• Domestic Violence is a societal issue; it affects the lives of all people in society
• Women and children are our primary clients
• Children are equal victims of domestic violence
• Clients should receive culturally sensitive and culturally competent services
• Shelter is only the beginning of intervention
• Clients must receive more than shelter – they must receive life skills
• Services must transform victims into survivors
• Men have to be a part of the conversation
• Services must be provided to populations that are generally turned away elsewhere
• Public opinion and public policy must be impacted to combat domestic violence

Website: www.jenesse.org or call Phone# 323-731-6500

Domestic Violence Hot Line: 800-479-7328