For women trapped in violent relationships, finding a safe haven for themselves and their children might solve their immediate crisis, but it doesn’t address the issues that bind them to abusive partners. Nor does it prevent them from falling back into these kinds of relationships. Jenesse Center, a domestic violence intervention program in South Central Los Angeles and a Darden Restaurants Foundation grant recipient, is working to change that.

Founded in 1980 by five women who had survived abusive relationships, Jenesse Center serves mostly economically disadvantaged African-American and Latina women. “When the center first opened its doors, there were not a lot of resources for victims of domestic violence, especially for women of color,” notes Adrienne Lamar, Jenesse Center Associate Director.

Women can stay in the Jenesse Center’s emergency facility for up to 30 days, but it’s much more than a shelter. “There is this ideology that an abused woman’s life was perfect before she was a victim of domestic violence and all she needs is to be in a shelter for 30 days,” Adrienne says. “There are so many social and economic issues that keep women in these situations, such as language barriers and lack of employment skills or transportation.”

Meeting More Than the Basics

Jenesse offers a comprehensive program that includes counseling, health services, vocational education, lifeskills education, parenting classes, enrichment programs for children, transportation and legal services.

“The women who come to us usually do not have a lot of resources available, and have often been turned away from other shelters because they don’t have jobs, they have medical or mental health conditions, are physically challenged or have teenage children,” Adrienne says.

Building a Lifestyle Foundation

Employability skills are critical to helping many of these women get ready to change their lives. “About 60 percent of the women we serve have not graduated high school, and about 90 percent have never worked outside the home,” Adrienne notes.

A Darden Restaurants Foundation grant is helping women in the program learn the skills they need to get and keep a job. “Darden’s generosity is affording us the opportunity to provide a full-time employment counselor to work with our clients and give them the full array of employment preparedness,” Adrienne says.
     

Volunteer Spotlight:
Layne Carangan

While at a business meeting, Layne Carangan, Olive Garden’s Los Angeles Division Employment Manager, heard about the Jenesee Center’s domestic violence intervention program in South Central LA. “It just struck a chord with me,” she says.

The very next day, Layne invited Karen Earl, Jenesse’s executive director, to lunch at the Olive Garden, and told her to bring a wish list. “When I got the list, I decided to focus on paper goods and toiletries,” Layne says. “It’s not very glamorous, but it’s something that’s often overlooked.”

She quickly became a one-woman donation collection agency. “I started with donations from two Olive

Gardens, then started approaching other businesses,” Layne says.

Her efforts quickly paid off. She laughs and says, “Right now I have about 50 cases of toilet paper in my garage that I’m waiting to take to the Center. I’ve been joking with the director that I’m going to have to set up a delivery schedule.”

Layne says she gets a deep sense of fulfillment from her community involvement. “Maybe it’s even selfish,” she says. “It just makes me feel good to get smiles from people at the center and to know I am playing a part in making someone else’s life better.”