WS Chronicle

Beautiful Countenance is a nonprofit domestic violence advocacy group.  The organization has been around for three years and will hold a number of events during the month of October to bring awareness to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was launched in October of 1987.  It was created to connect and unite individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues and raise awareness for them.

The faith based organization is gearing up for several events to end the year and bring awareness to their cause.

“We are faith-based, based on the realization that domestic violence happens everywhere and to everyone,” said organization founder Gwendolyn Robinson.  “We are dedicated to spreading the word and bringing awareness to local churches and local communities of faith.

“We also serve everyone no matter what race, religion or gender.  We are not totally focused on faith but we do involve ourselves in the church community to advise them about what we do.”

Robinson says she started the organization because of the way she was raised.  She says she grew up in a household that involved the things she is working so hard bring awareness to.

“I was brought up in a wonderful two parent household outwardly but inside it was very toxic,” she continued.  “Although we were functional my mom and dad fought almost daily and so we have a strong effort with Beautiful Countenance to work with prevention rather than intervention.

“We are trying to spread the news and get the word out and touch everyone that we can, especially youth and teens so we can stop this epidemic that is domestic violence and sexual assault.”

According to Robinson, they have short term plans to build a safe house for those affected by domestic violence or sexual assault.  Long term she would love to have a permanent facility that houses victims.

“In the future we also plan to have a fully functional campus that will have a daycare on site and provide educational tools for those that have not obtained their high school diplomas; so, that they can get their G.E.D. along with learning job skills to help them gain employment,” said Robinson.

She says she is amazed about the feedback that she has received from adults who speak about how their experiences have shaped them as they have grown into adulthood.  She said the greatest joy she gets is when people reach the point of being able to open up and talk about the things they have endured.

Beautiful Countenance will have several events coming up in the next few weeks to bring awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month such as self defense training, support groups, panel discussions along with a teen talk.

For more information about any upcoming events please call 336-891-0564, if you do not receive an answer you can leave a message or text.  You can also email at beautifulcountenance@yahoo.com.