On Sunday March 29, 2009 Fresh Start for Women participated in the Battered But Not Broken Seminar held at Berean Adventist Church in Atlanta Ga. The seminar was hosted by Ms. Darlene Sheardon founder of NuRevelations LLC. Like Mrs. Pettigrew, Ms. Sheardon has a passion for the problem of domestic violence. The seminar focused on educating those in attendance on just what domestic violence is including warning signs and other helpful information.
Ms. Sheardon believes that more needs to be done in the faith community to address this issue and has dedicated herself to doing all she can to bring attention to and resolution to the problem. Ms. Sheardon worked closely with Fresh Start for Women in 2008 on a number of workshops and seminars helping women to emerge stronger and wiser from the experience of domestic violence.
At Sunday's seminar Mrs. Pettigrew used the Affirmation Circle, which is an integral part of the Fresh Start for Women program to encourage and instill in the women positive thoughts thus negating the negative messages that have been a part of their lives for such a long time. Gathered in a circle the women pulled affirmations from the circle and using the woman to her left as her mirror recited the chosen affirmation. For some it was an emotional process but as Mrs. Pettigrew reminded them the more they make the positive a part of their daily lives the more they will begin to own and believe it. Armed with this knowledge the women began to let go and let God.
Fresh Start for Women in conjunction with NuRevelations is planning a special luncheon for the mothers who have gone through the Fresh Start for Women program in the past 5 years as well as mothers who have attended NuRevelations seminars.
