Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Ok, I must admit, I haven’t missed an episode of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” I can’t spend all my time studying. Well if you watch the show, than you are very familiar with Nene Leakes. Nene recently spoke to “Essence” magazine in a revealing interview. This month is “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” Nene talked about her organization, “The Twisted Hearts Foundation,” which helps young women escape the pitfalls of abusive relationships. She also opens up about being a victim of domestic violence. The following is an excerpt from that interview.

ESSENCE.COM: As you know, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. What is your organization, The Twisted Hearts Foundation, doing to promote awareness?

Nene: Lisa and I are writing a book together and already have a title, "Battered But Not Broken." We're just going to tell a little bit of both of our stories of [surviving] violent relationships. And then on the show I had my first annual Big Hat Brunch. This year we raised about $45,000, as you will see on a future episode, and next year I hope to raise $150,000. We're going to invite even more women. I also volunteer at a shelter in Atlanta called My Sister's House. I help serve food to women there who have been displaced and I mentor as well. There are a lot of young girls, as young as 20, at My Sister's House who have already been victims of domestic violence.

ESSENCE.COM: How were you a victim of domestic violence?

Nene: I was in a relationship with an abusive boyfriend. It was really bad and it took me a while to finally break out of the relationship. He had a night job at the time so I was able to sneak out into a new apartment [that he didn't know the address to] while he was at work. I knew that he could not know where I lived. I had to go into hiding for a while. That was how I finally got away. He was very abusive when we were together; he busted my car windows, flattened my tires. I thought I was in love with this fool. I was very young and confused. I would try to break up with him, but he didn't like to take no for an answer. I really wanted it to work.

To read more of “Essence” interview with Nene Leakes, visit www.essence.com.