Halle Berry may be known as a successful, beautiful Oscar winning actress，but what you may not know was that she is also working with the center that helps women in crisis.
She is beautiful, talented, and putting a face on a problem many women hide.
"So many families are involved in domestic violence."
For ten years Halle Berry has raised awareness and funds for the Jenesse Center, a domestic violence shelter in Los Angeles that helps more than eight thousand women a year.
“Halle, why is this cause so important to you?”
“My mother was a battered woman, so that was my childhood for a good chunk of it. And I really, I care, I really care about these women and these children.”
“Have you ever asked your mother why did you put up with that?”
“She is still trying to discover that for herself. Answer those tough questions why did she put up with that and subject her children to growing in that environment because we are still dealing with the effects of it. My sister and I too.”
"It's kind of, well, better." "Yeah."
Berry is a familiar presence at the Jenesse Center where women in crisis find everything they need to heal: counseling, a safe haven, classes in computers and money management and someone to listen.
“They really don’t care about celebrity they are trying to live day to day so I get to come here and be just a woman, be a person, who cares, someone that they can talk to confide in ...”
“Hi, Gail, how are you!”
Berry was among those who listened when Abigail who prefers her last name not be used made a critical decision.
“I felt guilty as a mother taking my kids to a shelter. So, just starting to love myself for who I was then for the choice that I’ve made. That helps me start turning around.”
“I certainly have been a woman who has struggled with my self-worth and my value and choosing the wrong partners in life and luckily I have always been smart enough to hit the door the minute violence became slightly an issue that something I will not tolerate.”
Turning around years of low self esteem is part of the healing process.
“This is the boutique, this is one of my favorite parts in Jenesse center because this is where the women get to come, and get clothes, they get to shop for free.”
Besides quietly volunteering and giving money herself, “they got pretty little pieces to take for this to be a hot mess”. Berry makes the donations multiply.
“Our goal is to bring Jenesse to the forefront... ”
“So much of stuff she does, no one knows she has revolutionize a world”
And many women who find their way here finally see a way forward.
“They need to feel that they’re valued, that they're worth it, that what they need to do isn’t insurmountable that it can’t be done.”
Today Abigal who left her abuser works as a property manger and is thriving in her new life.
“I get to see my kids happy and healthy. There is no screaming，fighting and yelling in this house. ”
Thanks in part to Halle Berry. Thank you, thank you all so very much, my heart is full.
Helping families to heal one woman at a time.
“ As since Halle has been involved, the center has grown from two shelters to six shelters in south Los Angeles really, truly such an incredible center and her involvement has been unbelievable and they’re so appreciative.”
“Obviously so much a part of her that she gives a lot of herself.”
“That’s very much, the way she wanted to put a public face on the problem a lot of women tend to be embarrassed about and hide from.” |