Because She Is Welcomes You to Marilyn's Place

When Maureen was just a 7 year old girl she dreamed of a home. But, her home was not the typical type of home most 7 year old girls dream about living in one day.
"My mother married when I was 5 years old. She was a beautiful 24 year old girl who married a handsome 27 year old man. I don't recall feeling like I ever needed a father but I do remember thinking I was the luckiest girl in the world the day he officially became my dad."
Unfortunately, that joy would be short lived. What Maureen's mother didn't know was the man she fell in love with was a pedophile, and Maureen's life would change forever.
"My mom would take my grandmother to play bingo 1 or 2 nights a week. I didn't understand what was happening. I was 6 when he started the abuse and all I knew was that it gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. One of my coping mechanisms was to dream about opening a house that other little girls who might be feeling the same way could visit. The house would be filled with moms whose only reason for being there was to hug all the little girls and rock them to sleep once the pain in their bellies went away."
It would take 47 years, but that day has finally arrived.
"Unfortunately, my abuse didn't stop with my step-father. I have endured sexual assault, rape and was in an abusive relationship in my 40's. At the ripe old age of 49 years old I woke up one morning in total silence. I could hear the garbage trucks picking up the pails, my neighbor's cars leaving for work and the school bus rolling down my street, but internally there was silence. I felt nothing. I sat on the side of my bed staring at a wall and felt no sadness, no joy, no love and no will. I simply wanted to go back to bed and never wake up."
Thankfully, Maureen sought help and is now on the eve of her "home" becoming a reality.
"I started an organization called Because She Is..., and Marilyn's Place is our first project."
The concept is very simple. Marilyn's Place is a location for victims of sexual and/or domestic violence abuse to go to for peer-led support groups. But, what makes Marilyn's Place unique is that it is run by survivors.
"The concept was survivors helping victims become survivors. Sexual abuse and domestic violence are isolating traumas. You're too embarrassed, ashamed and sometimes guilt ridden to share what happened or is happening. You walk around with a smile on your face when internally you are dying a slow death. There is nothing more cathartic than being able to look at someone and talk to them comforted in the knowledge that they have been exactly where you and have felt exactly what you are feeling. The word victim elicits shame. But, in order to be a survivor you must work through the emotions and baggage of being a victim. A victim is a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action. There is no shame or weakness in being a victim."
"Although not a shelter or safe house, Marilyn's Place is a beautiful location to gather, sit, talk, cry, laugh or share your experiences in a house run by survivors. All of us involved have put in the time and worked hard to come to terms with our abuse, and come out the other side happy and whole. We offer peer-led support groups, open house time to those who simply need a quiet place to go for a cup of coffee or to sit quietly on our screened in porch. Several times a month we will have clinician led workshops, art classes and Friday night socials - s'mores night, pot luck dinners, etc. for members to attend and socialize. All of our services are free of charge and our hope is as victims heal and begin to feel more like survivors they, too, will volunteer and welcome new members."
Marilyn's Place opens Tuesday, September 4th. Their September calendar is above. For more information about Marilyn's Place, its' location and the services they offer you can contact Maureen at info@becausesheis.org or message her at Because She Is on FB. You can also visit the www.becausesheis.org website to learn more about Maureen's story.