Achieving Financial Freedom for Domestic Abuse Victims | Dr. Ludy Green Ep.89
Dec 01, 2023
Jamie Truman
In this episode, host Jamie Truman welcomes Dr. Ludy Green, author and host of the Ending Domestic Abuse podcast. As the founder of Second Chance Employment Services in 2001, the first and only employment agency in the U.S. for victims of violence, she’s created a service model that’s proven its power in saving lives through employment.
Second Chance Employment Services takes center stage as Dr. Ludy Green shares its impact and inspiring success stories. But her work goes beyond Second Chance Employment Services: her book, Ending Domestic Violence Captivity: A Guide to Economic Freedom, and podcast are valuable resources for survivors and changemakers alike.
Through her non-profit work Dr. Ludy Green has become knowledgeable on the complexities of domestic violence, including why so many people go back to their abuser and how financial independence can help.
Tune in now to learn more about Dr. Ludy Green’s impactful work, how to support the cause and become an advocate yourself!
In this episode, host Jamie Truman welcomes Dr. Ludy Green, author and host of the Ending Domestic Abuse podcast. As the founder of Second Chance Employment Services in 2001, the first and only employment agency in the U.S. for victims of violence, she’s created a service model that’s proven its power in saving lives through employment.
Second Chance Employment Services takes center stage as Dr. Ludy Green shares its impact and inspiring success stories. But her work goes beyond Second Chance Employment Services: her book, Ending Domestic Violence Captivity: A Guide to Economic Freedom, and podcast are valuable resources for survivors and changemakers alike.
Through her non-profit work Dr. Ludy Green has become knowledgeable on the complexities of domestic violence, including why so many people go back to their abuser and how financial independence can help.
Tune in now to learn more about Dr. Ludy Green’s impactful work, how to support the cause and become an advocate yourself!
So thank you, dr Ludigreen, for coming on to talk to us today. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:
Amy for having me.
Speaker 1:
Of course. So you know, I want to start out with your background, because you've wrote a very successful book, Ending Domestic Violence Captivity, and you also have your own podcast on domestic violence called Ending Domestic Abuse, and I want to know a little bit about yourself and why you're so passionate about this particular subject.
Speaker 2:
Well, one of the things that came to me very importantly and that's what I'm so passionate about when I was very young at the time I was going to the university in Washington DC and working in Capitol Hill I had the opportunity to see that they were looking for in the shelter for better women, they were looking for volunteers and it was called my Sister's Place in DC.
Speaker 2:
So I went there and I had a chance to start volunteering a couple of days a week and seeing how women were struggling so much and coming to the shelter and then going back to the abuser, and that made me think why are they coming and why are they leaving and going back to the abuser? And that's what it caught my mind and I'm like they got to be some solution, because why are these people coming back? And then I realized the financial dependency and what we're keeping these victims with them, with the abuser. So from there I came up with this concept that why is there any employment agencies in the United States for victims of violence? I start asking around through friends, through people, and through the years I started building this whole concept and this whole business plan to create it, because it was not one in the United States After all the research I have done and that made me more passionate about it and realizing that if I bring financial independence to victims for employment, they will be able to escape abuse.
Speaker 1:
So how have you been able to do that for these women?
Speaker 2:
Well, what I did is I created and I funded an organization in 2001 called Second Chance Employment Services, the first and only employment agency in the US for victims of violence. Through that we had partnerships with shelters in the area, then around the United States, and also with companies, corporations, hospitals, universities I mean the largest in the country and as small as well. But we work in partnership and they were able to give us first time priority for women who were victims of violence.
Speaker 1:
And what type of employment are you helping these women obtain?
Speaker 2:
It was very interesting, very diverse. At the beginning it may have been just customer service work, can be even homework, housekeeping. Then, after time, people started realizing that we existed. We were there. I have gotten people who were professors. I have gotten even doctors and OBGYN doctors. I have got women who have PhDs, MBAs. I mean we got consultants in big firms like Booz Allen and Hamilton. We work with people with Accenture. We have worked with people with IBM. I mean all over the place.
Speaker 1:
I want to talk a little bit about some of the survivors that you spoke with. Now I know on your podcast. I've listened to several of your episodes and you have some really inspiring stories from women, and I know this may be a kind of a hard question, but can you tell us any stories of the survivors, of women that you have spoke to that really have had an impact on you? Yes, and inspire you.
Speaker 2:
There was this lady who came to Second Chance through my sister's place, was one of the local shelters, the one that I used to volunteer. She basically was the local and she was married to a very prominent lawyer from one of the largest firms in the United States and they also have international representation. It was unbelievable. She decided to stay home with her. She got some background as administrative assistant but her passion and real career was painting art. So she created her little studio in the house. When she stayed home. Mom, she had the two kids and she created this studio to teach little children how to paint.
Speaker 2:
Well, her husband, through the years, started changing and became very controlling, very isolating, so she had no family around. She told her story to us and he got one day very upset. He came very much, he was drinking, very upset, very mad, and he said you know you're taking home this children have no attention. He start breaking everything. He destroyed a little studio she had in her house and basically she said all these things that I remember one by one. He changed her and he beat her in her bed and it was horrendous. She said the humiliation. She lived in the way she was three days since then. She couldn't cope with it. So she went on on this for several months and she didn't know who to talk to. So she was, you know, trying to see other people in the community, trying to see what can she do, and she identified the shelter. So the only thing she had she was she couldn't take her children because she will take her children. The husband was a lawyer that will accuse her that she was kidnapped in the children. So her only way to do it was to escape and she ran away. So she ended up in the shelter and from there they refer her to us because the shelter where they refer her to us to our organization. That's how we got to know her.
Speaker 2:
An amazing woman Couldn't see her beauty or her strength at the moment that I met her. It was a very sad the way she presented. But we found resources from hairdressers you know Christoph Salon, who was very, very famous at that time there in DC and M Street who fixed her hair, changed the color, made a beautiful haircut from people who provide us suited for change at that time they gave us a coat thing. So she looked beautiful and then we got her, we set her up and secure her a job interview with a world bank where she basically created and started her career.
Speaker 2:
But the most important and impacting part of that story was that she never gave up her dream of paint and she told me after a few months working in this place as an administrative assistant. She said I want to paint. Is there any opportunity? Do you know of anybody? And I knew someone, one of our board of advisors, who knew people at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, so we were able to present her her paintings. She was able to present it and currently, right now, she paints. She travels to Italy for what I know, and she has been a spokesperson to us for years. And she she rescued the children, her life was put together and everything came to be in place and now she's a happy married woman. So that's one of the most impacting stories because, after being beaten the way she was, she lost all self esteem. I mean the person that I saw afterwards after the years and the person that I saw the first day matter. I cannot believe how she recovered herself in East, who she is right now, in an example to so many.
Speaker 1:
Wow, it sounds like such a transformation for you to be able to see like what a beautiful transformation.
Speaker 2:
Yes.
Speaker 1:
I want to talk a little bit about some of the statistics of domestic abuse and maybe things that the general public doesn't know about. What's going on in the US?
Speaker 2:
Yes, so we have one out of four women are victims of domestic violence in this country and one out of nine men. Latest statistics on the 2023 you can find on the Department of Justice. So that means about 10 million women and men a year we have in who are victims of violence. I mean it is really a disease in society, it's another pandemic.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, gosh, one in four women in one in nine, I had no idea.
Speaker 2:
That means yeah, it has increased. Yes, through the years it has increased and basically since the pandemic it became worse as people became trapped, they couldn't go outside, they isolated themselves. I mean, you are in small places, they can't cope with the stressors and domestic violence rises.
Speaker 1:
Yes, I have talked to several other people that are running nonprofit organizations and different organizations in general and they did say that there has been an uptick in abuse and domestic violence and child abuse and so on since the pandemic because of those issues. So, I want to talk a little bit about your book, so let's talk about when you decided to write it. Tell us a little bit about it and what people can get out of reading your book.
Speaker 2:
So, basically, after serving for over 10 years in the organization, I started thinking it's not just about my leadership, but it's about sharing with others and I needed to buzz a leadership into others and I felt it would be very important how I created, how I was inspired to create this whole model, which is very successful, and it was tested by several universities. The program was tested so it came out to be very successful. I said I need to do something about it. So a book came to me. I'm like I need to write about compiled information, the data, the stories of the women who can write of their own and, as well, the model, which is very important because I thought other social entrepreneurs, especially in the schools, going to universities or colleges, we can find social entrepreneurs, people who want to create organizations to help others. So I said this can be an inspiration to them.
Speaker 2:
So the book is based on that. I share the model of the organization and I share the stories of the women. And it's very important why? Because social entrepreneurs, youngsters who really have dreams and want to make the difference in the world they can create certain chances, whatever they are, because it's a real business. It is not like I was a volunteer. I volunteered, of course, at the beginning, but then you become your own employee, you have your own employees. It's a whole business. It's an employment agency for victims of violence.
Speaker 1:
Wow, and so how did you choose the stories that you were going to put in your book?
Speaker 2:
Well, it basically had to be more random. We felt that we can tell people that, for example, native American can be somebody, hispanic community can be women from high strutting with a lot of money, people who have a PhDs, women who may be in certain industries that older men may not have. So it has to be very diverse. That was very, very important and they're willing to be in depth to share it.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I do think that's really important and I love that you did that within your book, because then someone can always relate to someone that's speaking in your book. So I do love that. You have all of that diversity in there, so it hits everyone. And let's talk about why you decided to create your podcast. Tell me a little bit about that. I absolutely love it. I've listened to, as I said, several and I'm subscribed and I look forward to each episode.
Speaker 2:
Oh, thank you for listening to me that is so great to hear that and it's growing and I'm very excited about that and in our case, it's unbelievable. You may have listened to some of them. They're women, high-profile women. I mean the former. Currently she's the president of the TED Talk. She was abused as a child. I can't believe she used to be the former president of CNN, if I'm not confusing. Yes, I am shocked and women who have, who are presidents and see also big corporations and they share their story. They told me this is the first time I'm sharing my story because they were ashamed and this is unbelievable because it has helped others understand.
Speaker 2:
So the story behind this podcast was I wasn't, we were all in lockdown in the house. I remember in March 2020. And basically, I was in the house and one day, I know I was slipped through my door. I know from the leading a woman with a note saying my husband is going to kill me, please help me. And she put her name in a number and I go to my husband and he said you know, Ludy, you need to be careful. Right now. I mean, they're telling all of us we have to be in lockdown. We can't. You know, we can be going out and poor. You're going to meet him. But he said this is someone in the neighborhood I'm sure has to be, you know. And then I decided well, what happened? Is that happened to me or my child? You know? I started thinking I mean, this can be a real story. Why will somebody write something like that if it's not real? So I decided to place a call and this lady said let's meet in this corner. I met her in a corner close to my house. It was in my neighborhood and she showed me her name. She had a cut, a horrendous cut that her husband had caused, and she said the reason she's reaching out for help is because he has picked up the son and threw him against the wall A little boy, four years old, and he had concussion. He was very sick and she couldn't take it anymore. She said that it was increasingly changing since his business was emorraging. The business was emorraging like losing money in his business. He started drinking a lot. They were isolated. He didn't have her family here. They're familiar from Philadelphia, so there was no chance.
Speaker 2:
At that point in time I didn't know how to do it. To be honest, I got desperate myself because I felt why am I not in a situation of this lady and the only thing I could do is I reached out to people who have helped me previously with my organization, second Chance. So I reached out to the community and we helped and we got her to her family and we got her with a child, but we had the proof. We guide her on what to do, taking pictures, having all the evidence, because if not, you know, she can be accused as kidnapped and all these things that happen. So she was the story behind my organization, on my Ending Domestic Abuse podcast. And from there I said you know what about if I call the office of the mayor, the mayor's office, the chief of police, and during this time they may be able to assist in any way they can. So they were wonderful, they were positive. So we created this partnership.
Speaker 2:
We got even help. You know, we needed like a car police here outside the house and and helped during that time for a few months About. They were about six months, five to six months. And from there I said well, this podcast, people can write it, it will have a number that can email us and we can find out about how can we help them. So it became a resource, a virtual resource. So we've been helping people since.
Speaker 2:
So, during the pandemic, we have about seven women during the time, like the first year, yes, from different neighborhoods and, interestingly enough, people who have helped before with my nonprofit. They have helped me with their homes. They gave me their homes. They gave me their, you know, like one bedroom, some of them because their children went to college. Some of them they provided their basements, so we have been able to keep in a cell. Now we're doing that helping women stay there. From there, we're trying to find resources that they might need as psychologists, they may need jobs, and we just do it, you know, as one woman at a time. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:
I started like tearing up listening to that story because I have a three year old, so like just there's just the thought of just like that little boy just makes me so sad and I'm so glad that you were able to help her when she was really in such desperate, dire need. Tell me a little bit about how you see the future of your organization.
Speaker 2:
Well, the goal is to expand and this podcast needs to take a national you know, national direction. That's where I want it and we have right now impacting the areas of Miami, areas we have been involved in, new York City, where I'm very, very involved, and, of course, dc, and hopefully get more partners, get as well sponsors, people who really believe on this, and then expanding our, our staff as well, people who are working for us, and then volunteers during this domestic violence awareness month and getting as many volunteers as we can so they can spread the word, and then others can continue, you know, doing this work and help us and helping these victims who they're trapping abuse situations.
Speaker 1:
And then I want to know, like what how could someone help a woman that has been a victim of domestic violence?
Speaker 2:
Somebody who is currently a victim of violence or who has been, who has been before, who has been so say that someone is, you know, a friend of yours, confides in you.
Speaker 1:
Where and how do we start? Right, like, where does someone start? You know you want to help them, but you just don't know Well.
Speaker 2:
The first thing is you need to listen. Never give advice. We can't, because they're hurting so much. We need to acknowledge their feelings. We need to believe them Truly and they need to feel that we're believing them, because many of them they doubt, they don't know who to who to share, and by the moment they're sharing, by the moment you're listening to them, you're giving them a chance so they can be able to think it through, brainstorming you and be able to make a decision, because at the end, they are the ones they say I'm leaving or not. It's not as simple as saying you have to leave, this is time. No, they are the ones that make the decision and they need to find out how.
Speaker 2:
So you will help us a resource by listening but identifying resources that you can keep at hand. For example, you can have a 1-800 hotline, the national hotline on domestic violence. Have it that at hand. You can have resources through your faith-based communities there's so many around the whole United States. Then you can Identify ways of shelters there may be some shelters or identify oh, contact us, you know what? Contact us, to be honest, because the community is immense and people are helping from different states. I can't believe it how they have reached out to us from other states to ask for help and we have been able to connect them.
Speaker 1:
Yes, and how can people get in touch with you?
Speaker 2:
Oh, they can go to ludicraincom. That's a website you they can find us to spot a five and in domestic abuse podcasts, and we have a way that you know there's like an email they can contact us. We'll have a hotline and that's how we we are. You know we're in touch with them.
Speaker 1:
So you're Dr Green. Before I let you go, is there anything that we haven't covered that you think so much now?
Speaker 2:
Yes, october is domestic violence awareness month and I want each one of you to know how important it is to have your eyes open. Please think about others in your community when you go to your faith-based communities as well. Check, look at others. If there's any different in their behaviors Is something you see different around people. Reach out, be a friend and give us a stand, your helping hand to others during this month.
Speaker 1:
So when you're saying people look around and kind of pay attention to other people's behaviors, what do you mean by that? What are some of the signs?
Speaker 2:
People change. For example, there may be a person who has always looked all put together. Suddenly you know they're all down there. They don't fix themselves theory eyes, red eyes, not smiling like before. They're like sad or also avoiding seeing you, isolating themselves. People change when they go through this type of trauma.
Speaker 1:
Wow. Well, thank you so much, dr Green, for coming on. You are doing some absolutely amazing work. I Love your podcast and I hope that everybody listening will absolutely subscribe and, of course, purchase your book, because you have so much knowledge and information that I think that we should know, because, honestly, I'm kind of taken back at the statistics that you gave me, and so this is a real problem that people need to know about and gather around and help these women as a community. So, thank you so much.
Speaker 2:
Thank you so much for the work you are doing by spreading awareness through this Very, very important problem that people need to know that we have in this World, not in this community or this country, but around the world.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely All right. Well, thanks again, and I want to thank everybody for tuning in to another episode of the Truman Charities podcast. Until next time.