Halle Berry Raises Funds for the Jenesse Center

Like an eternal candle, she possesses a timeless beauty that will never diminish and an acting talent so authentic it earned her an Academy Award placing her in history books forever. She has graced the covers of almost every fashion magazine, becoming a muse and style icon to designers who will gladly slave away at the chance of dressing her. While Halle Berry is often described as gorgeous, flawless, and pretty- beneath the surface she is all that and more, internally and externally. Although she is an enigma on film, television and advertisements, Berry told Vogue magazine that she is most proud of her life off camera describing it as complete and full. One aspect of Berry's life outside the lens is the organization that she has supported for years. Halle Berry is the Chairperson of the Jenesse Center.

Founded in 1980 by four African-American women who were survivors of domestic violence, The Jenesse Center is the oldest transitional shelter in Los Angelas, CA. Their mission is: "to provide victims of domestic violence with a comprehensive, centralized base of support to assist them in addressing their immediate crisis and changing the patterns of their lives." The center states that in the African-American community {domestic violence} "has not been viewed as a major issue that had to be confronted with the same vigor and commitment as civil rights, housing discrimination and police brutality." Due to this reality, The Jenesse Center is committed to addressing the issue by pro-actively educating and accepting women into their thirty day transition shelter. The center provides tools and learning methods to equip women with a thought process that will not allow them to accept being in abusive relationships whether physical, mental or emotional. The center offers vocational educational programs, pre-employment skills classes as well as professional job training to assist women in becoming independent so that they do not have to depend on anyone who can take advantage of their dependency.

Personal economic development for women is key in being in healthy relationships because the desperation to be with a person who may be dangerous is not as prominent when a woman can take care of herself. This is not to say that women who are financially secure are not victims of abuse because they are- but sociologists state that often times financial dependency is an overwhelming reason that women stay in abusive relationships. There are other factors that the Jenesse Center combats in their educational approach of empowering women out of life threatening circumstances. The Center addresses the mental and emotional factors that inhibit many women to leave through peer and family counseling that provide enrichment and self-esteem classes to help women understand that the value of a woman's worth does not lie in the perception of how a man sees her or thinks of her. When that is not understood, psychologist Elaine Graves states that, "a woman's entire life and actions will revolve around what a man thinks of her and whether or not she is accepted by him." This mental conditioning of a lack of worth perpetuates the cycle of abuse that has a tremendous affect on the children in those environments. In the principals of the Jenesse Center it is outlined that the goals for the transitional shelter is to recognize that children are also "equal " victims in domestic abuse. Domestic violence is not an isolated problem between partners but a serious family issue. The Center states that, "clients must receive more than shelter-they must receive life skills and their services must transform victims into survivors."

The center also provides legal support and assistance for women who are in need of legal help. This past April, Verizon partnered up with the Center in order to assist with their job skills training program and help with the necessary funding that is required to keep the Jenesse Center active and available to women. Through their website the center allows anyone to make a donation, support a family or adopt a room by funding a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen with all the necessary supplies required for the women and children to live in,

Along with the women and Angels who keep the Jenesse Center open for all the women in dire need of shelter and emotional and economic upliftings, Halle Berry's efforts are helping shift a public consciousness in humanizing the victims of domestic violence. Berry has been supporting this charity for years with her quiet but effective power. This year she auctioned her signature bracelet to help raise funds for the center. As the Chair Person of the Jenesse Center the actress has been uplifting and helping women truly change the dynamics of not just their life but most importantly their mentality -which evokes their change in circumstances. There are no under-layers in Berry's message and drive to help victims. There is only a genuine hope to eradicate the fear and acceptability of abuse. There is an urgency to make women who don't believe that they can escape their circumstances and still survive believe differently. Berry's efforts are developed from prints of genuine concern and fragments of lesson learned. It is women like Halle Berry who are closing the gaps in situations that keep many women handicapped. Women who don't just criticize but rather mobilize themselves to be well enough to function at a level that allows them to become a shimmering reflection of hope will always be the lifesavers who make unequivocal impacts in others' lives. These are the women of Jenesse Center, the ones who created the organization and the ones who keep it running with their support. It is because of them that some women are escalating to a life of success as opposed to being in caskets.