And So I Stayed
This week, we had the chance to get out of the clinic and over to the Ware Center for an On-Screen/In-Person event. The featured documentary was And So I Stayed (Patillo & Nelson, 2021). It follows three women—Kim, Tanisha, and Nikki—who were incarcerated after defending themselves against domestic abuse.
After the screening, Kim Dadou Brown, a survivor who served 17 years in prison, shared her story and listened as others from the audience opened up about their own experiences with mistreatment— physical, psychological, and verbal. It was a stark reminder of the trauma women face, often hidden behind clinic doors.
I rarely hear these stories out from behind clinic doors where clients often explain their lingering scars and the reasons they don’t always feel safe or strong in their own skin. I left feeling a mix of anger, solidarity, and urgency for change, but also hope, seeing the work being done since these women were released.
There’s so much more to be done—more listening, empathy, and trauma-informed support. And more education on ways women can defend themselves. The event provided plenty of continued motivation for our upcoming Women’s Collective, where we’re building a community focused on wellness, strength, and self-defense education.
I hope you can join us!
Love & Leverage,
Ellie