TAFFI T. CRAWFORD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOUNDATION (TTCDVF)
The Taffi T. Crawford Domestic Violence Foundation (TTCDVF) was organized by friends, family, and colleagues of late Taffi T. Crawford. TTCDVF is a catalyst for social change – empowering people to take action at the local, state and national level to ensure safety, justice, accountability and healing for people whose lives are affected by violent relationships. Our goal is to educate, intervene, prevent domestic violence, and save lives. This organization will provide assistance and referral services to victims and survivors of domestic violence. Our objective is to provide an emergency shelter for victims who have escaped their abuser and seek a safe-haven. The TTCDVF will partner with other nonprofit organizations, local, state, and federal government agencies, religious organizations, educational institutes, private businesses, individuals, donors, and volunteers to accomplish the goal, mission, and vision of this entity.
Board of Directors
Evette Porter
Martha Warren
Reginald and Tangela Jones
Marti Lee
Jemeca Pointer
Cheryl Saulsberry
Taffi T. Crawford Domestic Violence Foundation
Vision
To promote safe and healthy individuals, families, and communities.
Mission
Promote safe and healthy families, individuals and communities through education, intervention, and prevention; working to end domestic violence in our lives.
Purpose
-Partner with local shelters and agencies assisting in community education while guiding and sustaining individuals and families on the journey from chaos and fear to healing and restoration.
-Provide awareness to the on-going problem of domestic violence amongst teens
-Strives to force the implementation of laws as well as seek the approval of new laws for those who are victims of domestic violence
-Share the story of Taffi T. Crawford in order to help others to escape from domestic violence situation
-Provide scholarships to victims of domestic violence
REFERENCES HOTLINES:
1. Arkansas 800-269-4668
2. Mississippi 601-693-HOPE (Collect Calls Accepted)
3. National 800-799-SAFE (7233)
4. Tennessee 800-356-6767
5. Memphis YWCA 901-725-4277
SUPPORT CONTACTS:
1. Hopeline Project 901-260-4289
2. House of Grace 662-342-1432 & 662-342-1732
3. Emotional Fitness Centers of TN 901-370-HOPE (4673)
4. Angels of Joy Foundation, Inc. 901-356-7336
www.angelsofjoyfoundation_gmail.com
5. The Exodus Foundation 901-730-0989
www.exodusfoundationdv.org
6. Walking Into a New Life 1-866-265-5370
www.wianl.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.SAFE or TTY 1.800.787.3224
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1.866.331.9474 TTY 1.866.331.8453
American Bar Association
Children's Safety Network - National Injury & Violence Prevention Resource Center
Domestic Violence Awareness Handbook
Shelter Locations
Erase Domestic Violence
State Coalitions Against Domestic Violence
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Tennessee Coalition Agaiinst Domestic & Sexual Violence
Memphis and Shelby County Domestic Violence Council
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Memphis Area Legal Services
United States Department of Justice
Memphis Area Women's Council
Women's Aide
National Center for Children in Poverty
Women's Health
National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
Women's Law
National Center on Elder Abuse (NECA)
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women (VAWnet)
Social Security Association (To Obtain New Social Security Number)
Operation: Safe Community
Pro Bono
Public Health Foundation
Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN)
Shelby County Crime Victims Center
Infectious smile. External Beauty. Internal Beauty. Smart. Loving. God-Fearing. Caring. Nurturing...and the list could go on and on.
Her tall, slender body and her beautiful smile immediately infected anyone who met her. However, as soon as she opened her mouth to speak, her personality blew people away. She was cherished by many and loved by all.
Taffi T. Crawford was born June 12, 1974 to the late Earnestine McChriston and the late Wilford “Spike” Jones.
Taffi dedicated her life to Christ at an early age and continued to serve faithfully at the Healing Temple COGIC in Winona, MS. As a young child growing up, Taffi was always the life of the party. Her character was contagious and her love toward others would always shine through. She was like the sun illuminating through the clouds on a dreary day. Everyone always wanted to be in her presence. She was an encourager, someone who was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Throughout Taffi’s junior high and high school years, she excelled in academics and cheerleading as a member of the Winona High School Cheerleading Squad where she served as Captain. She graduated in 1992. After high school graduation, Taffi enrolled at Mississippi State University, studied Sociology, and in 1997 graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology/Social Work. She continued her education at MSU where she took classes toward her Master’s Degree.
Taffi was deeply family-oriented. On occasion, she would speak of how she would get married and have children of her own. On February 5, 1999, Taffi married her high school sweetheart, moved to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and shortly after, a son was born. Taffi dedicated her life and strength to raising her son. She took pride in instilling spiritual values into her son and making sure that he would grow up to be a well-mannered, respectful, God-fearing young man.
Because Taffi was family-oriented, she and her husband decided to move closer to the rest of her immediate family. In 2003, they migrated to Memphis, TN where Taffi continued her career in Social Work at the Child Advocacy Center. Taffi loved her job because she enjoyed helping people. Taffi was a very spiritual woman of God and she always said, “Faith without works is dead.” She continued to serve God at New Fellowship Christian Church under the stewardship of Pastor Dwight Saulsberry until her untimely death. She was a member of the choir and other various ministries within the church.
Taffi decided to change her career, further her education, and take her willingness to help others to another level. In, 2006, Taffi was accepted into Baptist College of Health Sciences. As a student, Taffi was eager to learn as much as she could in order to help those that ultimately trusted her with their lives. Taffi was always leading her fellow classmates in prayer as they prepared to take written or clinical exams. Taffi was a full-time student, held down a full time job, but most importantly, she was a full-time mother first all the while making it look so easy. Taffi was an inspiration to so many people. She trusted God and His unfailing love. He favorite scripture, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” was a motto that she lived by. In 2009, Taffi received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. As a registered nurse, she was employed with Baptist-Desoto Hospital in the Emergency Department, as well as Delta Medical Center.
Taffi loved fashion. She was always “dressed to impress.” She took pride in her looks, not in a conceited type of way, but in a way that showed how much she thought of herself, and how God made her very special. Taffi was always lending general and spiritual advice that helped many people. She was an independent woman that worked very hard to receive the greater things in life. She was authentic and genuinely cared about those around her. She never met a stranger and befriended those who needed a friend.
Taffi’s future was so bright here on earth, but God needed her more. Taffi was called home to be with the Lord on February 12, 2010 as a result of a senseless act of domestic violence by her estranged ex-boyfriend who just could not let go. Taffi’s story is not the typical domestic violence story that a person typically hears about. Taffi was strong and knew what she wanted out of life. Many people may ask, why did she stay? Taffi did not stay. She took all avenues in order to remove this man from her life. Taffi often said that she needed to be here for her son. She was in the process of taking all of the necessary steps to regain her freedom from him, but unfortunately, it was too late. She was gunned down in the parking lot of Delta Medical Center as she prepared to enter her workplace in the early hours of the morning and later died at The Regional Medical Center. Taffi is in a much better place. The world lost a great person, but Heaven gained an angel!
I am not to blame for being beaten and abused
I have a right NOT to be abused
I am not the cause
of another's violent behavior.
I have a right to be angry over past
beatings.
I do not like or want it.
I do not want my children to grow up to batter or be battered.
I have a right to leave
this battering environment.
I have a right to be in a safe,
nonviolent home.
I have a right to provide a healthy
environment for myself
and my children.
I do not have to accept physical,
emotional, sexual, psychological, or financial abuse.
I have the right to make mistakes.
I have the right to believe
that I have a good memory
and can remember events.
I have the right to have a partner
who is sexually faithful.
I have the right to participate in the process of making rules that will
affect my life
Taffi -2K- Health Walk 2011
TAFFI -2K- HEALTH WALK
Oak Court Mall
(Near the Food Court)
Every 2nd Saturday of Each Month
10AM-12PM
Sponsors Include:
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Motley Internal Medicine Group
YWCA of Greater Memphis
The Exchange Club
The 110 Institute
Culumus Broadcasting
1. Almost four million women are beaten in their homes every year by their male partners. Although the first violent incident may not be severe, once battering begins, it tends to increase in severity and frequency, sometimes leading to permanent injury or death. What may begin as an occasional slap or shove will turn into a pushy down the stairs, a punch in the face, or a kick in the stomach.
2. Battering is not about anger or losing control; it is an intentional choice focused on maintaining power and control in the relationship. Batterers manage not to beat their bosses or terrorize their friends when they are angry.
3. The batterer is responsible for the violence – not the victim. People are beaten for breaking an egg yolk while fixing breakfast, for wearing their hair a certain way, for dressing to nicely or not nicely enough, for cooking the wrong meal, or any other number of excuses. These incidents do not warrant or provoke violence. Even when you disagree, you do not deserve to be beaten. People who are battered do not want to be beaten.
4. Violence does occur in same sex relationships, and the issues of power and control are similar to those found in heterosexual relationships. Homophobia allows us to trivialize the violence in same sex relationships and compounds the effects of the violence for the victim.
5. Battering crosses all economic, educational, ethnic, sexual orientation, age, and racial lines in equal proportions. There is no "typical" victim.
Domestic violence is an escalating pattern of abuse where one partner in an intimate relationship controls the other through force, intimidation, or the threat of violence. Abuse comes in many forms:
• Physical: Kicking, punching, shoving, slapping, pushing, and any other acts which hurt your body.
• Sexual: Calling you vulgar names, criticizing your body parts or sensuality, forced or pressured sexual acts, including rape.
• Emotional: Assaults against your self-esteem
• Verbal: Name-calling, threats, put-downs.
• Psychological: Causing you to feel as if you are "going crazy".
• Spiritual: Attacking your spiritual or religious beliefs.
• Financial: Controlling and manipulating you by threatening your economic status and basic needs.
• Homophobic: Threatening to "out" you to people who do not know your sexual orientation
• Immigration: Using your immigration status and fear of deportation to control you.
• Destructive Acts: Actual or threatened assault of your property or pets to scare you.
Since we are a grass-root organization just starting up, we need VOLUNTEERS! We cannot do this important work without volunteers. There is a lot of work to be done. Your energy and compassion can make all the difference in the world to victims of domestic violence. Won'’t you help? Contact:
Evette Porter Martha Warren
901.485.3733 901.238.8185
TAFFI T. CRAWFORD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOUNDATION
P. O. 362 | SOUTHAVEN, MS 38671
• A woman is beaten every nine seconds in the United States. Domestic violence is the most under-reported crime in the country, with the actual incidence 10 times higher than is reported.
• Eighty percent of children who live in homes where domestic violence occurs witness the abuse.
• Lesbian and gay domestic violence occurs in approximately one-third of these relationships, about as often as in heterosexual relationships.
• On average, four women are murdered every day by their male partner in the U.S. According to the District Attorney's Office, there were 24 deaths as a result of domestic violence in Memphis, TN in 2010.
• Women in the U.S. are in nine times more danger in their own homes than they are in the street.
• According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 95 percent of reported spousal assaults are committed by men against women. Assaults committed by women against men occur in approximately 5 to 10 percent of domestic violence matters.
• About 17 percent of women report experiencing physical or sexual violence during pregnancy.
Battering prior to pregnancy is the primary
predictor that battering will occur during
pregnancy.
Please complete and SUBMIT registration form before remitting payment via PayPal
TAFFI T CRAWFORD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FOUNDATION, INC. SCHOLARSHIP
The Taffi T Crawford Domestic Violence Foundation, Inc. believes in helping those in the community who are affected by Domestic Violence. TTCDVF provides scholarships for college bound or active college students whose lives have been altered due to a domestic violence relationship or situation.
Eligibility Criteria include:
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES:
- high school transcript
- high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- two letters of reference (one from a teacher/ guidance counselor and one from an overseer of a community service project
COLLEGE STUDENTS:
- acceptance letter/enrollment letter from a college or university
- semester GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- two letters of reference (one from a professor and one from an overseer of a community service project
TTCDVF Scholarship Application.doc
PLEASE OPEN WORD DOCUMENT, PRINT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION, AND MAIL TO:
TAFFI T CRAWFORD
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOUNDATION
P.O. BOX 362
SOUTHAVEN, MS38671
Donations
