One of the greatest gifts that we can give each other is our story; our stories of overcoming, growing, learning and living. Joyce shares her story with us, giving us all a gentle reminder that we are each loved.Joyce White had a great chance and met Judge Lynn Toler last year when she came her and spoke on Domestic Violence.
How did you get the help you needed to leave your abusive situation? All the people told me to leave, but none of them were giving me other options like where to go. I had no place to go. I was afraid to leave there because I was told if I did he would kill me when he found me. I stayed until I got out of the hospital from my last beating.
What resources were available at the time you left?
I am sure there were resources, but I was not familiar with them. A police officer and a social worker took me to a place where I was not able to tell my address. At that time I was not sure what was happening. I just knew I could not go home to what it was. With this decision, I lost my children for 10 years. It was much later in my life when I realize where this place was, what it was about and what next to do.
How are you a different person today?
I am wiser now, more empathetic and sympathetic for young women and all women that are going through this. I have learned to share my story with others and hopefully it helps someone else. I used to have guilt that I had bottled up in me, but I am now a person that does not have that anymore. I am happy with me... my insides are not tumbling when I speak about my background now. So yes, I am a different and better person now.
What are you doing now in your life? I am now trying to help other women realize that times have changed, do not be naive as I was. I try to stress on other women that YOU are loved, YOU are someone worthy and someone does care.
What advice would you tell people about a victim who is still suffering?
First and foremost is to pray. I did a lot of that, although I thought God just forgot me, of course I know better now. Have faith that someone does care and find someone to tell about your situation. Do not keep it bottled up.
Let someone know you are being abused. My problem was I did not have anyone to share this with. YOU don’t have to suffer the way I did. YOU can get help, YOU should always feel loved, YOU should always know GOD loves you, and most importantly YOU MUST LOVE YOURSELF.
Who's Who
A Caring Company - Joyce White African Jewelry
Sunny Delight
What started as a means of survival to make ends meet, turned out to be a path of passion for Joyce White, the woman behind Joyce White African Jewelry and Hope for Women Arts. The stunning jewelry and paintings that she produces not only fill the spirits of the recipients, but helped Joyce find something positive to cling to.
“Art has been very helpful to me. I have learned to focus my negative energy into something positive instead of woe-is-me.” Joyce’s business manufactures a line of jewelry art that she markets to women she calls, “bodacious and self confident.” Her pieces not only make a statement, but 30% of the proceeds are donated to Hope for Women Arts.
A For Profit Making a Difference--- How For Women Arts founded by Joyce White
To date, what results has your for profit provided in the community? We, Hope For Women Arts has helped over 120 women like myself, some has never did art before, or anything other than what they was told. For me I am a trained professional forklift operator. I am self taught in most of my art career. I am a juried member of several art organizations.
How can people get involved with our for profit program?
You can either call us, 602.304.1040, or email us info@ hopeforwomenarts.org. On our website www.hopeforwomenarts.org, click on the application button and fill it out and send it to us. You can support with your donations and with your time.
Artical Published by Kalonwomen ("Joyce White The Survivor")
At Kalön Women, we are always searching for women and women owned businesses who exemplify the kalön spirit of our magazine. When I first connected with Joyce White through one of the many social networks available today, I was immediately drawn to the exquisite jewelry on her website (Joyce White African Jewelry) and her quote “let me express your imagination with my designs of art”.
The creations you will find there can only be described as stunning pieces of womens' imaginations… As I began a more in depth conversation with Joyce, awareness grew of the extent in which she truly embodies truth and honor in beauty that we all seek to attain. Joyce is also the founder of Hope for Women Arts, an organization that helps abused women in their darkest hour to release some of the stress and anxiety from their lives and give them some joy for a few hours of the day.
They can create something beautiful and positive with the hope of knowing there are other options available. The classes consist of basic art techniques including drawing, design, color theme, and how to use color in any medium.
“As an artist, and a battered person, I learned how to channel my pain and heal my heart through art creation. Knowing firsthand how the art I make has helped me recover from many years of abuse, I wanted to share this same awakening with other women. With Hope for Women Arts, now I can”. ~ Joyce White ~ How does Hope for Women Arts make a difference?
- Support--- They support all efforts in stopping domestic violence, including providing resources on where to get help.
- Forprofits---They support nonprofits in their efforts to help survivors recover from domestic violence by providing art therapy programs.
- Empowerment---Empowers volunteers to help us by teaching an art class
- Self Esteem---Participants learn to heal and build self esteem through art therapy.
How do you volunteer?
If you are an experienced artist, you can volunteer to teach or assist for three hours per month in one of our structured classes. Email us for more information.
Do the classes cost anything? No, this is a free service for the participants.
Is the art jewelry for sale? Yes, the jewelry is for sale and they do accept commission work. A percentage of proceeds go to Arizona Art Alliance for art supplies.
Skilled instructors are committed to helping participants bring out their inner creativity in a safe, comfortable, and fun environment. Art therapy is a wonderful healing experience and something that anyone can do.
Domestic violence has been around since the beginning of time. The cycle is like a disease, a curse most people say. Our parents and grandparents experienced it, and now our children are experiencing it as well.
Domestic violence touches everyone, especially one specific, renowned artist in Arizona. "Art therapy can help you to overcome much of your anger, sadness, frustrations, and helplessness through its creative process, if you have an open mind" Joyce states. She has followed this form of therapy for many years. It was and is her way out of darkness.
Originally from Mississippi, Joyce is a survivor of molestation by her father and other members of her family. She was an only child; raped at the tender age of thirteen. She is the mother of ten children and stated that “being raised by your kid’s father from the age of thirteen to twenty-seven was a nightmare”. Joyce endured many beatings. She told me that ‘Woman, Thou Art Loosed’ (a book by Bishop TD Jakes and later released as a major film) could have depicted her life. Her mother did not believe her father could do what he did to Joyce. “She was probably afraid too, he beat her on a weekly basis and when I was small, I remember sleeping under the house with her” Joyce recounted. Her father passed away in 1968 from cancer and her mother died in 1970 from a stove explosion.
Joyce married and the molestation continued with all of her girls; a child was conceived. After that, Joyce went from one bad relationship to another and in 1977 was left for dead after a severe beating. She finally left everything behind and fled to a battered women’s home but lost her children for ten years. Her oldest son was shot at age fifteen. She got a job at the hospital and slept on the hospital floor for six months while he learned to walk again. “Being a single mom was no picnic but at least I wasn’t being beaten” Joyce said. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia, diabetes, hypertension and cancer, resulted in a break down and even though art has been with her for many years, she did not realize its ability to change her life until 1994-95. When asked how she got started making jewelry, Joyce stated “My trade and skill is being a fork lift operator. I was injured, my job was lost.
In order to support myself, I found someone that taught me how to make a floral basket. From there a floral business started and I ran it for almost 10 years. For health reasons I had to close the business. I kept the vases that were broken by employees; some of the vases cost over $100.00, so I saved them. I read about blowing glass in a magazine so I researched and found that it was more expensive than I could afford, so fusing was my next option.
It was cheaper to buy a kiln and start so that is what I did. I almost set my home on fire by putting mixed glass into my new kiln. I learned that you have to have compatible glass for it to be a success. After that minor setback, I went to the library, found out I could get up to 30 books on a library card, so I checked out 30 books and read up on how to fuse glass, and the rest is history as they say”.
Her first piece of jewelry came about by accident while transforming a regular glass container into something more unique. She called her new creation "Hole-N-My-Soul". Joyce's proprietary techniques in her Sculpted Art Jewelry were born. Sculpted glass pieces that glow with color are set into intricate tangles of gold and silver metals. These wearable works of art have attracted customers throughout the United States. Joyce found another form of working with glass. Her father was an alcoholic, so she decided to take the glass wine, whiskey and beer bottles and create something constructive from something so destructive. This is how Bottle Art was born.
In her equally colorful African attire, Ms. White presents a striking, proud and joyous persona. "Exploring my art has become synonymous with exploring my past and my pain; it has provided significant healing for me. I love the idea of this transformation of mine creating something of beauty for others to cherish and enjoy. It is about sharing hope and looking toward the future". Joyce has a new line coming out next year, so bookmark her site to help support battered women. Together, we can stop this terrible crime. As women, we are a valuable asset to our communities and WE DO have more to offer. Through our Hope for Women Arts survivors, we will learn a sense of self worth as they bring out their inner creativity in us.
We are no longer victims, WE ARE SURVIVORS!!! There is HOPE FOR WOMEN IN ARTS... Copyright: 2009 Kalon Women - all rights reserved