Established in August 2018, the Women’s Advocacy Center is dedicated to empowering and supporting survivors of domestic abuse in rural and suburban Shelby County, Tennessee. The Center provides vital services not only to women who have experienced abuse but also to their children, assisting an average of 27 women and 37 children each month.
With a background in law and a career dedicated to protecting women’s rights, founding President and CEO Romona Jackson has made it her life’s mission to advocate for women and their children affected by domestic abuse. In Shelby County alone, approximately 15,000 domestic abuse cases are reported each year, including an average of five homicides linked to domestic violence. “As an attorney, I represented women from around the globe who had experienced gender-based violence, so this has always been a place where I’ve been very passionate,” said Jackson. “I feel as though I was called to do this work.”
Jackson first learned about HOPE at a community event, where she discovered that the organization partners with nonprofits. “The staff at HOPE just felt like family — everyone was friendly and genuinely wanted to help,” said Jackson. The Women’s Advocacy Center relies on donations and grant funding, and when donations fall short, a line of credit can be a solution to support operations. With HOPE, Jackson secured a $25,000 line of credit. Later, she requested an increase, and HOPE doubled the credit line to $50,000. “The line of credit from HOPE will add a layer of security to our organization — for those times when we need to offer assistance to the women in our center,” said Jackson.