Beauty camp focuses on domestic violence awareness
The recent shooting in Bradenton has prompted a salon owner who hosts a summer camp for teenagers to incorporate domestic violence awareness into the camp’s programming.
BRADENTON, Fla. — Hairdresser Sequoia Brown taught teenagers how to put on wigs at her Bradenton salon on Wednesday. Her class was one of several held at Yummie’s Divine Beauty Bar this week as part of owner Kathleen Moore’s summer camp.
“My idea is to have an introductory class so students can experience everything and figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are so they know what direction they should go in,” Moore said.
At the camp, instructors taught the youngsters how to do their hair, nails, waxing, etc. They also learned important life lessons.
“Teen dating violence and domestic violence does not discriminate,” Kimberly Williams of Hope Family Services told young people during a presentation on Wednesday.
“This is widespread. It’s happening every day. It’s something that needs to be recognized in our community. People have to wake up. People have to speak up because it’s really important to know what these warning signs are and how we can help them,” Williams said.
Moore said he decided to add presentations on mental health and domestic violence to the camp after a 28-year-old man killed his mother, cousin and his ex-girlfriend’s new partner in June.
Previous story: Manatee County man kills 3, including mother and cousin, before dying in shootout: MCSO
“Some of the people who come in and out of the salon are related to this so it affects everyone. We had people here yesterday. We have children at the camp who are related to this. You can’t solve this kind of thing. You just have to deal with it,” Moore said.
Javontae Brice was on his way to Georgia, where another ex-girlfriend lives, when he was stopped by Hamilton County police. He began firing shots, and police returned fire, shooting him dead.
According to court records, Bryce suffered from mental illness and had attempted suicide at least twice.
“We hope this talk will spark more conversations and make kids feel more comfortable talking about this,” Moore said of her talk on domestic violence and mental health. “Kids will feel more comfortable speaking up if something is wrong, so we can help prevent this from happening in the future.”
She said she hopes the camp as a whole will give area children the opportunities she didn’t have.
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“That’s really big for me because when we were kids, we didn’t have that opportunity. There was no one to say, ‘Hey, let me show you the right way,'” Moore said.
About half of the kids who attend the summer camp are in foster care, Moore said, and although this is the camp’s first year, Moore hopes to make it an annual event.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
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