Ronda Lee, Owner of The Awakened Banker, discusses her journey from banking to becoming an advocate against financial abuse in romantic partnerships. She highlights her unique background in banking and her transition from operations to retail banking, where she developed a deep understanding of the psychology of money. Ronda emphasizes the importance of understanding coercive control, a form of domestic abuse, and its financial implications. She shares her efforts to educate bankers and survivors through her firm, The Awakened Banker, and provides practical tips for those in and coming out of abusive relationships.

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www.financialabusehelp.net

DomesticShelter.Org's National Director, Ashley Rumschlag, and Hannah Craig, Director of Content, discuss their roles and backgrounds before and after joining the massive and prestigious organization which supports over 2.7 million annual visitors and has faciliated for than 55,000 "Hope Chat" conversations through their innovative technology partnerships. They detail the history of the organization and its many innovative arms of support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse including the Hope Chat AI-driven chatbot, providing instant support, and Verizon Skill Forward, which offers free online courses to survivors that can inspire life altering postive changes. Ashley and Hannah both focus on the importance of safety planning and seeking support, both before and after leaving an abusive relationship. DomesticShelter.Org's resources are highlighted, including a survivors' Facebook group and an extensive directory of online support groups. Ashley and Hannah discuss the significance of recognizing patterns of abuse and the role their "Hope Chat" AI chatbot can play in providing critical instant support and resources. DomesticShelters.Org's yearly sought after Purple Ribbon Awards recognize the contributions of advocates, organizations, and encourages future longevity in the field of domestic abuse support.

LINKS:

DomesticShelters.Org Website

Hope AI Chat Bot

Purple Ribbon Awards '26

Global Shelter & Support Organization Search

www.financialabusehelp.net

Grace Coleman, Director of Crisis Center North, shares her unique background growing up in a small Irish-American village and her transition to combating domestic violence. The center serves over 2,500 clients annually, providing critical services including emergency shelter and long-term counseling. Grace highlights their unique housing program for victims and their pets, and their innovative use of new technologies. She highlights the importance of financial abuse awareness and offers financial literacy workshops and a micro-loan program. Grace discusses the center's funding and the need for creative fundraising events to support continuing programs. as well as state, federal and foundation efforts. She introduces and shares the success of the PAWS for Empowerment program, which started as a single shelter dog named Penny and expanded to include more animal advocates to support victims, making the courtroom process more compassionate and humane for the survivors.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Grace introduces her current role with Crisis Center North in Pittsburgh.
2. She shares her origins from a small Irish-American village in Pennsylvania.
3. Grace recounts her transition from teaching to working at Crisis Center North, where she has been for 26 years.
4. She recounts the importance of her father's very diverse veterinary career and the lack of social work services in her childhood community, leaving her father to often provide critical crisis managment to the community.
5. Grace provides and overview and Crisis Center North's history, starting with its founding mother and her husband Paul, who provided pro-bono services to domestic violence victims.
6. She highlights the services provided by Crisis Center North, including hot line and text line services crucial for providing immediate support for victims.
7. Grace addresses the prevalence of financial abuse in domestic violence cases and the challenges victims faces when needing legal support.
8. Grace introduces the PAWS for Empowerment program, which started as a single shelter dog named Penny and has expanded to included various animal interventions.
9. She highlights the PAW's program's success and role in making the courtroom process more compassionate and humane.
10. She shares details of the center's fundraising efforts to ensure the center's sustainability and ability to provide comprehensive services.
11. Grace reflects on the personal fulfillment she finds in her work and the importance of integrating her passions into her career.

LINKS:

Crisis Center North Web Site

PAWS for Empowerment Program

www.financialabusehelp.net