Let's Stop Relationship Abuse

     The Lighthouse Women's Shelter is a sanctuary to try to stop relationship abuse. Mrs. Jessika Brown is from the Lighthouse and has been speaking at Gulf Shores Middle School (GSMS) about how to stop it. The program is 6 days long, which included three days before Spring Break and three days after. The program helps young men and women who have been in a relationship and have been abused as well as giving skills to others to hopefully prevent them from putting themselves in that kind of situation.

    Mrs. Brown is married and has two kids. She has been teaching about the lighthouse for 1 1/2. The Lighthouse is a sanctuary for people who have been in an abusive relationship, and provides them a safe place to talk about it. The Lighthouse helps people get through tough relationships and it tells them that they deserve better than that.

        The Lighthouse is a good program that informs students about issues that are going on. The issues are so bad, they should be stopped. The abusive relationships don't just affect the adults or teenagers, it also affects children. The other person may even try to isolate the victim from anybody else. They may even threaten someone. The person may say that he/she will change but no one should take a chance. The person may say that they can't live without the other person, but the abuser will get what they want if that person stays. 

        Morgan Jenkins, 8th grade, said, "Out of this program I learned to never stay in an abusive relationship."  Nick Russo, an 8th grader, said, "I will never abuse my girlfriend or my wife." Carolina Braga, 8th grade, said, "Mrs. Brown was very nice and she taught us that abuse is very bad and it should be stopped."

        GSMS would like to thank Mrs. Brown for coming and teaching us about relationship abuse. If you know someone that is in an abusive relationship tell them to try to get more information on the Lighthouse. There website is www.abeacon.org and there hotline number is 251-947-6008 or 1-800-650-6522

By: Lauren Williams; 7th

Jessika Brown, representative for the Lighthouse in Robertsdale
Photo By: Harlie Guy