guest post by L.Y. Marlow, Founder/CEO, Saving Promise
When I was 17 years old, I discovered that I was pregnant. The father was a man who would beat me senselessly if I didn’t do, say, or be what he wanted. Although I grew up in one of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods in Philadelphia, I knew deep down that I was meant for more.
So, I made a decision. I had to escape that abusive relationship, and that’s exactly what I did. Eventually, he ended up in prison.
As a single mom, I worked hard to create a better life for myself and my daughter. I went to school at night for 16 years to earn three degrees, including an MBA, because I never wanted my daughter to experience the pain that I and the women before me had endured.
Years later, tragedy struck once again. I discovered that my 22-year-old daughter was trapped in an abusive relationship. Her boyfriend had tried to kill her not just once, but twice. The worst part was that their six-month-old baby girl, Promise, was right there, witnessing it all.
It broke my heart.
I knew I had to break the cycle for Promise and the countless women and girls falling victim to domestic violence. That was the moment that Saving Promise was born – a national organization dedicated to preventing intimate partner violence.
Sadly, my family’s story is not unique. Every 11 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an abusive partner or family member. Young women and girls, in particular, are even more vulnerable to dating and sexual violence.
For example, a 2023 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed alarming increases in violence, mental health issues, substance abuse, and thoughts of suicide among young women, exacerbated by feelings of despair and hopelessness.
Many struggle with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and difficulty handling their emotions. Those from underserved backgrounds face even greater challenges due to limited resources and opportunities.
As a young single mom, and now the mother of a daughter who had faced her own self-esteem battles, it became clear to me that we needed to empower young women and girls.
That’s why I decided to reimagine Saving Promise’s mission. I wanted to equip women and girls with knowledge and coping strategies to empower them to believe in themselves, and most importantly, change the trajectory of a woman or girl losing her life every 11 minutes.
In January 2024, we launched Only 11 Minutes—a national initiative that aims to educate 11 different sectors and grassroots communities about intimate partner violence and what healthy relationships look like.
At the heart of our mission is Only 11 Minutes: Girls Leadership and Empowerment Series to mentor and empower young women and girls to become tomorrow’s leaders.
In addition to promoting healthy relationships, the Only 11 Minutes: Girls Leadership and Empowerment Series offers a wide range of mentorship programs aimed at equipping them with personal and professional development skills focused on topics such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), entrepreneurship, leadership, career development, financial literacy, building self-confidence and more.
But we can’t do it alone.
This Women’s History Month, I’m calling on my sister friends (and men) to join me in this crusade:
- Commit only 11 minutes of your time and an $11 tax deductible donation to Get Educated.
- Consider participating in Pass It On by making the suggested donation of only $11 per person to sponsor an individual, group, or organization to get educated.
Right now you can double your impact. Through the generous support of the Women Connect4Good Foundation, donations are being matched, which means we can launch and scale the Girls Leadership program, making it accessible to as many young women and girls as possible – especially those in underserved communities who may face limited resources and opportunities.
Consider participating in the GoFundMe campaign to also double your impact.
As I reflect on the past 17 years since founding Saving Promise, I am filled with immense joy and a profound sense of purpose in my daily work. Through the confidence and empowerment instilled in my daughter, she has blossomed into a well-respected registered nurse. Meanwhile, Promise, now a thriving 17-year-old high school junior, is on her path to becoming tomorrow’s leader (less the occasional back talk, of course :).
Chins up to strong women and girls everywhere – may we know them, may we be them, and may we raise them.