A Different Approach to Domestic Abuse
Watchung residents Rebecca and A. Stuart Kaplan, with the support of Robert Woods Johnson Foundation have launched Caged Birds Sing Inc.
According to the increase in hotline calls and Internet search analysis, incidents of Domestic Abuse and Violence have risen by up to 40% since the stress and isolation of Covid-19 lockdowns. In a move to address this dangerous trend that threatens public safety, Caged Birds Sing Inc. (CBSI) proposes a new, more approachable narrative (storyline), referring to these events as ‘Household Harm’ from which no one is immune and too many of us suffer in silence.
A CBSI spokesperson suggests, “We formed this charity to let victims know they are not alone, empower them to step forward, and raise awareness to escalate this fight. Our name is based on the iconic poem by Maya Angelou that uses a Caged Bird as a metaphor for those who sing in bitter captivity while they long for freedom. Our first ‘Household Harm – No Shame’ PR Campaign forms a new paradigm (model) that combines Artwork, Music, and Technology, to:
Inspire and empower individual victims of abuse to seek help, and reach a wider, more diverse, highly dynamic, and untapped audience willing to take up this cause in each community, to advocate and work for change, and disrupt the unacceptably silent status quo.”
CBSI’s main goal is to remove the stigma of shame surrounding toxic behavior in our living spaces, like the way opioid addiction was once unspeakable and is now an open topic. By introducing the subject using the term ‘Household Harm’ people can more easily and openly discuss the problems and sign up concerned volunteers to deploy workable solutions. Only then can we stop the spread of these very serious, often criminal forms of aggressive behavior, including Coercive Control, Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Intimate Partner Homicide: taboo subjects shunned by family members, our media, and the public eye.
The CagedBirdsSing.org website points to the sensationalized coverage of Gabby Petito’s brutal murder, the televised Johnny Depp vs. Amber Herd celebrity trial, and the grandmother at home, who became the first victim that preceded the shooting rampage at the Uvalde, Texas school. “In these recent cases, the blow-by-blow coverage largely ignored the underlying abuse and the opportunity for knowledgeable experts to educate captivated audiences about the often-dour consequences of tolerating Household Harm.” On that point, a recent study shows that 66% of mass shootings are committed by domestic violence perpetrators.
CBSI applauds and promotes the work of UN Women, with their spokesperson, Nicole Kidman, in their efforts to spread the word about “The Shadow Pandemic“ and also acknowledges the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and the many other organizations passionately dedicated to making a difference for each of us who are negatively affected.
The Household Harm Outreach Program will train concerned citizens in under-equipped communities. CBSI provides the methodology and support to organize, operate, and provide immediate assistance to victims currently ignored by overwhelmed mental healthcare centers, law enforcement agencies, and slow-moving family courts.
Caged Birds Sing Inc. sums this up: “It is up to us all to cast a ‘we-can-do-something-about-it’ light on these dark and dangerous problems, using the ‘Household Harm-No Shame’ narrative to open discussions and disrupt the status quo that often sweeps this ubiquitous problem under the rug. Let’s begin to win The War Against Domestic Abuse.”
To support this effort, this 501(c)(3) charity requests you visitCagedBirdsSing.org, where you can read the empowering information, see the inspiring artwork, consider the innovative technology, and hear the first campaign theme song, “Do You Want It Bad?” Then please select “DONATE” or “TAKE ACTION.”
