‘It’s Time To Talk’ About the Soroptimist Ruby Award and Film Maker Brenda Clubine

Submitted by Wendy Kaiser

“It’s time to talk” about Brenda Clubine, who brings a unique perspective and voice to the fight to End Domestic Violence. She is truly a woman of substance and an advocate for change who has broken her silence and calls us all to “talk about it” and take a stand to make a difference.

Every 9 seconds a woman is beaten!

Every 9 seconds of every day...

Decide to make a difference, and break your silence.

It’s time to talk!

Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor is talking about and honoring Brenda Clubine with their Club Ruby Award 2009-2010. The Ruby Award (formerly known as the Making a Difference for Women Award) has been renamed in honor of Ruby Lee Minar, the first Soroptimist Federation President. The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work. Brenda is getting remarkable results and embodies the strong spirit and passion of the award’s name sake.

Brenda’s documentary film, “Sin by Silence,” is compelling as courageous women share their stories from prison of their journeys through domestic violence to living their dreams and finding their voices. Brenda Clubine, film creator and founder of Convicted Women Against Abuse (CWAA), is bringing these women’s stories and the issues of Domestic Violence to main street America.

When Brenda Clubine created CWAA in 1989 it was the first of its kind (inside US Prison walls) support group:

helping women inside prison break their silence on the abuse they have been through,

helping them to learn what they need to do to help themselves and others stop the cycle of violence,

unilaterally impacting the issue of Domestic Violence via letter writing, media coverage and senate hearings,

changing laws for battered women, and

raising awareness for people on the outside.

After spending 26 years in prison for killing her husband, the system Brenda had worked to educate and change via CWAA enabled her case to be reopened resulting in the judge throwing out her conviction.

Now out of prison, Brenda continues her advocacy through

her film, “Sin by Silence,” as well as through her work via

social media (face book and more) https://www.facebook.com/sinbysilence),

web sites: https://www.SinBySilence.com,

blogs: https://sinbysilence.ning.com/, and https://sinbysilence.ning.com/profiles/blogs/10-ways-to-help-a-friend,

webisodes, and through her

speaking engagements such as on NPR.

Brenda continues to provide tools and a platform for speaking out, by calling out to women with her newest campaign, Every9Seconds, and It’s time to talk!

(excerpted from https://sinbysilence.ning.com/profiles/blogs/10-ways-to-help-a-friend)

“10 Ways to Help a Friend

#1 SPEAK: “I’m really worried about you.”

The simplest solution to domestic violence is not being silent. Don’t be afraid to let your friend know that you are concerned for their safety. Don’t get discouraged if they refuse or ignore your concerns. Help your friend talk about the violence they are experiencing. Voicing your concerns might help them recognize that what they are experiencing is not a healthy relationship and that they deserve better.

#2 ACKNOWLEDGE: “You deserve so much more.”

Acknowledge that your friend is in a very difficult and dangerous situation. Let your friend know that the abuse is not their fault, they should not feel ashamed, they are not alone, and that you are there to help and support them.”

Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor Area ( https://www.soroptimistnha.org ), a professional business women’s service club, helping women and girls locally and globally, joins with Brenda Clubine in saying “It’s time to talk!” It is time to end the silence about domestic violence. Brenda teaches us how domestic violence effects each and every one of us and provides resources and professional insights into solutions. We celebrate Brenda Clubine’s vision, dialog and advocacy which directly improve the lives of women in our community.

If you or a friend need help call the National Domestic Violence Hotline:

1-800-799-SAFE.

Decide to make a difference, and break your silence.

It’s time to talk!