Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Who’s right? Who’s wrong? And how does it affect the kids?Figuring out family dynamics in custody cases can be tricky, but the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP) in St. Paul … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/12/22

Emergency hotel stay project launches for victim-survivors of domestic violence

Estelle Brouwer, Executive Director of Women’s Advocates, announced today that starting in October they will be launching an emergency hotel stay project that provides short-term lodging for … more

10/12/22

Autumn holds her new baby sister, Delylah. (Photo courtesy of Kelsey Kruse)

FAILED BY FAMILY COURT

Helpless and hopeless.That’s how Kelsey Kruse felt for years as she tried to co-parent with her ex and his wife, Brett and Sarah Hallow.And then one day, she got the call she was scared … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/11/22

‘I RAN’

At 25, Sarah* doesn’t speak to her dad. And she points the finger squarely at him and how he treated her before and after her parents’ divorce.She knows that people often blame mom when a … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 2/10/22

They took her children away

When Starr Jones* tells her story, people can’t believe this is happening in Minnesota. They can’t believe that the dad was investigated by child protection when their first daughter was … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 11/12/21

'She must have done something wrong'

Broke. Homeless. And in danger of losing custody of her children. That’s where Bonnie Roy found herself while trying to get a divorce in Minnesota 10 years ago. Because of … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 10/18/20

You don’t have to leave to seek help

Local and national staff, along with Carmen Yulín Cruz (mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico), and Teresa Rodriguez, from Univision, who served as the emcee of Casa de Esperanza’s 35th … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 7/15/20

Assume mothers get custody of kids in domestic abuse cases? Think again.

Over the past 40-year history, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women (MCBW) has witnessed huge changes in how society thinks about domestic violence but there is still more work to be done, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 3/10/20

Four murdered in Twin Cities

On Thanksgiving Day 2019, Raven B. Gant’s ex-boyfriend shot and killed her in front of her minor daughter in North Minneapolis. Later, over the holiday weekend, Kjersten Marie Schladetzky, and … more

2/10/20

‘It should never have happened’

Leigh Ann Block visits the bench in Mattock's Park in St. Paul dedicated to her daughter, Mikayla Olson Tester, who was murdered by her father on Labor Day weekend 2004 at age 5. (Photo by Tesha M. … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 2/10/20

HER STORY IN HER OWN WORDS

After 50 years, she’s encouraging others Editor’s note: The text below was from a speech Nadine wrote and gave at two Twin Cities churches during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We have used … more

12/29/19

‘No one will believe you’

Renee and mother Nadine fought for some normalcy during her childhood despite her father's abuse. Today, they are happy to say they are survivors. (Photo submitted) To the outside world, Fred* was … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 12/29/19

Get help

SUPPORT GROUPS Cornerstone Services ‑ Ongoing groups meet regularly for women, children and men 24-hour helpline: 952-884-0330 cornerstonemn.org Domestic Abuse Project ‑ Sessions offered … more

12/12/19

Defining abuse

Domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic abuse or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner … more

12/12/19

Jennifer’s ex tried to convince her, others she was crazy

Jennifer* grew up in a loving, two-parent household in the suburbs. She didn’t think she was in an abusive marriage but she knew that after five years and two kids, she had to get out. On the … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 12/12/19