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Feature TYLA Project

Ladies Night Out
By: Sally Pretorius

On December 3, 2012, representatives from the Texas Young Lawyers Association headed to Bastrop to host a Ladies Night Out for domestic-violence survivors at the Bastrop Family Crisis Center. The night began with the ladies being shuttled on a luxury bus to a local hotel, where a feast awaited them. The ladies were able to bring their children, who ate pizza and watched holiday movies in an adjacent room. TYLA Directors Sally Pretorius and Dustin Howell, TYLA President-elect Kristy Piazza-Blanchard, and TYLA President C.E. Rhodes presented Healing the Wounds, a TYLA feature project. The film follows the story of a domestic-violence survivor and helps educate victims of family violence about their legal rights.

After viewing the film the women were able to continue the conversations with family-law attorneys, who answered questions about the process. A make-up artist from Rae Cosmetics and local hair stylists Alex Marie Patterson and Mary Rose Jimenez, who graciously donated their services, were on hand to do mini-make-overs for the women. The night ended with goodie bags for the women and children containing essentials and little treats.

It was an honor to be a part of such a great program that dramatically improved these women’s lives even for the few hours that we were at the event. It was amazing to see local businesses jump at the opportunity to help these women in whatever way they possibly could. These women often have to leave everything they own in order to flee to safety and often have to live in poverty as they try to build a new life for themselves and their families. These domestic-violence survivors are amazing women.

If you are interested in hosting a local “Ladies Night Out” with your community, please contact Sally Pretorius for more information and resources.