Tell us a little about your not for profit. What is it about?

Cupid's Sting is a women's safety non-profit. I teach women life-saving skills to protect themselves inside and outside the home. Cupid's Sting offers women's self-defence classes and facilitates domestic violence, dating abuse, street harassment, and sexual harassment workshops. We also provide support to women experiencing violence.

What is the change that you would like to bring to society?

All the work I do is to combat violence against women and it is my hope that in teaching these skills we will see a reduction in violence against women, including domestic violence.

Tell us what drove you to start this?.

Approximately five years ago while working at the police department in Washington, DC, I started seeing an increase in the brutality of violence against women incidents. As a woman and Criminologist, I wanted to do something more to help these women, so I developed the Cupid's Sting framework, an interpersonal violence reduction program. I started facilitating workshops in the community and at Howard University. I was met with so much success that I formalized the program and launched the Cupid's Sting Non-Profit in 2018. We now operate in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Has anything changed since you started?

I have trained hundreds of women using the Cupid's Sting curriculum. I am now in a new city (Brampton, ON) so I have been focusing my energies on introducing myself to the community and offering support to women that need it and want to learn proactive measures to protect themselves. COVID-19 has completely shifted how I do business and I have pivoted to an online platform. The need has increased as more women are forced to be at home with their abusers. The challenge has been to keep up with that need especially as it relates to technology and funding.

How do you think being a woman of colour has impacted your journey?

It depends on the location. It has never been an issue in the US or in the Caribbean, but I am presented with more challenges as a woman of colour in Canada. I created Cupid's Sting because I wanted women to have a safe place to learn, heal, and access the resources they need. I also wanted to be a face that you do not often see in this field- black and an experienced and educated expert. I wanted black and women of colour to feel comfortable to share their stories with someone that looks like them, without judgement. The work continues.

Have you had a remarkable breakthrough or a win that you would like to share with our readers? We all love hearing success stories! Tell us yours!

I have a client that I have been working with for six-plus months. She recently had a breakthrough that truly fueled me. She has gone from being scared and timid to bold and taking the reins for her own advocacy. Her confidence and happiness have inspired me and reminded me I am on the right path. Also, Cupid's Sting was recently featured on the Great Canadian Woman's She Speaks platform. I wrote a piece on Women's Safety and recorded a podcast on the same topic. This is a win as I am able to educate women on a broader platform that will hopefully get more of them the help they need.

Have you experienced challenges in funding your organizational efforts?

Yes. It is a continuing struggle especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. I continue to apply for grants but have not been successful finding a lot of opportunities for grants and funding for women's safety. I am a writer so I wrote an original short story called The Brooch and launched a fundraiser for Cupid's Sting where a donation of at least $5 will get you a copy as a thank you gift. All the details are on Cupid's Sting IG and FB pages and the link is PayPal.me/cupidssting.

We love featuring trail blazers and change makers. Know someone we should be connecting with? Hit the contact form and tell us! 

💜 💜 💜 💜 💜

Love & Nudes is Canada's first line of flesh toned intimates for women of colour. Finally you can own your tone in bras and panties that are just for you! Click here to shop now.