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Purple Purse makes it fashionable to have domestic violence talk
Ask any woman about her stylish new purse, and a big smile is likely to accompany the story of how she got it.
Perhaps a cherished gift from a husband or boyfriend. Possibly a great sale bargain at some swanky place like Coach or Nordstrom. Or maybe the Prada devil made her do it.
Regardless, the acquisition story varies from gift to bargain and back again.
But if you see Tracy Bridges, the Victim Assistance director for the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office, carrying a new purple purse, it's a whole different story.
Thursday afternoon at City Hall Bridges was recognized by the Allstate Foundation, Matt Welker Allstate Insurance and Putnam County Family Support Services (PCFSS) as an outstanding advocate against domestic violence.
She was awarded the Purple Purse, a bag designed by actress Kerry Washington of "Scandal" TV show fame as a means of making the discussion of domestic violence fashionable. Bridges' purse is one of only 500 made for selected recipients across the country.
"It's a very fashionable purse, according to Sally," Welker smiled in a nod to his Allstate office manager Sally Fowler whom he credits with the idea of bestowing the Purple Purse on a worthy local recipient.
PCFSS nominated Bridges, who will step down as victim assistance director at the end of the year when she becomes Putnam County recorder (she's unopposed on the Nov. 4 ballot). She said she was accepting the award as "an advocate against domestic violence in our community."
"Thank you for nominating me," she told the assembled group of PCFSS staff members in the City Hall audience. "I accept this as part of the team and part of the community.
"I'm very humbled by this," added Bridges, whose children Charlie and Carmen and husband Denny were at City Hall for the brief ceremony that was followed by a mayoral proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The distinctive purple purse is designed as a conversation starter, offering an opportunity to open up a dialogue with the goal being to increase awareness about domestic violence issues, Welker noted.
The purse itself, Bridges reasoned, is emblematic of the "financial constraints that can be related to the abused and sets them back."
The Allstate Foundation, in using the Purple Purse Movement to underscore the problem, notes that one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime.
While most people only think of physical abuse when it comes to discussing domestic violence, the No. 1 reason victims stay in an abusive relationship is that they don't have the financial resources to break free.
And too often, Bridges said, a victim will have to face the question of "how did this ever happen to me?"
She told of a local story in which a well-educated and successful young woman seemed set for life with a nice car and a beautiful home. But when she met a new man, thought she was in love and shared her life with him, things all changed.
Three years later, she was alone with three young children, had lost her house, had to sell her car and was living with her parents.
"How did this happen to me?" Bridges said the victim wonders to this day.
Bridges said she plans to use the purple purse and carry it often, leaving City Hall Thursday afternoon with it slung proudly over her shoulder.
Ask her about it. After all, that's the whole point.