In an ongoing fight against domestic violence, a Twin Cities family has found strength in advocacy after a personal tragedy. Maria's Voice, formed shortly after Lissa Weimelt and Bill Pew lost their 28-year-old daughter, Maria, to domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, has now become a beacon for education and prevention. According to a CBS News Minnesota interview, Weimelt explained that their organization's mission is rooted in the loss they endured, "Maria was just the best daughter two parents could have. A lover of animals and nature, and she was a competitive cheerleader, a competitive gymnast."
Standing as testaments to Maria's memory, the couple propelled their grief into proactive measures, educating the community about the warning signs of domestic abuse. Maria's Voice has reached an impressive number of people, having trained over 7,500 city employees across 15 cities last year, as reported by CBS News Minnesota. Furthermore, they extended their impact to 34,000 parishioners, striving to provide not just awareness but the language needed to address this pervasive issue. "They don't know what to do. They don't know what to say. Maybe the fall back is 'it's none of my business,' because it's so uncomfortable," Angie Bottema, director of education programs and community engagement for Maria's Voice, told CBS News Minnesota.
In a unique approach targeting male audiences, Maria's Voice recently launched 'Bold Voices' – a new video series where men speak candidly to other men about the realities of domestic abuse. In the first of such series, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges took a strong stand against domestic violence, sharing his personal experiences as revealed in a social media post by the Bloomington Police Department, MN. In a symbol of community solidarity and education, Chief Hodges becomes a voice for change – the video link is made accessible in the comments of the post.
Steve Curtis, a father and husband inspired by the message of Maria's Voice, also stepped forward to advocate for a better understanding of domestic violence. As he shared in the CBS News Minnesota article, recognizing the issue requires courage in confronting the uncomfortable. "When you see something and you don't understand, it's ok to ask those hard questions," Curtis said. Meanwhile, Weimelt finds solace and motivation in her daughter's memory, conveying a sense of purpose lent by Maria herself, "I hear her say, 'Mom, quit your crying and just get to work,'". This family's resolve, through Maria's Voice, seeks to change the discourse on domestic abuse, ensuring their daughter's legacy endures as more than a memory – an active instrument for creating safer, violence-free homes.
