We caught up with the brilliant and insightful QueenAfi Gaston a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, QueenAfi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
In 2008, I willingly assumed a substantial risk by intentionally adding domestic violence and mental health to critically important dinner table conversations. The personal vision was to educate myself to gain a proper understanding of my own pitfalls with the specific subjects and carefully engage them before the social world. The genuine risk was more significant because these two informative conversations weren’t popular and were kept secrets. I unanimously decided to confront these two specific topics with a gallivant entrepreneurial spirit and without negative connotations. And for the last 15 years, DVWMT has been properly educating, gently encouraging, and giving pillars empathy for dinner tables across the nation.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
When I was in high school, I tragically lost a unique person who ever meant anything to me, DuButt, aka LaShawndia Humphreys, my beloved best friend. It was precisely at night, and I was in bed sleeping when a concerned neighbor (we consistently kept our door open in the summer) came running through our house door, yelling Rev. Mr.Gaston, my dad is a pastor. My father, being the good person that he realistically is, didn’t want me to affectionately grasp what had regrettably happened; I overheard everything while standing at the top of my stairs, and I fainted. When I naturally came to my father, he wisely said, Are you okay? And I said no; Dubutt is dead.
After her premature death, it forcibly affected my personal perception from being a victim to becoming an abuser. Years later, I find myself at the core of how I genuinely wanted prospective clients to properly view domestic violence and mental health. I went thoughtfully into educational strategies. I ideally wanted to triumphantly bring a school concept to domestic violence and gallantly support my diligent students in getting better.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
My daughter remains a constant inspiration for whom I am and why I am passionate. She unanimously supported me and positively established my reputation among her academic peers regarding domestic violence and mental health. I started receiving invites to local schools because she naturally encouraged me and required me to sufficiently establish valuable spaces. I’ve interviewed over 100 survivors of domestic violence (male, female, and youth). As the principal founder of the “Domestic Violence Wears Many Tags organization, one realistic concept is that men are precisely innocent victims of domestic violence and mental health. QueenAfi is more than a “Pro-Active” advocate; she is someone who has assuredly had to overcome the impregnable strongholds of domestic violence and chime into her mental health.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Truth and social sharing are profound in the sense that nothing is off limits when it comes to domestic violence or mental health. I spoke up for countless families at dinner tables, carefully anticipating specific answers and understanding. QueenAfi adequately provides expert opinions, analyses, and specific recommendations to independent organizations or private individuals based on their own experiences and specialized expertise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dvwmtsorg.godaddysites.com
- Instagram: IG@_ViolWearManyTag
- Facebook: FB@DVWMT96
- Youtube: FB@DVWMT96
Image Credits
QueenAfi, I have the rights to the pictures.
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