CINCINNATI -- The holidays can be tough for anyone who's left with memories of a lost loved one.
For people who've lost a friend or relative to domestic violence, it can be an especially difficult time of year. The holidays might even bring up a survivor's own memories of abuse.
The K.A.S.S.I.E. Project hosted an event Sunday to help: Healing After The Holidays, an initiative that offered support after the hustle and bustle have quieted down.
Domestic violence can look like a look of things, but at its core, it's abusive behavior centered around power and control in a relationship. It could be emotional, verbal, psychological or financial, or it can be sexual and physical. According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, domestic violence has affected one in three women and one in four men. And it crosses all socioeconomic lines.
RELATED: Domestic violence accounts for nearly half of all homicides of women
K.A.S.S.I.E. stands for Keeping All Survivors Safe, Informed and Emancipated. Khrys Styles formed the organization after a good friend, Cassie Betts, was killed by her boyfriend 17 years ago, just before Christmas. Styles said she wanted to create a safe space to speak and for survivors to realize they're not alone.
"A lot of times, survivors and/or victims, we don't have outlets, we don't have support. ... and because we can't talk to family or friends sometimes, having that outlet is really difficult," said Styles, herself a survivor of childhood abuse.
At Sunday's event, domestic violence survivor Patricia A Collins, will share her experiences and how she's healed. Known to many as Peppermint Patti, Collins is the wife of Bootsy Collins.
The event is free, though donations are encouraged. Blush Event Loft is located at 345 W. Fourth Street, Cincinnati.
