by Shaniele Brown
South Jersey Information Equity Project
Tea gatherings have traditionally been esteemed events that cultivate meaningful conversations over exquisite finger foods. On Sunday, May 23, 2024, Lawnside Councilwoman Dawn Wright-McLeod, assisted by Councilwoman Rhonda Wardlow Hurley, hosted the “Sister, Where Do You Stand in These Times?” afternoon tea at the Wayne Bryant Senior Community Center, 323 East Charleston Avenue, Lawnside. This event united women of color, elegantly dressed in their finest attire and colorful hats, in a supportive atmosphere where they could explore and address the childhood traumas that have impacted their adult lives.
“It’s wonderful to see everyone here. Nobody’s a guest; we’re all family. I love you all, and thank you for coming,” Councilwoman Wardlow Hurley said.
The keynote speaker, Leslie Morris, a native of Long Branch, New Jersey, has had a distinguished career. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she worked as a social worker in community-based health care at local, state, and national levels. In 1987, Morris became the director of the first comprehensive school-based health center in New Jersey, implementing one of the nation’s first school-based HIV testing programs. She is the author of “How Ya Like Me Now?” which details her experiences growing up in public housing and overcoming emotional problems to defy social predictions. Additionally, she is the founder of Women of the Dream, a non-profit organization that mentors girls and women in Camden and other underserved areas, preparing them for economic, career, and personal success.
“I’m in Camden every day in these schools, and I can tell you our girls are struggling. They’re struggling with childhood trauma, many teachers and many instances that don’t understand them, unfair suspensions, and more,” Morris said.
Morris presented the audience with an in-depth PowerPoint presentation that highlighted the different aspects of childhood trauma, responses, and solutions to addressing them. “Having trauma affects every area of your life: personal relationships, performance in the workforce, partner relationships, and parenting style,” she said. She also discussed how our parents’ unresolved childhood trauma can affect us. “We’re dealing with girls who are dealing with childhood trauma, and then we’re dealing with their parents who have trauma,” Morris said.
As the afternoon went on, Morris detailed various types of childhood trauma, including exposure to domestic violence, spousal abuse, sexual abuse, molestation, sexual assault, rape, physical and verbal abuse, and emotional neglect. She emphasized that verbal abuse is the most significant form of trauma our girls face.
“Sometimes verbal abuse can be worse than physical abuse because it cuts like a knife. Hearing words like ‘you’ll never be anything’ not only cuts, but they also internalize it and then behave accordingly,” Morris said.
As the afternoon went on, Morris detailed various types of childhood trauma, including exposure to domestic violence, spousal abuse, sexual abuse, molestation, sexual assault, rape, physical and verbal abuse, and emotional neglect. She emphasized that verbal abuse is the most significant form of trauma our girls face.
“Sometimes verbal abuse can be worse than physical abuse because it cuts like a knife. Hearing words like ‘you’ll never be anything’ not only cuts, but they also internalize it and then behave accordingly,” Morris said.
“I just want to thank Leslie for the presentation. I know we, as women in this room, work hard and wear heavy crowns. When you’re a woman, there’s a lot going on and a lot we’ve been through. I’m just asking each one of you to take tidbits from the event and apply them,” Councilwoman Wright-McLeod said.
This story was produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University’s South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation.
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