He wouldn't let me wear lipstick.

Consumer Markets consultant, Maria Coleman, has three daughters and as their mother, she felt she was failing them. Maria is a victim of domestic violence. Her own mother was also a victim of abuse. Maria’s goal was to break the cycle.

...And that’s exactly what she did.

Maria’s story.

In her younger years, Maria married the man she hoped to love forever. Shortly after exchanging vows, his aggressive behaviors emerged. He controlled the way she dressed, how she presented herself, and with whom she could keep company. Food became her source of comfort and she put on weight while trying to cope with her emotions.

Eventually her husband’s anger became volatile outside the home, leading to his incarceration due to a violent crime. Remaining the loyal wife, she frequently brought the girls to visit him. With each phone call, he continued with his verbal abuse to further damage Maria’s sense of self worth.

Maria decided to have weight-loss surgery and felt better about herself with each passing day. She stopped visiting her husband and made it clear he’d not hear her voice again. Feeling empowered and confident Maria started to wear makeup and nail polish again, and she even got a tattoo. And her husband became her ex-husband.

Chapter two.

Ready to move on, Maria was happy to meet a new man who treated her well. He initially lived hundreds of miles away, and they decided it was time he move to Virginia so they could build a life together. Little did she know that she’d found herself back in the cycle she’d thought she’d broken.

After four years of stealing from her, bringing other women to her home, and abusing her both physically and emotionally, Maria had finally reached her bottom. She’d gotten a restraining order, but he continued to break in to her home and take whatever he could get his hands on.

Maria had no choice but to leave her home and move somewhere else. Unfortunately, he’d followed her from work to her new home and continued to break in. She was at a loss.

Living again.

Thanks to the support of her supervisor and work friends, Maria learned of VtoV, our employee relief fund. She received the financial assistance she needed to find safety for herself and her three daughters. Maria credits VtoV for her new found freedom and peace. At the same time, she’d finally accepted the love and support of a man she’d only been friends with for years. When the abusive ex-boyfriend took one look at Maria’s new friend, he knew not to come around again. Maria didn’t realize supportive and loving men existed, and now she’s living her best life.

Maria knows the symptoms of abuse because she’s lived them for years. As a call center consultant, she often senses when she’s speaking to a victim of domestic violence because of the clues they provide. Through these conversations, she has helped callers by providing information about resources they’d find helpful.