Wallace is the executive director of the William Kellibrew Foundation, which organizes an annual “sleep-out” to raise awareness for victims of domestic violence. Wallace and several more will sleep outside the John A. Wilson Building, where the D.C. Council meets, from 7:30 p.m. on Friday to 7:30 a.m. Saturday. How does a sleep-out in the cold bring attention to domestic violence victims?
All too often, taking to the streets is the only option these women and families have when faced with domestic violence situations. When we sleep outside, we want to bring attention to the fact that there are more dog shelters than shelters for battered women — and that shouldn’t be. It’s obviously very cold when we do it in December, and sometimes it’s snowing and raining and sleeting. But the victims of domestic violence, they don’t get to choose the weather when they leave. Either they leave, or they stay in a constant state of terror.
