Jackson Free Press

Gwen Bouie-Haynes, the division director of adult services for Catholic Charities Diocese of Jackson's Domestic Violence Services Center, has spent nearly 30 years helping victims of domestic violence in Jackson.

She first joined the organization in 1987, moving to Jackson from Hazlehurst to serve as director of its Shelter for Battered Families, which provides victims of domestic violence with a safe place to live while receiving help. She held that position for three years before taking on her current role.



"I came on with Catholic Charities as a result of having close family members in violent relationships, and at that time, not a lot of resources were available to them," she says. "I wanted to be able to impact the lives of families and was concerned about how often I saw domestic violence happening and people thinking it wasn't their business. I wanted people to realize that domestic violence affects the whole community and is not just a woman's issue."



Through her job, Bouie-Haynes is responsible for providing administrative services for all of Catholic Charities' employees who work directly with victims of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Services Center, which was established in 1980, provides nine Mississippi counties with services such as case management, counseling, transportation, child care, food services and education.



Bouie-Haynes, 56, received a bachelor's degree in psychology and mental health from Tougaloo College in 1982 and a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1987. She later received a PhD in social work, social policy, planning and administration from Jackson State University.

Bouie-Haynes is also charged with organizing Catholic Charities' fifth annual Purple Dress Run on Oct. 27. Participants in the 5K run through downtown Jackson are encouraged to wear a purple dress, costume or other attire to raise money for domestic-violence victims. As October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Catholic Charities uses the event to promote awareness and prevention of domestic violence, and to educate the Jackson community on the services Catholic Charities provides, Bouie-Haynes says.



"As I've provided services in this field over the years, one of the most important things I've found (that) people need to realize is that domestic violence is something that affects all communities regardless of economic and social boundaries," she says. "Getting the message out is important for victims so that people know how to respond to domestic violence, and victims know their rights. We love to engage all our allies in the Jackson community through events like the Purple Dress Run because this truly is a community issue."



Bouie-Haynes and her husband, Joseph Curtis Haynes, have two children, Andrea and Curtis Haynes, both 25.