GIVING BACK {charity spotlight}
BLOOM365
Uprooting abuse and helping to build healthy relationships
Jamie Killin | Web Editor
THE STORY Bloom365 founder and executive director Donna Bartos began her advocacy for domestic violence victims when she founded the Purple Ribbon Council to Cut Out Domestic Abuse in 2006. “In 2006, we didn’t have the Ray Rice situation. We didn’t have the #MeToo campaign. No one was talking about this,” she said. “It was still in the shadows. It was still very stigmatized.” The organization partnered with the national organization Cut It Out to educate hair stylists and nail technicians about how to recognize signs of abuse in their clients and how to respond in a positive and impactful way. As Bartos became more involved in domestic violence advocacy, she learned there was a need for preventative education. Unfortunately, a lack of funding prevented many organizations from doing the work, 38 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | JUNE 2018
especially when there was still a need for shelter services and victim care. She continued to grow the organization and developed the “Are you blooming or wilting?” tool, which helps to educate people on the root causes of abusive and healthy relationships. The organization then began operating as Bloom365 in 2015. The Morrison Institute for Public Policy deemed the Bloom for Healthy Relationships program an evidence-informed and promising practice for the prevention of teen dating abuse — further propelling Bartos to develop the three-step Bloom It Up program, which includes education, advocacy and activism. The program has now reached nearly 15,000 teens and has launched a peer-topeer advocacy training project and group emotional support for teen victims of issues such as dating abuse and domestic violence.
