Women’s Luncheon on Domestic Violence in Tuscaloosa Next Week

The Coley Agency will host its fifth annual Purple Purse Luncheon on Wednesday, October 18.

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The luncheon will be held at the Tuscaloosa River Market from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. It will highlight women's issues, educating individuals how to anticipate and disrupt the cycle of abuse in relationships.

Luncheon Schedule:

• 10-11 a.m: Discussion of Women's Health with Dr. Pamela Foster, UA School of Medicine
• 11 a.m.- noon: Discussion of Women's Finance with Jackie Johnson of Alabama One
• Noon - 1 p.m: Luncheon with survivors of domestic violence

The event is free to public. However, donations will be accepted with all proceeds going to Turning Point of Tuscaloosa, a help center for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

In addition to Turning Point, the Purple Purse Luncheon has also partnered with the City of Tuscaloosa, Alabama One, and Alabama Power.

The coordinator of the luncheon, Michele Coley, discussed how the luncheon has expanded since its inception in 2019. "In the past, I would just have a luncheon with a speaker," said Coley. "But this year I decided to add a couple more things." Namely, health and personal finance.

Coley explained how those topics are deeply intertwined with women's issues. "When you're in a domestic violence situation and your health is bad," said Coley, "it can affect a lot of your well-being as a woman."

Additionally, Coley revealed that having fully-joint finances in a marriage can lead to relationship issues. "All of a sudden you find yourself in a situation where you don't have two dollars to your name," she said. This luncheon aims to educate women on how to respond to and avoid difficult situations like that.

"We hope to have 100 people attend this year," said Coley. "October is domestic violence awareness month. We want to highlight that because it empowers everyone."