In the Mix: Jaden’s Ladder celebrates 10 years with “Bright Lights, Big City Black & White Gala”

Jaden’s Ladder will host its sixth annual “Bright Lights, Big City Black & White Gala” on April 5 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel with a star-studded lineup of entertainment and celebrity guests. The annual fundraiser will feature a performance by Will Champlin, a 2013 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice,” as well as appearances by NFL great Marshall Faulk, former NBA hoopster Charles Oakley, and former New England Patriot Patrick Pass and Harold Shaw. Mehki Phifer, who currently stars in the movie “Divergent” will also be in town to support the fundraiser. Guests will dine and dance to the music of HOT 96.9 DJ Roy Barboza, and will be able to bid on fabulous sports memorabilia and vacation packages during the live and silent auctions. Emceeing the event will be long-time supporter and local radio/TV personality Coach Willie Maye.

The mission of Jaden’s Ladder is to assist survivors of domestic violence with life-enhancing, post-shelter programs that provide support, build confidence and foster self-reliance. The organization provides care and guidance to empower domestic violence survivors to take back their lives and become active and vital members of the community. Over the past 10 years, Jaden’s Ladder has been able to help 200 women and their children to rebuild their lives.

Oneta Bobbett, one of the co-founders of Jaden’s Ladder, spoke with the Banner about her inspiration to do this work and the future of the organization.

Have your goals changed in any way from when you first started?

We’ve actually turned our goals this year to more of a children’s organization, focusing on really making the change of domestic violence and stopping the cycle.

My son helped us start up a portion of the non-profit last year called “Ballers to Scholars.” Jaden loves basketball, and we have girls in our programs for volleyball, and we have kids for soccer. Then I realized that one of the kids who came into our program, their parent came and was really concerned about their kids being bullied in school. You know, I went “that’s violence to them.” And so, I’m focusing on bullying with the children.

Will you still have the same process in terms of accepting referrals from shelters and extending the process with the children?

I think I would love to extend it. As a board we’re still developing it. It would be called Jaden’s Kids. And, then we want to really specialize in a summer camp. We’re really talking about an annual summer camp where we can donate to any kids from the shelters in the area from Boston to Rhode Island to wherever. And extend these scholarships to these kids to come up in this area and meet celebrity ballplayers and have mentors talk to them about being bullied as a child, or being abused by a parent.

How have you changed since it started?

I’ve become a better person. I’ve heard that from friends who’ve known me a long, long time. I’ve become less guarded. I’ve become more accepting. My women, my children have taught me so much. They’ve taught me unconditional love on top of my son. They light up my life.

On the website there’s a testimonial from one of your survivors who said, “thank you for having a vision of me even though I could not see it at the time.” How have you been able to see the vision for these women and make them believe that?

You know it’s day-to-day. When these women come to me they can’t think minute-to-minute or second-to-second. They’ve lost everything. I remember that feeling. I look at them and say “what’s your biggest goal?” They say “I want to get my RN license.” I’m like ok, “Did you graduate from high school? Ok, let’s go get your GED.” And work on that. In order to go to full-time school, we need to get you day care. So, we do these baby steps and in two years they turn around. I just set these little baby steps for them. They did all the hard work and it’s amazing. I’m so proud of them.

Speaking of the program it obviously takes funding. This is the 6th annual gala. How do you keep it going?

When you see the kids come up and they need help or you see a woman who says “I can’t go week-to-week without you,” you realize, “I can’t give up.” There have been times [when] I’m like my son is twelve, and I’ve got an adopted kid in the house, and I’m going through a divorce. I need to let go of something. And, then I think, “well, I can do a little of Jaden’s Ladder,” and then I meet my families, and I can’t let that go. I have to fight harder to make the money, to make the funding. It’s a hard thing. People like Mekhi Phifer call to say “where are you guys?” and “when can I come in?” They donate that time. Like Marshall Faulk. He finds our events. And, that gives me strength. If these guys feel that it’s worthy, and I obviously know its worthy, we have to continue this journey to make sure these families are safe.

What are your goals for the next five years for Jaden’s Ladder?

The next five years it would be to really grow the children’s program. I truly believe in my heart right now that working with the children in therapy, one on one with them, and working with them and their parents to understand the abuse, that’s ending the cycle of abuse.

The “Bright Lights, Big City Black & White Gala” is open to the general public. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. April 5 and tickets are $200 per person. All proceeds will be donated to Jaden’s Ladder. For ticket and sponsorship information, please email cj@jadensladder.org or call Jaden’s Ladder at 877-430-1118 or 603-430-1118. To learn more, please visit www.jadensladder.org.