New nonprofit building information network to combat domestic abuse

A new nonprofit organization based in Westport, Connecticut is aiming to become a centralized information hub for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, connecting them to information and services to help not only navigate and leave abusive relationships but also deal with post-separation abuse.

Founder of Rock the Walls Foundation Inc ., Lisa Pinney-Keusch, says that it is often difficult for domestic violence victims to wade through online searches for information, help, and services and she hopes to become a one-stop portal where victims and survivors will have easy access to vetted information, support groups, essential resources, and services.

“You get on Google, and you spend months figuring it out, and then you don’t know who to trust. Googling doesn’t help them know they are safe,” Pinney-Keusch said in an interview, adding that the organization has already started assisting families in search of help. “Thousands of people have this information, but it’s fragmented. I want to fix that.”

Pinney-Keusch says Rock the Walls was born out of her own personal experiences, including the contacts and resources she developed through her experiences in Connecticut’s family court system. The organization hopes to help other women navigate not only abusive relationships, but post-separation issues like family court, claims of parental alienation, and the legal system, according to a review of the website.

Pinney-Keusch says he was also spurred by the disappearance and murder of Jennifer Dulos by her estranged husband during a family court case, an infamous case that spurred changes to Connecticut’s domestic abuse laws.

The Dulos case has been pointed to by women to highlight the dangers they face during separation, calling for reforms to the family court system which they say enable continuing forms of financial and legal abuse. The Dulos case, along with the murder of Jennifer Magnano, spurred Jennifer’s Law in Connecticut, which classified coercive control – essentially one partner controlling the other through threats, harassment, intimidation, or financial control – as a form of abuse.

“Rock the Walls was born out of necessity,” Pinney-Keusch said. “I asked myself: what can I do to help women dealing with this? And this is what I came up with. I’m shocked by what I learn every day.”

According to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV), a large, established nonprofit comprised of 18 member organizations that help domestic abuse survivors in Connecticut, roughly 38,000 adults and children utilized their member services between 2020 and 2021, although they indicate the true number of domestic violence victims is much higher.

Their numbers also show that 309 people were killed by their intimate partner between 2000 and 2021. CCADV also connects people to free services throughout the state, including counseling, support groups, emergency shelters.

With the existence of many organizations dedicated to domestic violence, Pinney-Keusch acknowledges she isn’t “reinventing the wheel,” but is hoping to create a “one-stop shop.”

“I’m bringing the important information into one space, and we are going through each and every resource that we make available,” Pinney-Keusch said. “There is so much corruption—even with resources deemed to be safe, you just never know. Awareness is critical, understanding the power and money that supersede truth, justice, and safety in the Family Court ‘industries’ worldwide. Knowledge and education around this subject are vital for victims to protect themselves, and their children.”

With any nonprofit venture there is always the prospect of raising money, something Pinney-Keusch hopes to do using her background in the music and event-planning industry to arrange concerts and high-profile events to garner support. John Popper of the band Blues Traveler donated an auction package for the nonprofit’s launch in May, which, she says, generated significant donations.

“Music is the international language that everyone understands. The words resonate and they’ve got big loud voices,” Pinney-Keusch said. “I’m at it alone right now, but the feedback, connections, and collaboration opportunities are pouring in every day. Social media is crucial in spreading awareness, which is key to prevention, saving lives, and empowering people to break free from the cycle of abuse and begin to rebuild their lives.”

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