Beyond the Purple Ribbon: Turning Domestic Violence Awareness into Action
How the M. Ariel Love Foundation is advancing prevention, education, and community engagement during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Every October, communities across the nation come together to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We wear purple, honor survivors, remember lives lost, and raise awareness about the devastating impact of relationship violence.
But at the M. Ariel Love Foundation, we believe awareness must be accompanied by something equally important: action.
Because recognizing domestic violence is only part of the solution. Teaching individuals, especially young people, how to recognize unhealthy relationship patterns before they become normalized is where meaningful prevention can begin.
This October, our commitment goes beyond wearing purple. We are creating conversations, building partnerships, providing educational experiences, and using our voices to help others understand what healthy love should look like.
A Mission Born from Loss, Driven by Prevention
The M. Ariel Love Foundation was established in memory of Maylaysia Ariel Levy, whose life was tragically taken by domestic violence at just 19 years old.
For her mother, our Founder and Executive Director, Quin Levy-Flemings, Maylaysia's death became the beginning of a lifelong commitment to helping other families recognize the dangers of unhealthy relationships before tragedy occurs.
What began as a mother's determination to honor her daughter has grown into a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and young adults through education, awareness, self-worth, and healthy relationship development.
Our guiding belief is simple: Young people should not have to experience harm before learning what healthy love looks like.
Through our youth-focused initiatives, including LoveWise™, Next Level Connections™, and our Youth Advisory Council, we are working to create opportunities for young people to recognize warning signs, understand boundaries, develop their voices, and make informed relationship decisions.
We recognize that prevention requires more than telling someone to leave an unhealthy relationship. It requires education, supportive environments, accessible resources, and communities willing to have conversations that are sometimes uncomfortable but necessary.
October in Action: Creating Spaces for Reflection and Growth
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an especially meaningful time for our Foundation, and this October is filled with opportunities to connect, educate, and engage.
Reflections of Worth | October 17, 2026
On Saturday, October 17, the Foundation will host Reflections of Worth: Seeing Myself Clearly & Choosing Healthy Love in Missouri City, Texas.
This interactive workshop invites participants to examine how their experiences, relationships, and personal beliefs influence the way they see themselves and what they accept from others.
Through meaningful discussion, shared perspectives, and our Affirmation Mirror Experience, participants will explore the connection between self-worth, boundaries, and healthy relationships.
The workshop will also feature survivor and advocate Carolyn Thomas, whose lived experience brings an important perspective to conversations surrounding resilience, self-worth, and healing.
Our goal is not simply for participants to leave with a decorated mirror, but to leave with a deeper understanding of their value and the importance of choosing relationships rooted in respect and emotional safety.
Seats are still available, and community members are encouraged to register.
Elevating Youth Voices
Our Youth Advisory Council continues to provide young people with opportunities to participate in meaningful conversations, share ideas, and help shape initiatives designed for their peers.
This October, we are continuing our efforts to engage youth through leadership opportunities and activities that encourage connection, confidence, and healthy relationship awareness.
We believe young people should have a voice in the conversations and decisions that affect them. Their perspectives are essential to creating prevention efforts that are relevant, relatable, and effective.
Purple Reign Luncheon | October 24, 2026
The Foundation will also participate as a community vendor at the Purple Reign Luncheon.
This engagement provides another opportunity to introduce community members to our mission, share information about our programs, and connect with individuals and organizations who recognize the importance of domestic violence prevention.
Partnership and collaboration are essential to expanding our reach. Every conversation creates an opportunity to connect someone with information, encouragement, or a resource they may not have known existed.
Taking the Conversation Beyond Our Organization
Throughout October, our Founder, Quin Levy-Flemings, is also participating in several community conversations and media engagements focused on domestic violence awareness, survivor experiences, family impact, faith, and prevention.
These scheduled appearances include:
October 9 — Free Yourself Friyay Podcast: Sharing personal experiences, perspectives, and the importance of healthy relationships and self-worth.
October 22 — Port City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Fireside
Conversation: Participating in a discussion about domestic violence, the challenges families and survivors encounter, community systems, and opportunities for meaningful prevention.
October 26 — Lady Power Inc. Domestic Violence Awareness Month Conversation: Joining advocates, survivors, and family members to discuss warning signs, family experiences, advocacy, and the importance of community support.
October 27 — Church Podcast: Continuing conversations that connect personal experiences, faith, relationships, and awareness.
For our Founder, these opportunities represent more than speaking engagements. They are opportunities to honor Maylaysia's life, bring visibility to the experiences of families affected by domestic violence, and encourage others to recognize that prevention is a shared responsibility.
They also reinforce an important truth: domestic violence is not an issue that belongs to one organization, one community, or one month.
It requires ongoing conversations in our homes, schools, faith communities, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Looking Ahead: Five Years of MayDay
As we continue our October initiatives, preparations are also underway for the 5th Annual MayDay Gala, taking place Saturday, February 6, 2027, at Quail Valley Golf Club in Missouri City, Texas.
This milestone represents five years of remembrance, resilience, and community impact.
MayDay was created to honor Maylaysia's life and has grown into a signature fundraising and awareness event that remembers individuals whose lives were lost to relationship violence, recognizes survivors, and brings the community together in support of prevention.
The 2027 gala will feature meaningful tributes, community voices, artistic expression, and opportunities for supporters to contribute to the Foundation's continued educational and outreach efforts.
As we prepare to celebrate this fifth anniversary, we are also seeking community partners, sponsors, and individuals who believe in investing in prevention and helping young people build healthier futures.
Early Bird ticket sales begin November 16, 2026.
MayDay is more than a gala. It is a reminder that even in the presence of profound loss, a community can come together to create meaningful change.
Prevention Is Everyone's Responsibility
Domestic violence does not always begin with physical violence.
It may begin with controlling behavior disguised as concern, isolation mistaken for devotion, jealousy presented as love, or repeated disrespect that gradually becomes accepted as normal.
These patterns can be difficult to recognize, especially when someone has never been taught what healthy relationships should look like.
That is why our work emphasizes education before crisis.
We encourage parents and caregivers to have age-appropriate conversations with young people about boundaries, respect, communication, and emotional safety.
We encourage community members to listen without judgment when someone shares concerns about a relationship.
We encourage survivors to recognize that support and resources are available, and we encourage organizations and community leaders to invest in prevention rather than waiting until harm has occurred.
Most importantly, we want young people to understand that love should never require them to sacrifice their safety, dignity, or sense of self.
Moving Beyond Awareness
This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we invite our community to do more than acknowledge the issue.
Start a conversation. Share an educational resource. Attend a workshop. Support a survivor. Encourage a young person. Partner with an organization working toward prevention.
The actions may look different, but each has the potential to contribute to a culture where healthy relationships are understood, expected, and supported.
At the M. Ariel Love Foundation, we will continue to educate, advocate, collaborate, and create spaces where individuals feel empowered to recognize their worth and make informed choices.
Because our mission does not begin and end in October.
Awareness matters. Education empowers. Prevention saves lives.
Safe Love Saves Lives.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Attend Reflections of Worth:
October 17, 2026, in Missouri City, Texas. Registration is available while seats remain.
Support MayDay 2027:
Join us on February 6, 2027, as we commemorate five years of remembrance, resilience, and impact. Sponsorship and community partnership opportunities are available.
Connect With Our Mission:
Learn more about our youth initiatives, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved.
If you or someone you know needs support related to domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or through thehotline.org. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Comments