Drea Kelly conversation to highlight EBCC mission

By ETHAN HARTLEY
Posted 2/19/19

Those intrigued by the Lifetime documentary television series “Surviving R. Kelly” will have the chance to see one of the series’ integral voices in person, sharing stories of her own survival …

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Drea Kelly conversation to highlight EBCC mission

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Those intrigued by the Lifetime documentary television series “Surviving R. Kelly” will have the chance to see one of the series’ integral voices in person, sharing stories of her own survival and perseverance through a marriage with R. Kelly himself, as Drea Kelly will visit the Warwick Country Club on March 20 at 12 p.m.

The conversation is part of the 40th anniversary celebration for the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, which started in Warwick with one small state shelter consisting of 23 emergency beds for victims of domestic abuse and has since expanded into a comprehensive domestic abuse help network that works with 3,000 individuals each year.

The announcement of the high-profile speaker has already generated plenty of buzz online. Interestingly enough, however, the center booked Drea Kelly before she earned nationwide acclaim for her participation in the docuseries.

“Someone on staff had seen a YouTube video with Drea Kelly and I connected with her agent and we booked her,” said Judith Earle, executive director for the Buffum Chace Center. “About a week after that, all the R. Kelly documentary stuff came out and we were ahead of that. Our motivation was that she had a message and a story to tell, and we thought she would tell it well and people would have an opportunity to connect with her.”

Earle said the booking of the event as a conversation is important, as there will be some mingling and lunch served to begin the day, but that the majority of the afternoon will focus on a question and answer portion where Drea will share her experience and answer questions.

Having such conversations is a crucial part of the center’s mission, which is not only to help individuals who are experiencing domestic violence, but to spark dialogue that increases awareness and removes stigma associated with speaking out against those who commit acts of violence.

“That’s what’s going to make the difference,” Earle said. “We know we’re doing good work here in house, we know our clients are getting all the services we can possibly give them to get safe and stay safe. But when the issue is out there in the public and people know about it and talk about it and become aware of the signs of abuse in people around them, that’s what’s going to make the difference for us.”

Earle said that the event is just one of many that will be occurring this year, but that interest for the Drea Kelly event has already been “amazing,” with several tables already committed. She said about 200 people can attend the event. Tickets cost $50 apiece and all proceeds go to the operations of the center. They can be ordered over the phone by calling 738-9700 or through the center’s website at https://ebccenter.org/.

“Surviving R. Kelly” aired in early January and brings together a series of women who corroborate vicious rumors regarding the acclaimed R&B artist and producer, who has been engulfed in scandal for decades regarding everything from marrying the late R&B star Aaliyah when she was only 15; a video in which he allegedly urinated on another allegedly underage girl that resulted in 21 counts of making child pornography (for which he was found not guilty after a jury could not determine the girl was indeed underage); and numerous tales of sexual exploitation and sexual assault, including his most recent alleged participation in what has been billed as a sex harem or cult.

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