Pathways to Brightness

Welcome to Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation. The Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation (2DEF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to educating, strengthening, and empowering women and children affected by domestic violence and various socio-economic conditions. These conditions often hinder their ability to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency, limiting their success and impact within the community. 2DEF's programs and services address these issues by providing housing placement, rental assistance, trauma relief counseling, literacy education, prevention strategies, safety planning, and connections to other vital community resources. Recognizing the severe impact of domestic violence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation, in collaboration with the Aldermanic Board of Saint Louis and Congresswoman Cori Bush, acknowledges the crisis as an internal epidemic within a pandemic. Missouri reports the third-highest rate of domestic violence in the nation, with 41.8% of women and 35.2% of men experiencing intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking. In 2018, there were 45,548 reported domestic violence incidents in Missouri, marking a 10.3% increase since 2014. The COVID-19 lockdowns further exacerbated the situation, causing domestic violence cases to surge by over 200% in certain regions in 2020. As an organization, 2DEF is dedicated to rebuilding the family unit's core and encouraging survivors to focus on their strengths and well-being. Through financial literacy classes, support groups, personal development courses, and mental health counseling, the foundation aims to inspire, uplift, and empower the women it serves.