Sunday, October 7, 2012

THE LAURA COWAN STORY: Told by Sherna of The O.I.A.B. Organization
Watch live streaming video from theoabishow at livestream.com
Community Reacts to Murder of Mother and Child http://www.wkyc.com/video/1461715757001/1/Community-Reacts-to-Murder-of-Mother-and-Child Everyone had hoped to find 19-year-old Latasha Jackson and her 13-month-old baby, Chaniya Wynn alive. http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1461715757001

Community hero takes her life back | Community Spirit | Downtown News

Community hero takes her life back | Community Spirit | Downtown News CLEVELAND - A woman who has experienced years of abuse has found a way to help others. Laura Cowan works full time at Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and volunteers at the Domestic Violence Center. She's an advocate and domestic violence survivor. She was terrorized by her polygamist husband while living in California. A complete stranger freed her from years of domestic violence. During the abuse, Cowan kept a letter with her chronicling the abuse. While inside a post office, she was able to pass the letter to a postal clerk. The clerk took the letter and mailed it for her. Two days later the sheriff's department came and arrested her husband and freed her, her children and the other family members who had suffered abuse. Cowan is now back in her hometown of Cleveland, giving back. She didn't let her past bring her down. She went to school and received an associate's degree in Applied Business Management in Information Technology. She now works for the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority teaching and training those living in their facilities on computers and new technology. This survivor is a member of the Living Truth Center in East Cleveland. Cowan was nominated and won the People's Choice for the 2010 American Red Cross Heroes Award. She was also selected as one of the Plain Dealer's community heroes and will be recognized March 14.