WALKING IN HER PURPOSE — A once battered woman who encountered years of being victimized by domestic abuse, Atlanta businesswoman Kendra Turner, 45-year-old native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, deemed it essential some time ago to share of stories and testimonies as a way to help transform lives for the better. To her credit and out of act of obedience to Almighty God, Turner in the Spring of 2015 established a notable foundation called S.O.D.A.
You best believe Kendra Turner knows.
She knows what it’s like to be embarrassed.
She knows what it’s like to be gripped and saddled by the spirit of shame.
She knows what it’s like to harbor the spirit of fear for long periods of time.
She knows what it’s like to be unjustifiably judged amid a tumultuous, chaotic season in her life, one in which she didn’t merely ask to be a part of.
Most importantly, she knows full well that as she says quite often, “There is life after abuse.”
Regardless, just like the Biblical story of Job, whom God strategically handpicked to endure arguably the most challenging times of his life, Turner — given that about which she faced — had ultimately found herself faced with the kind of adversity that would have prompted others to throw in the towel.
“I wanted to offer survivor to victim support,” Tuner told Making Headline News this week. “The only person who better understands a battered woman would be a once battered woman.”
To her credit and out of an act of obedience to Almighty God, Turner in the Spring of 2015 established a notable foundation called S.O.D.A.
DEFYING ALL ODDS — Just like the Biblical story of Job, whom God strategically handpicked to endure arguably the most challenging times of his life, Turner — given that about which she faced — had ultimately found herself faced with the kind of adversity that would have prompted others to throw in the towel.
An acronym that stands for Survivors Of Domestic Abuse, Turner is widely known as an Atlanta-based advocate, survivor, and overcomer of domestic abuse which, as a result, has inspired her to become an advocate mostly for teens and young adult women, both nationally and internationally.
“S.O.D.A. was birthed because I was a survivor of domestic abuse,” Turner said.
Turner’s organization was started in the aftermath of what was a rocky, yet stormy eight-year marriage to a man whom once stared her in the face and pledged to honor and love her as Christ loves the church.
Unfortunately for Turner, though, all she experienced, really, was a marriage that was mired by physical, verbal, emotional and sometimes financial abuse, a marriage that had ultimately ended in divorce.
For her efforts, Turner has been named a nominee for “Motivational Speaker Of The Year” in the upcoming inaugural TAP Awards in November in Jonesboro.
Still, even after having pressed and navigated her way through such a trying chapter in her life, amongst the things about which Turner had come to discover was that God was there all the time, right there positioning and equipping and empowering her for a time such as now.
“What I love most about S.O.D.A is that it allows me to provide encouragement, uplift and teach self-love to women who have survived domestic abuse and to those who are wanting out,” said Turner, explaining the purpose for her organization. “I love the fact that I can be transparent with these women and they understand where I’m coming from.”
As usual, the feedback when sharing her experiences surrounding domestic abuse has been downright emotional for those who can attest to Turner’s situation.
“It’s a bitter sweet moment seeing them cry but that’s just part of releasing the hurt, anger and betrayal,” Turner said. “The best feeling of all is when a woman tells you how you’ve given them courage to leave.”
Now that her failed married, coupled with her constant battles through domestic abuse are all but distant memories, Turner’s organization appears to have become a movement, considering she has been afforded opportunities to share her story on much larger platforms across the country.
Now that her failed married, coupled with her constant battles through domestic abuse are all but distant memories, Turner’s organization appears to have become a movement, considering she has been afforded opportunities to share her story on much larger platforms across the country.
Besides partnering with a host of African-American Greek organizations to promote S.O.D.A, Turner has spoken before sizable audiences at several Historically Black Colleges And Universities. And over the next three months, she has speaking engagements scheduled in a variety of places around the country, most notably in Atlanta, Oakbrook, Illinois, Raleigh, North Carolina, Memphis, Port Gibson, Mississippi, Chicago, Treme, Louisiana, and Jonesboro, Arkansas.
In addition, Turner has been named a nominee for “Motivational Speaker Of The Year” in the upcoming inaugural TAP Awards in November in Jonesboro.
“I’m grateful that God chose me for this assignment, because I’ve gotten the chance to see that so many women are silent and hurting because of domestic abuse,” Turner said. “Domestic abuse is one of those topics that people want to sweep under the rug, but I refuse to.”
Because after all, she knows full well that as she says quite often, “There is life after abuse.”
For more information about Kendra Turner or to schedule her for a speaking engagement, send email to: soda.info2015@gmail.com. Also, follow her on Instagram @iams.o.d.a and on Facebook under “Kendra Turner.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to andre@makingheadlinenews.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
Andre Johnson 
She knows what it’s like to be unjustifiably judged amid a tumultuous, chaotic season in her life, one in which she didn’t merely ask to be a part of.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
