It would be her first ever local concert since 2003 at Mellon Arena and this is an important time for a local domestic violence agency which is benefiting from her generosity, her voice and her personal experience.

Last year, 5,200 people sought shelter or services at the Women’s Center and Shelter of Pittsburgh, where Christina’s mother is on the board.

The singer herself stops in for visits when she’s in town. It’s been a powerful witness.

“We have found that it’s empowering for some of the girls here that Christina is a friend to WC&S and why and we’ve heard that when they hear from the counselors that Christina experienced domestic violence in her home it helps them in their journey of healing,” Shelter Development Director Ellen Gamble said.

Some of the concert-goers will get a scarf designed by Christina for Lifetime and the “End Violence Against Women” campaign.

While domestic violence can happen to any family, regardless of age, income level or race, there has been an increase in violence against younger women.

“We do see in the 15 to 24 year olds there’s more violence than we had seen 20 years ago. So that’s a population we need to watch and make some interventions,” Shirl Regan, the shelter’s executive director, said.

“When someone like Christina writes songs about what she’s experienced, talks about it, does a PSA it brings it out to the world and says, ‘This is an issue, it happened to me, it’s happening to others and we all have a stake in stopping the violence,’ “ she said.

Way to Go GIRL… you rock!!!

Tags: ,

Original post by Suzi