Editor’s note: This article was a finalist for the America Inspired Contest, which celebrated extraordinary people making a difference across the United States. We invite you to read about these amazing people.

She never imagined that she would become a statistic--a victim of domestic violence.  Yet somehow it happened.  At age 50, following her divorce, she was in a relationship with a man who was becoming more and more controlling. When she tried to end the relationship, he kidnapped her, took her to his home, and physically assaulted her, breaking her rib.  As he was beating her, he kept repeating the words "I love you."  

It was only later, after surviving this assault, that she learned this man had abused previous partners.  When she was interviewed by police and they provided her with a list of common traits of an abusive relationship, she was shocked to find that her relationship was a classic case.  As an educated woman, why wasn't she more aware of these signs?  Why weren't others?

Liz Oster refused to remain a victim.  She took her experience and her passion and started the local nonprofit Courage is Change. The mission of Courage is Change is to end the generational cycle of abuse and violence by empowering children, youth and adults to create non-violent communities through healthy relationship development.

Courage is Change seeks to address all the causes and effects of violence and abuse in the lives of individuals through education, communication and community involvement.  The organization understands that respect and acceptance are essential in building healthy communities, and that healthy communities serve as support systems; healthy, supportive adults prove to be better and more aware parents. If healthy, supportive parents are part of a true community, they can serve as a support system and a positive example not only to their own children, but to other children in need within their community. Educating children and building community ensures real change: “I thought the assault happened to me for a greater reason,” Oster says. “There are too many holes in our system; we're trying really hard to make a difference, but we're not even touching the surface of the problem. We're putting Band-Aids on them.”

So instead of covering the problems with Band-Aids, Liz is addressing the root of the problem of interpersonal violence so that as a community we can become more proactive than reactive.  One way the organization has combined the goals of increasing education and building community is through sponsoring Red Tent Clubs in the Boulder Valley high schools. The aim of the Red Tent Club is to provide a space for young women to create a community, to be accepted, to learn tolerance and to create healthy relationships with peers. Young women learn to find their voice, to listen to the power of intuition, and to increase confidence in their abilities.  In order to create healthy relationships, young women must be encouraged to empower themselves to lead healthy, creative, and successful lives. 

In September 2010, Courage is Change also co-sponsored a Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, together with Abby’s Voice and Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Non-Violence.  The purpose of this event is to create a unique and powerful public experience that educates individuals and communities about the causes of sexualized violence, provides them with prevention and remediation strategies, and empowers them to further develop and implement this knowledge interpersonally and politically.  A second walk is scheduled for the spring of 2012.

Most recently, Courage is Change has partnered with the Colorado Mammoth in support of the organization’s ‘It STOPS with ME’ campaign to end domestic violence. The Mammoth and Courage is Change have worked together to promote the organization’s mission of empowering people to create non-violent communities through healthy relationship development:  “It is vital to ensure that people of all ages feel safe and secure in their respective environments,” said Mammoth President and General Manager Steve Govett. The Mammoth’s first initiative involved the creation of a public service announcement, which is now airing on local television and radio stations, and features several Mammoth players taking the ‘It STOPS with ME’ pledge.   The Denver Roller Dolls are currently producing a PSA for the campaign as well.  

Courage is Change also recently announced a new partnership with GlobeMed at CU-Boulder.  GlobeMed, a student run nonprofit organization with chapters across the country, focuses on improving global health equity by partnering with grass-roots non-governmental organizations (NGO's) around the world.  GlobeMed at CU-Boulder recognizes that health equity and social justice are not only concerns for developing countries, but are a real issue here in Boulder, Colorado as well.  Through this partnership Courage is Change and GlobeMed hope to spread the word about domestic and dating violence throughout the Boulder community and provide an outlet for victims to seek help. 

And Liz isn't stopping there.  Her true passion is to open a community center, a place where women can connect and find the community support they need to thrive.  The Center would offer programs for women of all ages that would help them feel nurtured, empowered and fulfilled as they work to facilitate change and experience personal growth: "It's something I am supposed to do,” Oster says. “Sometimes, those things just happen and you pay attention to the signs and know more is supposed to happen as a result.”  The passion Liz has is truly inspirational; her work has a tremendous impact on so many lives.  I am proud to nominate Liz Oster for the America Inspired prize.