Our documentary video begins with an amazing group of Minnesota women whose actions and leadership over 30 years ago helped start a world wide movement -- The Battered Women's Movement. In 1972 they incorporated as Women's Advocates and in 1974 they opened the first shelter for women victims of domestic violence who had nowhere else to go.

With ideals and principles that grew directly out of the Black Civil Rights, Anti-Vietnam War, and Women's Rights movements, these founding women set in motion changes to the entire legal and criminal system in our state, influencing similar initiatives all across the western world.

Even more importantly, they and those who joined them began the work of changing society's views on battered women's issues. In this short span of 30+ years, "mountains have been moved" as one woman put it; this video honors the work and the struggle, while sharing the lessons learned. Such a historical record can only promote understanding and strengthen the current and future work to end violence against women.

We expect our production to be done in 2007.