Hidden Domestic Abuse

On the Call Podcast took to the airwaves to tackle it’s “Hard Issues” episode (On the Call S8 Ep 5) which dealt with topic of Hidden Domestic abuse and life within it. Marilyn Cruz-Hayes is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization “Palms Upon My Hands Inc. ” Marilyn is an advocate and a survivor of domestic abuse, which she endured for 13 years, suffering silently, from the age of 15. She persevered quietly through her husband’s cheating, becoming a father of two children outside of their marriage, and then walking out on her.

She was raised in the church but with all the silent suffering, never divulging to family members who were both in the NYPD as well as in gangs, when her husband left, Marilyn turned to clubbing and drinking, losing herself for two years, she turned her life around through prayer. She went back to college, received her Associates Degree in Occupational Studies with a concentration in Public Health, afterwhich she formed her nonprofit, “Palms Upon My Hands Inc.” 

“Palms Upon My Hands Inc. has a mission to educate, advocate, raise voices to support efforts that demand change for teenagers and those who have suffered from domestic violence. They have collected Career Attire for men and women who are on probation, living in shelters, welfare to work programs.

To this day, Marilyn still experiences triggers from those thirteen years of abuse at times, even though she has since found a loving man who helped raise her children, regain her self-confidence, taught her to value herself, as well as, assisted her with her nonprofit.

For more information please contact Marilyn Cruz-Hayes at palmsuponmyhands@gmail.com or at 718-530-0610. For further information about the organization, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Palmsuponmyhands.