Sarasota domestic violence survivor turns near-death attack into a mission to help

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The buzz of blow dryers and hum of small talk fill Rhonda Calahan’s Sarasota salon most days — until her phone rings. She doesn’t hesitate. She sets down her scissors, wipes her hands and answers, her tone soft but urgent.

On the other end might be a woman whispering from a locked bathroom, a mother searching for a safe place to sleep or a survivor trying to decide if it’s finally time to leave.

“I am the hotline,” Calahan said. “My phone can ring anytime, day or night. I always answer.”

Calahan runs Queens of Domestic Violence Awareness, a small nonprofit organization she launched to help survivors find safety, counseling and support. For Calahan, the mission is personal. Fifteen years ago, an ex-boyfriend nearly killed her after she tried to end their relations