Donnamarie
by Margo A. Ragan
Goliath made a colossal mistake when he underestimated David, his diminutive opponent, who bested the giant with a single blow. That struggle for power by David versus Goliath is a challenge that Bucks County attorney Donnamarie Davis welcomes as part of her faith and journey in life. A petite, barely five foot tall woman, Donnamarie has become the voice for those who struggle to be heard or need an advocate to take on the Goliaths of this world.
Donnamarie’s current project—Peace Valley Café—is creative, daring, and educationally worthy for a segment of our community who needs more attention. That segment includes young adults who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorders and/or autism and are moving out of the education system into ‘the real world.’ “I feel that I have been moving toward this project all of my life,” said Donnamarie, “even though I made a couple of detours along the way. My belief is that what you have learned in life is moving you to help others.”
That desire to help began early in life for Donnamarie. She was only three years old when her mother was seriously injured in the home and needed help. “I ran to a neighbor’s home and banged on the door until someone answered,” she said. “My mother has always been a major influence in my life and gave me a model on which to pattern my life. She is a humanitarian whose actions support her views.”
Donnamarie’s mother is Dr. Christina Davis, president and founder of the Peace Valley Holistic Center in New Britain, Bucks County. “My mom is my inspiration,” Donnamarie continued. “I’ve watched her overcome medical challenges in her own life and lead the way to learning and teaching others toward alternative approaches to medicine.”
Donnamarie had her own set of challenges to overcome, beginning in the school yard. “Because I was physically much smaller than my classmates, I was a target for the class bullies, who would throw me to the ground, and pummel the breath out of me,” she recalled. “I remember vividly the feeling of suffocating when the bullies were on top of me, and I vowed not to give in.” She gave as good as she got, and after a few rousing fisticuffs, the bullies learned not to tangle with her.
“My early experiences with bullies taught me the importance of using all of my skills either to approach the problem head on or find another way to deal with the situation. Wit is as important as strength,” she said.
Donnamarie found art to be a vehicle for self-expression. She demonstrated an innate talent that her instructors encouraged and for a while, she seriously considered a career in art. Donnamarie received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. “My art was shown in galleries on Park Avenue, and I was offered a position as creative director for an important agency, but law school beckoned instead,” she said.
A visit to London proved to be a pivotal moment for Donnamarie. “I went to live with a pleasant couple who rented a room in their apartment to me. One cold wintry night a small squabble between the husband and wife escalated into a full-blown battle. I could hear the sounds of his fists hitting her body, her screams were horrific, but I could not get to the front door which was locked. Using my bare feet, I broke one of the windows and crawled out onto the roof, inching my way to another neighbor’s apartment, screaming for help.”
Thankfully, help arrived quickly, but the incident of domestic violence and abuse left an indelible impression on Donnamarie’s psyche. “I had no previous inkling that the relationship was abusive since both individuals seemed loving and caring,” she said, “but looking back on their relationship, I now see hints of problems between the two. However, I was too naive at the time to recognize the signs of domestic abuse.”
Donnamarie is not one to let such a learning experience go to waste. She attended Widener University for her law degree and determined in her senior year to be an advocate against domestic abuse, be it on men or women. As a Federal litigator, she was to specialize in special education law and children’s civil rights. “I used to smile to myself when I walked into court with briefcases in hand, and the opposition attorneys saw only my size, and not my determination and knowledge of the law,” she said. “The playground atmosphere may have changed, but some bullying attitudes still prevailed. I was more than ready to lead the charge.”
A significant case was one where Donnamarie was successful in bringing parent/kidnapping charges against a parent, the first time that kind of case was tried in Pennsylvania history. “That particular case brought me to the attention of the Montel Williams television program,” she explained, “and I could see that focusing on abuse cases and helping the disadvantaged was the path I felt destined to travel.”
Donnamarie’s work as the executive director of the Peace Valley Holistic Center brought her closer and closer to her present project, the Peace Valley Cafe. “I could see the value of creating a social network—support system that would integrate employment with peer to peer support,” she said. “After graduating from high school, individuals who have learning or behavioral problems have nowhere to go. We are learning so much about autism, what that person is capable or not capable of performing.”
A conversation with a Board member was particularly inspirational. “In 2015 Anita Miller, a youthful person well in her nineties sent me an article about the high number of ADHD males who end up in Bucks County prisons,” Donnamarie informed. “Anita talked to me about a close family member who is autistic, and the family concerns for the autistic child as he approached adulthood. Would he be able to care for himself? Was there a support system to help him economically?”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, significantly more males diagnosed with ADHD in childhood have been arrested, convicted and incarcerated than their peers with no diagnosis. Donnamarie added, “A survey made by the US Department of Statistics shows that a lack of training and education is the most common barrier to employment for these individuals.”
Anita pointed out that if you do not harness a racehorse correctly, the horse is difficult to control. That innate energy has to be directed in a positive manner.
Wheels were then set in motion in Donnamarie’s mind. “I remembered reading about a cafe that was started in the late 1990’s. It was modeled in the Starbucks manner, and focused on jobs for autistic adults who were now out of school,” Donnamarie recalled. “The cafe work gave them dignity and purpose. Now I was determined to establish a similar type cafe for our own community.”
While Donnamarie seems to have supernatural powers to make things happen, she could not just click her heels like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and make the cafe a reality. “I knew we needed a building, equipment, job coaches, construction personnel, all with no tangible assets in the bank,” Donnamarie said. “But my faith is strong, and I am convinced that faith is governing this entire process.”
She turned to the Bucks County Commissioners for support. “Their encouragement was immediate,” said Donnamarie. “There was a vacant county building at 2657 Trenton Road, Levittown, and we could lease the property for 25 years. It was perfectly located for our needs, but of course, required a tremendous amount of work.”
What is now happening to a tribute to the spirit of volunteerism and community outreach, Donnamarie affirmed. “People like Buz Harris have come into our orbit at exactly the right time. Buz has recently retired from Ernest Bock and Sons, Inc., a construction company. When he heard about our project, he volunteered to be the General Contractor even before I asked him to take the job.”
Through Buz’s contacts in the construction industry, volunteers donated time and services from Ernest Block and Sons, Laborers Local Union #332, Carpenters Local Union #167, Electricians Local Union #269, Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #19, Plumbers Local Union #690, and Painters and Allied Trades Union Local #21.
They have not been the only volunteers that Donnamarie has recruited. She even reached into Bryn Mawr to the law firm of Gardner Fox and Associates, who donated their time and expertise as the project has moved through township and county rules and regulations.
The Cafe is due to open sometime in 2018. The main remaining obstacle is that the roof needs to be replaced, and while Donnamarie does have one financial donation, she needs more money to complete the project.
Everything is in place, waiting for the last piece of this puzzle. According to Donnamarie, she will be a hands-on Director, working with Alana Smith, who already has the experience of running a Wawa store. “Alana also has the experience of training employees with Special Needs,” said Donnamarie. “She has the perfect background to help launch the Cafe.”
Starbucks has been a corporate partner too. The company offered equipment and help with the menu, such as grab and go snacks. Donnamarie pointed out that the café will have healthy snacks, many of which will be organic. “We have practiced the values of healthy eating at the Peace Valley Holistic Center, and the Cafe will reflect those principles,” she said.
Local school districts have embraced the concept of the Cafe. Neshaminy and Horsham School systems have offered job coaches, volunteers to assist with the students, mentoring them as needed. “So far as I know, there is no other mentor/work learning based program like this in the Tri-County area,” said Donnamarie. “The Cafe will be open to the public and will operate with 8-12 special needs /young adults from ages 18-28 who will work in the Cafe for two semesters to two years, depending on the individual’s needs.”
Donnamarie is very quick to acknowledge the many volunteers and corporate/private donations that supported the establishment of the Peace Valley Cafe. She stressed that none of this would have happened had she not been driven by her strong sense of self and faith. “My own spirit has always been very strong. I learned in the school yard to keep fighting for myself and others who could not fight for themselves.”
She concluded, “I am positive that someone, an organization, a company will come forward and help us with the reconstruction of the roof. When completed and operational, The Peace Valley Cafe will be tangible proof that these students/adults who have endured multiple challenges in their lives, can and will succeed.”
Donnamarie needs all the help she can get. For information about volunteering, donations or help with the roof call 215-887-9901.
Margo Ragan is a freelance writer and lecturer at Holy Family College who lives in New Hope, PA.