April 11th I left for Indiana. I arrived in Indiana and had the chance to drive into Michigan and visit family before going to South Bend on the 12th. I made the drive back from Michigan to South Bend and arrived at the St. Mary’s Inn. I will admit, this was of course after taking the wrong direction and getting lost therefore going approximately 30 more miles out of my way. The next morning I was met by Connie Adams my contact person for my events in South Bend. First thing we went and got some coffee and headed for the local YWCA where I was going to have the chance to speak some of the ladies that have been either in or through the shelter process escaping a violent relationship. As I was waiting for everyone to arrive and meeting different people I knew almost instantly it was going to really be a great morning. Sometimes I get nervous, yes I do believe it or not. Anyhow, I began by sharing some of my story and telling the ladies that I knew without any question the strength it took for them to make the decision they did to go to a shelter and that I truly honor their decision. After having the chance to speak and interact with the ladies it was time to leave to St. Mary’s College for lunch. We arrived at the school and it was evident it was lunch time as everyone was heading into the Cafeteria. Connie took me to a back room area where I was introduced briefly to the Belles Against Violence Office members and we proceeded into the Cafeteria to get our food and return to the break room where we initially met.
During the lunch hour I had the chance to get to know the young ladies of the Belles Against Violence Office and what they are hoping to accomplish by being a part of the program they have decided to be a part of. I was absolutely impressed by these ladies and how it was abundantly clear in their dialog with me that it is about “opening dialog” and letting other women know that violence against women is not only wrong, but that they wanted those who have experienced it or know someone who is, that they are their for them, that they can be accessed and really, truly care about making a difference. Determined young ladies making change! It was time to head out back to my hotel which by the way was directly across the street for a brief time since I was going to speak to an afternoon class. I arrived for the afternoon class and it was so great to have the chance to speak to these young ladies, I further challenged them to attend the eveing event and bring a friend with them that might not otherwise have attended. After speaking to the class for an hour actually a bit more, by the way, thanks you Ms. Sanali for allowing me the opportunity to speak with your class.
Once again, I returned to my hotel to prepare for the evening event. I arrived for the evening event excited and ready to set-up the table with information and the addresses for the ladies who are in the film. The film began and almost towards the end there was a snaf-foo that did not allow the DVD to finish. I began speaking and incorporated the Red Flag Campaign into the event. There was an awesome amount of attendees as well as a few young men. After the evening, during the Q&A panel which included staff from the YWCA, SOS-an aspect of the Family Justice Center and myself. There were some good questions asked and everyone was informed about the Take back the night event that Norte Dame and St. Mary’s College were considered points of light, how awesome!! I was touched by this event in a way I never imagined possible and I want to thank each and everyone who is not only a part of Belles Against Violence Office, but who made the choice to attend the event to have their voice be heard and make a difference. Hope to return again!
On April 7th to the 9th I had the opportunity to be a part of the Great Falls, Montana “Celebrate the Night” event. I arrived in Great Falls early on Monday and picked-up my rental car then went to my hotel to settle in. I called my contact person Autum Frey to let her know I had arrived safely and was really excited about the events of the following day. I woke up the next morning approximately 0530 and turned on the news. I heard the newscaster say that, “be careful on your drive this morning there are up to 6 foot snow drifts in some areas”, immediately I looked out my hotel room window which was facing the Missouri River and saw a winter wonderland in front of me. The water from where I stood was raging and the ground was completely covered with snow. Yes, something I don’t normally have the chance to to be in, living in California.
I arrived at the YWCA around 11:00 a.m. as they were setting-up and preparing a wonderful luncheon for members of the community and board members of the YWCA. The guest speaker for the luncheon was their own local news anchor Katie Stuckey. It was enjoyable to hear her speak and why she got into journalism and how much she supports working to make change. After the luncheon she interviewed me for the evening news regarding the evening event. I then went to the hall where the event was to held and attempted to assist in setting-up and ensuring the DVD worked properly. It was time to return to my hotel and get ready for the evening. I arrived back at the hall, ready to set-up my table of information. The snow had slowed to almost a stop but it was becoming increasingly chilly. I was so excited about the event as I would have the opportunity not only to share Sin By Silence with this amazing community but also be the one who was handing the award recipients their awards. What an honor for me on all accounts, as the ladies and gentlemen stepped-up to receive their awards after having dinner, watching the film, then hearing me speak, it was like magic. The smiles of accomplishment on their faces truly touched my heart, not to mention the resounding clapping as the recipients walked up to receive their respective awards. I do not cease to be amazed at all of the effort to make a difference in the arenas of Sexual Assault, Child Abuse and Domestic Violence, that a Community working together can accomplish. To put into words now,what this all meant to me that evening, I will be forever touched by the lives who touched mine that night. Thank you all for allowing me to be part of such an awesome event. I would love to return some time in the future, hope to see you all again. Keep up the awesome work!
March 7th through the 9th I had the distinct pleasure of being in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was there because of the Student Advocacy Team at the University of Chattanooga. I was able to do a local NPR interview at the University prior to the afternoon then able to go to the class of Professor Sara Peters, who teaches a class on violence against women. It was interesting to be there and see the beginning of the interaction with the students begin in the afternoon. The Women’s Action Council members are all students at the University of Chattanooga, and are the first team to solely schedule, and put on a Sin By Silence event. This was an absolutely amazing group of young ladies that decided to do this project and saw it through to every single detail. I was so impressed at the tenacity of this team and how badly they wanted the evening to be a success. As we went to dinner prior to the commencement of the evening event, I could feel the nervousness and yet at the same time absolute determination from the women’s action council. Once we arrived at the hall where the event would take place there was a swift orchestration of duties and straight to work they all went. When it came time for the lights to dim and the film to begin the film was opened by the Chancellor’s assistant. After the movie was shown a panel then answered many detailed and well thought questions. The panel consisted of several people, Sara Peters, Stacy Crosley, one of the local DV advocates, and a Psychologist from the school. It was so awesome to see the evening opened by the well thought out and heartfelt words of the team. There was no question the event was a resounding success!!
I am so proud of each and every one of the ladies and I hope to work with them again in the future. Thanks so much ladies for making it happen and allowing me to be a part of such a ground breaking event. Hope to stay in touch with you all. YOU ROCK!!
I was given the opportunity to screen Sin By Silence at a workshop conference in downtown Denver, Colorado. I met some amazing on fire people who are working in the fields of domestic violence prevention, protective services, empowerment services, re-entry, lawyers, students of the University and the community as well. I am looking forward to again working with many of the attendees as they return to their respective states and utilize Sin By Silence as a message to educate and foster the change necessary to make the difference. I was so proud to have this opportunity, and I too learned so much as well, being a part of this conference.
Again, I am reminded of the power of film and the ability it has to ignite the fire within each one of us to accomplish what we might have felt we did not possess, the power to make change, when in fact we do! The voices of the ladies of CWAA were heard loud and clear. I look forward to being a part of workshops and conferences in the future.
WOW! If anyone would have told me that on January 7th & 8th I would have the opportunity once again to be part of the “Women In Government” Directors Conference, I would have said, you’re kidding me. Well, I certainly was there and if I thought the Seattle Regional Conference was great, the Directors Conference was fantastic. It was great to see many members of the Legislature from across the U.S. that I was so privileged to meet previously as well as the new members who have just taken Office. My spirit soared at the power and the possibilities that are ahead with all of these women. I am so honored and humbled by having the chance to share not only my personal story of triumph, but the words of the women of CWAA and their courage to make change and have their voices be heard as well. Sin By Silence has been the catalyst to educate people on all levels to the necessity of making change in other states regarding incarcerated survivors, it has also been a forum to allow the voices of survivors who remain incarcerated to be a part of making those changes, and inspiring hope for a future to “Stop the Violence”.
To all of the amazing Legislators, Staffers, Directors, and Sponsors thank you all for being a part of making a difference! I can hardly wait to be a part of the next Conference!
Another has now come to an end, I can hardly believe that I have been out of prison now for more than 26 months. What an absolute blessing. This past year has been quite an experience for me learning about what it takes to start a non-profit and getting it done. I want to take this opportunity as well to thank each and everyone who has helped me along the journey in 2010 and say that exciting things lay ahead for all of us. Every 9 Seconds will be up and running full speed ahead partnered with Sin By Silence. It continues to touch my heart and spirit as I travel the United States speaking and screening Sin By Silence in communities, universities, seminars, and conferences just how magic can be made when you can actually see and feel the excitement that comes from people wanting to make a difference themselves.
Thank you all, for an awesome year! Sin By Silence for always having my back and allowing me the chance to represent such a life changing film!To every wonderful person I had the opportunity to meet this year and exchange tears, laughter and the desire to make change with. Looking forward to 2011 and all that lies ahead…I hope and pray everyone will have a safe and Happy New Year!
When I arrived it was in the 20’s and the next morning when I awoke, it was snowing and so beautiful. I had the distinct opportunity to be the guest speaker at the Circle of Women Annual Fundraiser for the Y.W.C.A. On Wednesday, I was taken to lunch by Debby the Executive Director of the YWCA and Steve her Director of Development & Communication. Later that day while back at the hotel I had the chance to go to the Ballroom where the event was going to be held to see the ladies decorating and setting-up for the next days luncheon. That evening I attended a reception and had the chance to meet a few of the people of the next days events as well as just have the chance to relax.
I reported to the ballroom at 10:15 a.m. for the sound check and then ran back to my room to finish getting ready and prepare for my speaking. Once I was ready I arrived in the ballroom to see hundreds of women waiting eagerly to enter the luncheon area to be seated. I again met many wonderful ladies and also had the chance to see several I had met the day prior. The luncheon began and I was able to be seated by a wonderful woman I met last year with Olivia who is one of the Police Department’s Chief of Police, Dottie Davis. It was great to see several familiar faces, like Lydia, Debby etc. Once the program got underway I was asked to the back where they put a microphone on me and I was given approximately 3 minutes to eat before I was to speak, eat, who could eat with all those eager smiling women there waiting to hear me speak.
Once I was done speaking and had done several photos with people I did an interview with one of the local News Anchors Terra Brantley. We shared a common bond of being sister survivors and it was great to have the chance to be part of making a difference in the local community. Once all was said and done after the day I had the chance to go to the local YWCA shelter and have dinner with the women. This was the highlight for me having this chance. We had some heart to heart discussion and it meant so much for me to have the chance to be there. Before I knew it, it was time to leave back to California on Friday morning.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED TO MAKE MY TRIP TO FORT WAYNE AN AMAZING TIME!!! I hope I will have the chance to return again.
It was now time to head home again, I truly hated to see my whirlwind month come to an end. It was so awesome to have had the chance not only to return to some of the places I had the chance to go last year, but also, to meet many more new people as well. My life has been enriched by the experiences of Domestic Violence Awareness month, and the all the people I was blessed enough to have met, and I hope that if only one life has been touched, one victim knows they possess they power to leave, or one woman understands she deserves more than, it’s really been more than I could ever have hoped it would be. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR MAKING MY DREAM A REALITY!!
It was in the early evening and I had to head home and hit the road for my trip to Arizona. I went home and loaded up the family and on the road we went including the dog. We stopped along the way when it got late for the night and headed the rest of the way in the morning. Once up and bright and bushy tailed we headed where we were going to be staying. We got settled and I made some calls about the events for the evening. My evening event was at Estrella Mountain Community College. Olivia and I were both here last year and it was a truly great experience and I was very excited to be back again. There was a good turnout and afterward I headed back to the place where I was staying. The next day was an entire day event and I did approximately 5 separate screenings during the day. That evening after the day, the professors and a few dear friends whom I had the opportunity to meet last year joined us all for a late dinner. This would be the prelude to the next evening for me.
The next evening I scheduled to arrive at the local shelter, the New Life Center at about 6 p.m. which would have allowed the women to see Sin By Silence first then we could share in some great open discussion. David and our dog Ruby joined me for the evening and it turned into an awesome evening with the women opening up and also having the chance to really enjoy Ruby. There were approximately 25 to 30 women present. Upon leaving I was presented with a very special gift from the children who had painted seashells purple and put glitter on them for me. It was so great to have the chance to go to the shelter again after having the chance to meet the staff at the shelter the year prior when Olivia and I were on tour. It was also really great to see my dear friend Kristi again who is also a survivor.
The next day is was about heading to Luke Air Force Base to speak. After an hour drive or so, we arrived at the base. We were met by the event host and shown where to set-up and the film would be screened. I was informed there would be two screenings and at the first one although not many were in attendance, it was a powerful group. The second screening brought more than 70 attending. It was awesome to see service personnel listening so intently and being touched by the women in the film. Both screenings proved to have some very interactive discussion and comments by everyone who attended. I even took pictures with several of them. The Chief of Medical truly touched me when she presented me with her medical coin. The Chief explained to me that I must carry it with me at all times, which by the way I have since the moment I got it. It was explained to me that only people who touch lives and make a difference are presented with the coin from someone who earns the coin in the first place. It was an absolute honor to be given the coin. After the screenings and cleaning up we were given a tour of the base and I was taken to the tarmac where I would actually stand next to an F-16. WOW! was that amazing. I truly appreciate being able to be there and meet the wonderful young men and ladies that are in the position of making life changing decisions each and every day.
I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.
THANK YOU EVERYONE IN ARIZONA WHO MADE MY TRIP AN AMAZING TIME!!! I hope to return again.
