By Patricia I have sojourned the seas and risen Albeit chaotic, I searched for my voice in the meadows of life The relentless noises made me surmise Aching and pressing the vision created strife A host of regrets and forgotten songs I longed to be rescued from the trap Not knowing what next I moved to be strong Of course, I was petrified of the…
By Survivor, M., member of the Survivor Speakers Bureau Domestic violence awareness month (DVAM) is here. For me domestic violence looks like a marriage of 20 years. I am a member of the REACH Survivor Speakers Bureau. For me, this month also includes speaking engagements arranged by REACH staff. It is a chance to share my story, to be believed and to be heard. I am always grateful for these…
This week’s blog is a guest post from “Melissa,” a participant in REACH’s Community Program and a member of our Survivor Speakers Burea. On the first year after my split from my abusive marriage, I barely could survive and keep up with my bills. The idea of going through the Christmas season and celebrating was the last thing on my mind. So when I received a…
Throughout the month of October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month), REACH has been sharing content on the theme of “Creating Space for Change.” As Director of Prevention Programs Jessica Teperow shared earlier this week, the spaces we try to create are not so much physical spaces (although those ARE important and making a big difference!) but spaces for connection, transformation, and sometimes even laughter. As we look…
The following words are adapted from remarks given by P, REACH Community Program participant and a member of REACH’s Survivor Speakers Bureau, at Saturday evening’s Reach for the Stars gala. We wanted to share them again, for those who couldn’t make it, or those who did but wanted to further reflect on what she shared.
by Melinda*, REACH Survivor Speakers Bureau Recently I heard myself laugh and I was shocked and amazed. I thought, “Who is this person? Wow I recognize her, I recognize that laugh!” You see, I was not allowed to laugh for years and it took me close to 3 years after I separated from my husband to allow myself to laugh. In my abusive relationship, my husband…
This week’s post is a guest post from Survivor M, a member of our Survivor Speakers Bureau. As a mom, one of my prouder moments is when someone tells me how polite my kids are. I am polite and like to think they learned from my example. My parents raised me to be polite and agreeable. They were Irish immigrants. They worked a lot and were…
One of the themes that comes up over and over again as we listen to survivors of domestic violence tell their stories is that of isolation. We are often asked why someone would stay in an abusive relationship. There are so many reasons someone might stay; what we have found is that isolation is one of the most powerful tactics abusers use to keep the survivor…
This week’s Halloween-themed blog post is from Survivor MC, a member of our Survivor Speakers Bureau. During Halloween season it’s fitting to speak about scary movies, spookiness and wearing masks. For Halloween you get one day to be someone else: a super hero, a funny character, stepping back in time or the future and choosing to wear a scary mask. There are several kinds of masks:…
The following words are adapted from a speech given by M, a participant in REACH’s Community Program and Survivor Speakers Bureau, at the 2016 Reach for the Stars Gala last Saturday. She brought a ballroom full of people to their feet with her courageous words, and we wanted to share them here for those who weren’t able to attend, or who wanted to read them more…
