Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts’ Post

According to the 2023 U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, about 41% of women and 26% of men reported having experienced, at some point in their lifetimes, contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner that resulted in an intimate partner violence-related impact (including, for example, injury or concern for safety, need for housing or legal services, or help from law enforcement). Some ways to help gender-based violence survivors include listening, offering support, providing resources, and helping them to create a safety plan. Association for Community Empowerment Solutions is committed to raising awareness to gender-based violence in the U.S. and how to support survivors.

Systems often replicate the control tactics of abusers, creating more obstacles for survivors. This powerful article sheds light on the heartbreaking reality of discrimination faced by domestic violence survivors. We need to demand accountability and support survivors in their fight for justice. 🔊 Share this post to raise awareness and join Survivor Justice Action in working to amplify the voices of survivors, educate, and mobilize to demand systems change to prevent and end all forms of domestic violence. https://lnkd.in/gjSnYbyy #SurvivorJusticeAction #EndDVNow #DomesticViolenceSurvivor

Had a discussion yesterday about WHY we need community support in the advocacy work we do. Answers filled a white board. What stood out to me, in a moment of political polarity, is that thoughtful, equitable policy MUST have the voice of the majority middle to work. To pass the legislative bodies. To have the changes created by the policies fully integrate and become normal and acceptable parts of our culture. The problem is, the majority middle often feels tired of politics--and can be difficult to engage. But we need all-hands-on-deck for all of our projects. And definitely for this one--The Safe Child Project. Any effort to end a problem as pervasive and pernicious as child sexual abuse--which has been entrenched and hidden in society, likely since the beginning of time, is going to take a lot of voices to change. Please help us save the one in seven children who experience this type of abuse from the hell it creates. We'll be doing a statewide tour of Utah--with events in five counties from north to south. Come. End apathy. Change lives. I'll be posting all events here. Register for the first below. The Policy Project Nina Raynor Barnes https://lnkd.in/gKjdwGjp

Incredibly honored to have the opportunity to work with American Bar Association and ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity on Resolution 605. My mentors from the ABA have truly changed my life, and I’m so grateful to Caroline Cole Chelsea Maldonado and Annette Smith for their hard work and friendship. #troubledteenindustry #educationlaw #educationlawyer #childrenslaw #childrensrights.

✅ Yesterday Benedict College’s B.E.S.T. Lives Center held an impactful event hosted by Community Violence Intervention Specialist DeAnna Heard , MBA 💚🩷 Lester Young Essie Sellers, M.Ed-GCDF There were many takeaways from this event, however I will just list a few: 1) 40% of the crime in Columbia happens within a 1.8 mile radius. 2) Abandoned buildings increase the risk of shootings by 200%….(We need to build up our communities) 3) We can provide youth with personal development programs, but if the parents are not willing to develop personally the children will not be well. 4) There were 27 deaths this year so far due to gun violence and 7 were juveniles. 5) Mentorship in our schools is an essential violence prevention measure that is not being utilized to its fullest potential. #OurFuture #GunViolence #Prevention #BuildingCommunities #Mentorship #CredibleMessenger #Path2Redemption #TheStoryChanger #Community #BuiltDifferent #BeTheChange #ChainBreaker #JuvenileJustice #RestorativeJustice

Behind every decision to stay in an abusive relationship are layers of complexity and fear.  Understanding and empathy are key to offering support. Learn more about the services we offer: https://lnkd.in/gjwuqsDK #AwareMercer #DomesticViolence #SexualAssault #Awareness #WeCanHelp

Day 6 out of the 12 days of Impact: Unveiling Realities and Fostering Understanding! 🌟 One of the things that’s so important to the health of our mission is advocacy and awareness, a journey of enlightenment. We're thankful today for the opportunities to peel back the layers to expose the roots of homelessness and addiction, dismantling myths, and spark open conversations. Through community events and partnerships, dialogues, and sharing authentic stories, we empower minds with knowledge, eroding stigma one fact at a time. Together, we illuminate the path toward empathy and unity. #12DaysOfImpact

Why did we start using Restorative Justice in our programs? Because we listened to the voices of those we serve. Despite high violence rates in our community partners and SERniña offering free violence response services, many victims and families wouldn't report incidents or accept support. Talking to other organizations, we realized this was a common trend. Early in our Whole Family Healing Program, feedback and data collection showed most incidents of violence happened at home, involving a family member as the perpetrator. This fear historically silenced victims, especially young girls, allowing violence to persist without justice or healing. Survivors shared they wanted healing for themselves, their family, and even the perpetrator; however, they usually didn't want legal action for fear of serious consequences such as incarceration or child removal. In response to this, we knew we made the decision to incorporate a restorative justice approach in all aspects of our program, which included: 📖 Workshops for girls, boys, women and men 🌱 Therapy sessions for individuals, couples, and families 🩺 Comprehensive violence response services, including legal support, psychological support, and therapeutic support To learn more about Restorative Justice and its impact, check out this week’s blog: “Listening to the Voices of Survivors: The Importance of Incorporating Restorative Justice Approaches in Guatemala.” ➡️ Read the blog today! https://lnkd.in/g8dNz-74 #REALgirl #SERniña #WholeFamilyApproach #FIT #GlobalAffairsCanada #Guatemala #restorativejustice #healing #genderequity #genderequality

🌟 Empowerment Through Education: Join Our Child Abuse Prevention Webinar 🌟 In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, join us for an enlightening webinar on Tuesday, April 9th at 8 pm SAST, dedicated to shedding light on preventing child abuse, with a special emphasis on the fight against sexual abuse and exploitation. Proudly sponsored by Femagene, this session welcomes Luke Lamprecht, a leader in Child Protection and Development, to share his knowledge and strategies. This webinar isn't just for healthcare professionals; educators, parents, and guardians will also find it incredibly beneficial. Together, we can fortify our community against the threat of child abuse. Webinar Highlights: - Insights into recognizing and combating child abuse. - Effective bonding strategies to protect children. - Empowerment tips for parents and caregivers. - Community initiatives that make a tangible difference. Seize this chance to contribute to a safer world for our children. Register to join us, and please share with your network to amplify our collective impact. https://lnkd.in/eVt2Wcpm #ChildSafety #Webinar #EducationEmpowers #StopChildAbuse

The future of our country, and our world as a whole, is our children. When children have unfair circumstances from the start, they aren't set up with the potential that other kids are. It's important that we support programs such as Ride for Social Justice. The underlying message in programs like this tells kids that no matter what they're going through, they're worthy of great things, and it's not their fault. It's hard to think of anything more important than uplifting and supporting our future in nurturing and loving ways. #SocialJustice #ProtectOurFuture #RideForSocialJustice