Summary: Whenever you see, hear, or read something that I have written; just know that I am never alone. I have been working professionally and/or volunteering in domestic and sexual violence for 22+ years. However, in the beginning, I avoided the topic of sexual violence. You see, I am a Survivor of child sexual abuse. But after years of conflict, struggle, illness, pain, healing, and some more stuff.........enough became enough. The Right to Speak It was actually my mother who decided that it was time that we share the lessons that we learned. Years before my other mother, her sister, Eurgentine Simmons, had empowered my soul when she told me that everyone had a right to their own story. Even though my entire extremely large extended family had made it clear that they would prefer that I remain completely silent about this trauma long beyond the day that I die, finally a new day had come. I felt set free from a sentence that I never deserved to serve. Actually I felt that we all were set free, at last. Purpose Sexual violence must not remain in the darkness, where it thrives and gains strength each minute. WE want to enhance child safety. WE want victims and Survivors to reach a higher level of healing. This blog lives to amplify our voices. ~ Transcribed from Tonya's blog
