“A few months ago we put out the call to our community asking what they wish had happened in the wake of their abuse. We read each email and felt the pain, the anger, the frustration, the sadness. The loss. We decided to use their words to help parents and other adults understand what a…
Two things from this article I wanted to comment on: People always ask me what I think should have happened to Youssefi. Years in prison? Intensive counseling? Even after all my reporting, I’m still not sure. But I do know one thing: When Dodd told her school counselor about Youssefi, I hadn’t started taking gymnastics…
Never let it be said that being a victim of child abuse is a life sentence to misery. Survivors have gone on to do amazing things, just like any other group of people. Overcoming isn’t easy, but thanks to survivors like Kayla who are willing to share their stories, and their triumphs, we can all…
“We have to stop telling ourselves that the rude people of the world are personally targeting us. – We can’t take things too personally, even if it seems personal. Rarely do people do things because of us. They do things because of them. And there is a huge amount of freedom that comes to us…
“When Alexis Gonzalez tells her story about overcoming child abuse, she’s surprised by how many people it resonates with. At one event after another in the Central Valley, she’s approached by audience members who can relate. “People would disclose their own abuse and that they had never told anybody,” said Gonzalez, now 21. “People are…
“Looking at it now, face on, I am not ashamed of carrying it around my neck. It may not match my face, but I will carry around that young boy with me for all time. He is hurt but recovering, small but enduring, and loved. Most of all he is loved. He has someone to…
