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FROM THE EDITOR ...SURVIVORS EMPOWERED
By Claire O'Leary
The articles in this issue of Voices Heard this issue are heartfelt, encouraging and empowering beyond their words. Each article is from those speakers in gratitude and support of Senator Lovely’s life changing legislation. The articles are as the speeches were written but I can attest that rarely (at least for me) does a speech come out exactly as written so each article has a link to the spoken speech as well.
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Whether you prefer to listen or read, the option is yours.
Each of us offer our response to the 3-day Survivor Nest reunion along with our speech shared at Senator Joan B. Lovely’s legislative briefing. Interspersed throughout are beautiful and poignant collages by Time to Tell moderators, Beth Seigling, Maggie Donovan, and Karo Ska.
Joanne Kirves , who you may recall from the spring issue, shares her powerful poetry This, pg. 6 and Powerful and Powerless , read by Jen Young , pg. 20. Donna Jenson , shares her story Telling Is Healing and reminds us what to say to someone who discloses on pg. 12; Carla Beatrice follows with Returning to the Nest, pg.16; Tink Bess follows with her compelling story Groomed, pg. 24; From a Queer Elder Survivor by Barbie Kristina is read for her in her absence by Maggie Donovan, pg. 30; Beth Seigling shares her story of teen assault and her desire for a more trauma-informed legal systemin Dismissed, pg. 34; Finding Your Voice by Claire O’Leary is my origin story and hope for survivors, pg. 38; Joanne Kirves introduces The Survivor Forest project on pg. 42 and continues with a response from Jen Young , pg. The Survivor Forest Experience, pg. 44.
Rachel Grant comes through again in the Building Resilience section with Embodiment a great videos and tools to embody wholeness and healing on pg..
We have several new books in the Resources section – many for teens and young adults and links to online resources for kids, parents and adult survivors. Our theme for the April issue is SAMM, Sexual Abuse Awareness Month. Share your wisdom or your stories with me at Claire@ClaireOLeary.com.
