My heart is full. This past year has been a journey of exceptional hustle and immense healing. It sure is an oxymoron.
Social media was a focus in the beginning of growing my practice and mission, but I know I've definitely been slacking on updates in the first half of 2024. Survivor Rising LLC is coming up on 1 year in July, but last year at this time I was already fully throwing myself into as much of this work as I possibly could.
I figured now is the time to provide some updates from second quarter of this year for those curious, as well as to publicly thank and give recognition to a handful of organizations that are doing the work.
As we know, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and expansion of awareness is really what I strived for.
I had the amazing opportunity to work with Stark & Tuscarawas County for the first time. They invited me to speak as a survivor for Sexual Assault Awareness Month's Day of Action at the beautiful Goodwill's Ken Weber Community Center, where Compass Rape Crisis is located.
I was also so excited and honored to be invited back to provide my training on The Cycle of Revictimization, which perfectly fell on Denim Day.
On April 11th, I had the wonderful experience of presenting on Survivor Informed Care with a dear friend and colleague, Carolyn Kinkoph MBA, for the UNE State of Ohio Trauma-Informed Care Collaborative.
During National Crime Victim's Rights Week (NCVRW), I visited a new-to-me county and I'm so glad I did. Coshocton County's Prosecutor's Office held the space for me as a speaker for their NCVRW luncheon. I absolutely love meeting individuals with similar levels of passion and their advocate and community had just that.
Special thanks to Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV) for referring and introducing me to some inspirational communities.
I also had such a meaningful experience at the National Crime Victim's Rights Week candlelight vigil held by Ashtabula County Prosecutor's Office. Thank you advocates for showing up for survivors and for your community.
I'm also so excited to share an ongoing service that launched in April. I began offering restorative, trauma-informed yoga in partnership with Stella Luna Counseling and Wellness Center in Middleburgh Heights. Classes have been intimate and so grounding. All levels and all bodies are welcome so please feel free to join me on Thursdays in studio at Stella Luna.
I also am super grateful for the Survivor to Thriver 8-week Support Group that finally launched in May. Everything is up and running. So far, we have focused on building safety and trust. August 1st will be the launch of the second cohort for the support group. This is for those who are surviving AND/OR for those who are thriving but want the continued support and community. Please feel free to check it out, offer it to a loved one, or refer to your network. https://forms.gle/jVxnNbjh5X78u7YF6
I am so excited to share that I have wrapped up my first school year with ZENworks Yoga. Two 20-week programs in inner city Cleveland schools were so successful and continuously filled my cup each week. I also squeezed in a mini 3-week program at Miles Park in May which ended up feeling so rewarding despite being so quick. May was also filled with a handful of continuous education and an inspiring expansion of my network via some impactful one-on-ones.
June had a real exciting start. I'm super grateful for the opportunity to provide my training on Revictimization Prevention Begins with a Trauma-Informed Support System for the Lorain County Prosecutor Office's Human Trafficking Training. I had the pleasure of offering my training alongside Carolyn Kinkoph and Mary Kate Waggoner with the Ohio Human Trafficking Initiative Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. I'm excited to continue my work within Lorain County.
June 6th was an awesome event at the Cleveland High School for Digital Arts. With ZENworks Yoga, I instructed for their mindfulness day. About 100 high schoolers fully participated and it was such a fun day!
Speaking of yoga, I'd like to give a shout out to The Yoga Room in Cleveland. I am so grateful to have been brought in as a space holder and trauma-informed coach. We can't be trauma-informed with others if we aren't trauma-informed with ourselves. Any chance I get to work with a local business that genuinely cares about their clients and community, I don't take it lightly.
So, what's next? I'm excited to share some of what is going on this summer. With ZENworks Yoga, I will be facilitating yoga and mindfulness for students in three Cleveland schools this summer through Playhouse Square's sponsored camps. As mentioned, make sure to check out yoga at Stella Luna every Thursday! The second cohort will start up on August 1st for the Survivor to Thriver support group. I will also be speaking and offering a breakout session at the 2024 Human Trafficking Summit in Columbus for the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost at 10:30 am July 15th.
I am also super thrilled to work with the Ohio Department of Health this summer to help grow trauma-informed organizations across the state.
So how am I being trauma-informed with myself? Well, the waves at the beach sure help regulate my nervous system. I will be taking a couple weeks around July 4th to take my work to South Carolina. This is the perfect time to schedule some one-on-one coaching with me virtually and maybe start to understand what healing looks like in your life.
As always, my one-on-one clients mean so much to me, and it is so wonderful watching a client's face light up when they begin to recognize their potential. Being deeply heard feels like rest.
There are so many people and other organizations that I didn't mention. There are also three quarters of the year that are updated throughout social media platforms.
Thank you to all of those individuals, both mentioned and unmentioned, for your support.
And thank you to all those who are creating a more healed and less hurt world.
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