I am a survivor of abuse on many different levels. As a person who has not only survived but also thrived, I wanted to ensure that I passed the strength along by becoming a voice for the underserved. I looked into many things and found numerous awareness programs, and while they are good & worthy programs, it wasn't quite calling me so much. I also enjoyed being a crisis counselor at the local shelter.

I have always been an activist for equal rights and been a firm protector of children, so it wasn’t going to be hard to come up with an idea of where to start. In college, I loved being a student lobbyist to fight for women's rights. I really missed it. I had helped pass a Wisconsin bill for equal pay for equal work, as well as another one to render the attire of a rape victim as inadmissible against the victim in the court of law. On the federal level, I helped contribute a little bit to the Violence Against Women Act of 1993, and then to ensure its passage of that.

In looking up various items, I found that also, many crimes are trauma responses, and we need to refocus on changing the current situation to bring work to those who need the services to move beyond to stop the cycle of abuse. Without treatment, support, community resources, and more, this will continue to be a never-ending cycle that will keep spiraling.

The idea was to be a lobbyist so I could talk directly to the legislators to show my passion, drive, and undying concern for children who can't fend for themselves. People who write to legislators do make a difference, but there is nothing more compelling than being face to face with that eye contact, and the enthusiasm in my voice that sells my total belief in my agenda. But, the focus needs to change due to current situations.

More of the support will now go to case-by-case referrals for letters of recommendation, support in/out of the court, one-on-one advocacy, and more. This will include youth that are in the foster-care & juvenile systems, as well as adults coming out of the system who need communal support to become part of everyday society.

I conducted much research and compiled a list of all of the things I would need to start YVI and be fully legal and operational. It seemed a little pricey to get things started but when compared to the well-being of our children or other victims, it was a “drop in a bucket”, of value. YVI’s mission is to lobby any laws that will protect anybody (though especially focused on children) from abuse, sexual or otherwise, and to stiffen the penalties for those offenders, even if this means protecting those whose situations include incarceration due to trama responses.

Call to Action Page - Nov 08, 2015 12:27:28 AM