I speak as
From where do you speak? This question seeks to expand our definition of who a Survivor is through self-identifying and descriptions of the perspectives, identities, and lived experiences we each hold.
Antoinette
"But now I speak knowing that I am who I am and I've been that person all along, I just had to bury her because I didn't think anybody would accept or love her. And I'm unapologetically myself now."
Amy A
"I speak as someone who kept the doors closed and didn't think that there was any way out. I speak as someone who wants awareness spread for this to not be in the dark."
Sara
"I speak as someone who's slowly rebuilding myself."
Acacia
"I speak as someone who is fierce and determined."
Olive
"I also speak as a daughter of a victim of domestic violence, a daughter of a survivor. I have watched my mom go through DV after DV after DV. I've seen it firsthand."
Kim
“I speak as someone who has lost everything and come back from it. I speak as someone who is empowered by the pain that I've endured.”
Nataija
“I speak as someone who has self-doubted herself but now, knows who she is. And she's strong, and courageous, and resilient, and tenacious, and beautiful, and a work in progress.”
Spruce
“I speak as someone who has had multiple, different avenues of healing in my journey, as a survivor.”
Chestnut
"I speak as somebody who's proud of who I am."
Aspen
“I speak as somebody who really wants the world to understand what narcissistic abuse is, and how it's somewhat predictable and cyclical.”
Amy
“I speak as someone who has been through the fire, and has come out the other side stronger and more confident and just ready, ready to really be- be happy.”
Oak
“I speak as someone who wants to make a difference among my community at college, as a person of color, and as someone who is also part of the LGBT community.”
A
“I speak as someone who wants to be brave and stand up for others. And I want what happened to me, to be meaningful in that I make a difference in stopping, or changing, or helping, or influencing, or impacting this culture of violence against women.”
Elderberry
“I speak as being a mother. A strong mother, that survived through domestic violence, that worked hard for her kids, worked hard for herself.”
Ororo
“I speak as a mom, as a daughter, as a granddaughter, and from- just someone who comes from a really strong line of women.”
Juneberry
“I speak as someone who is loved. And I speak as someone who has a giving heart. And I speak as someone who is an empath, and needs to recognize my own boundaries.”
Azalea
I speak as someone who is proof that if you really want better for yourself, that you can achieve it, despite what obstacles may be put in your way.”
Clove
“Just waking up and being okay is a wonderful day.”
Cedar
“My experiences, good and bad, are hopefully helping me to be a really good parent, and that can help them cope with the world.”
Tomicka
“I speak for myself. I have to say that a few times, because it's that important. I speak for myself. I speak for myself.”
Ash
“And I speak as, I speak as the healing parts of me now, as the girl who felt neglected earlier in life, felt not seen abandoned.”
Jonae
“And I speak as, I speak as the healing parts of me now, as the girl who felt neglected earlier in life, felt not seen abandoned.”
Magnolia
“I speak as a POC, deaf mom.”