We are committed to social justice & human rights.

At Darkness to Light, we are on the front lines in the fight against all forms of power imbalances that perpetuate the cycle of child sexual abuse. Children are more vulnerable to child sexual abuse when they’ve experienced other forms of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), including racism and systemic oppression. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are more than just words for us. They are the principles guiding how we build our teams, cultivate our leaders, and grow our networks, as we empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse. We have influence in global and multicultural communities, and we are committed to honoring that truth in a very inclusive, intentional, and impactful way.

At Darkness to Light, we stand in solidarity with our diverse partners and allies. After George Floyd’s death, the Darkness to Light team came together and vowed to do more. We realize that our society’s lack of commitment to the anti-racist movement impairs our ability to achieve our mission and contradicts our values as an organization.

As a team, we are committed to action. We are working to improve access to resources for vulnerable communities while amplifying diverse voices and experiences.

Our focus areas include race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, and parents and families.

Darkness to Light will:

“Child rights are human rights. Because at the end of the day, to fight for one right – the right to a childhood free of abuse – while ignoring other rights, such as equity and justice, is not acceptable.”
– Katelyn N. Brewer, President & CEO

  1. Be unafraid to take up space on this topic.
  2. Continue to diversify both our team and leadership.
  3. Continue innovating by developing new content.
  4. Amplify the voices in the prevention community who are already doing this work.

Where We Are Now

Our Staff, Leadership, and Board of Directors are dedicated to creating an environment where courageous decisions can be made and innovations in child protection can thrive. We understand diversity is a crucial part of this goal.

Thanks to 75% of our Staff and Board of Directors who choose to self-report on how they identify, we know where we are and it informs our decisions about where we want to go.

72% are Women 36% are People of Color 24% are LGBTQ+

 

Our Community

Darkness to Light’s programs are in all 50 US states and 76 other countries. Our 12,000+ Authorized Facilitators are the heart of our organization and work in unique communities all across the globe.

 

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Read more about our DEI efforts below.

October 11, 2024
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with ...

At Darkness to Light, we are honored to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of impactful events that elevate the voices within Hispanic communities and empower adults to take action to protect children. These events not only raised awareness about child sexual abuse prevention but also showcased our commitment to ensuring that all adults, …

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February 11, 2022
Honest Conversations: Child Protection i ...

While culture, customs, and languages vary, every community shares the pain of child sexual abuse. Our President & CEO Katelyn N. Brewer was joined by Dr. Kelly Hallman and Kimee Wind-Hummingbird to discuss the unique challenges and solutions to child protection in Native American communities in our latest episode of Honest Conversations. Ashley and Kevin …

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June 28, 2021
6 Fun (and Safe) Summer Activities for K ...

Every kid deserves a fun and safe summer. Here are 6 activities you can do with your kids to strengthen your relationships and create lasting memories! For kids, the last day of school is a long-awaited, glorious day spent anxiously anticipating three months of freedom. For parents and guardians, the last day of school can …

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June 24, 2021
Providing Safe Childhoods for LGBTQ+ You ...

The absence of safe spaces and safe adults has historically put LGBTQ+ youth at a higher risk of childhood trauma. We have the power to change that. All kids deserve a safe, healthy childhood, and it’s the responsibility of all adults to create supportive environments in which children can flourish. Many youth who identify as …

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March 24, 2021
A Statement from the CEO: Our Commitment ...

Two hundred and ninety-five days ago, I, like many other leaders, released a statement expressing my commitment to leading an anti-racist organization. It was a statement that I wrote with passion and conviction—emotions that have frequently resurfaced over the last nine months, but particularly in the wake of last Tuesday’s tragic murder of six Asian …

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November 17, 2020
Honest Conversations: Believing Survivor ...

In Honest Conversations episode 6, we sat down with three passionate advocates to discuss protecting Orthodox Jewish kids from abuse. Watch the full conversation below.  The issues facing the Jewish community aren’t unique—just watch our previous conversations about the stigmas and challenges in Hispanic and Black communities. It’s clear that community leadership is key when …

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October 7, 2020
Spotlight: Supporting Hispanic Survivors

This week we sat down with Rosa Beltré to discuss the nuances and best practices of supporting Hispanic survivors of child sexual abuse. Rosa serves as the Executive Director of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, a state-wide coalition that advocates for comprehensive responses and rape crisis services for survivors and empowers communities to …

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October 3, 2020
Spotlight: 4 Factors that can Make Hispa ...

Ricardo DeLeon shares his insight into factors that can make Hispanic children vulnerable and how we can address them. I grew up in a mostly Hispanic and Black neighborhood in Corpus Christi, Texas. Spanish was my first language, although being the youngest of six kids, I learned English pretty quickly from my siblings. They would …

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September 24, 2020
Spotlight: Child Sexual Abuse & Advocati ...

This week we chatted with Perla Freed, the Executive Director for the YMCA Guardians for Child Protection, to discuss what advocating for child sexual abuse prevention might look like in Hispanic communities. Perla is an expert in the development, implementation and oversight of policies and practices to create and sustain a safe environment for children. …

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September 17, 2020
Spotlight: A Hispanic Perspective on Abu ...

As an immigrant and survivor, I know there is stigma that surrounds sexual abuse; the perspective in Hispanic communities is that we do not share our pain or talk about uncomfortable topics. Even now that I have disclosed what happened to me, I have always felt like the topic wants to be forgotten. In recent …

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August 26, 2020
Honest Conversations: Abuse Safety in Bl ...

What does it look like to develop a culture of abuse safety in Black communities? That’s the question that Ashley Cook and Kevin McNeil worked to answer in our latest episode of Honest Conversations. Ashley and Kevin are survivors of child sexual abuse (and Darkness to Light Authorized Facilitators), and have firsthand experience navigating the …

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July 16, 2020
Honest Conversations: Stigma and Child S ...

In this edition of “Honest Conversations,” our Director of Partnerships, Ashley Davis, spoke with advocate and facilitator Kevin McNeil about breaking the stigma around child sexual abuse in Black communities. Ashley and Kevin share a similar life experience: they both know what it’s like to experience sexual abuse in Black communities. They have experienced both …

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June 2, 2020
A Statement from the CEO: Justice & Huma ...

George Floyd and countless others in the black community have died unjust and heartbreaking deaths. For days I’ve tried to thoughtfully process how I wanted to address the Darkness to Light community at large – processing my grief, individually calling my team members to check in on their mental health and well-being, and gathering together as a team to discuss our course of action moving forward.  …

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