As a survivor of child sexual abuse, I’m writing to you with a story of hope. Although I experienced the trauma of abuse as a child, I have seen the power to protect children when adults are trained in child sexual abuse prevention. My abuse first started when I was 5 years old by a …
Darkness to Light shares survivor stories in the hopes of highlighting the ways that survivors are healing from their abuse and helping others. Clarissa Carpenter helps survivors of child sexual abuse through her work with The Younique Foundation, an organization that provides retreats for women where they learn skills that can help them find individual healing. …
Darkness to Light is pleased to announce that two new members have been welcomed to their board of directors. This announcement comes on the heels of the recent hire of Katelyn Brewer as CEO. Anton Gunn and Gareth Hedges were nominated and voted onto the board for terms beginning in September 2016. The appointments demonstrate …
Charleston, S.C. (November 9, 2016) — Darkness to Light Board Chair Jamie Tozzi today announced that Katelyn Brewer has joined the organization as CEO. Brewer brings invaluable experience including leadership roles in fundraising, operations, and the development of global initiatives. She has worked nationally and internationally in a variety of capacities, including partnerships with multinational …
Charleston, S.C. – Oct. 27, 2015 – Darkness to Light (D2L), a leading organization in the fight to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, today announced the appointment of Jamie Tozzi of Charleston, SC to the organization’s Board of Directors. Tozzi has served in various leadership roles at Microsoft for the last 15 years, …
As a survivor of child sexual abuse, Kandra Albury found the courage within herself to speak out against the abuse and ultimately encourage children to do the same. Recently Darkness to Light had the opportunity to speak with Kandra and learn more about her “courageous” endeavors. D2L: Why did you get involved in child sexual …
The statistic that 1 in 10 children will experience sexual abuse before their 18th birthday is one of the most staggering statistics we have regarding the impact of child sexual abuse. This statistic is different than the widely accepted “1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys.” We are often asked, “Why are you …
As child sexual abuse survivors begin to stand up and speak out about their own experiences, they are filling the world with their perspectives. One of those survivors, Ignacio Rivera, hopes to not only share a personal experience with abuse, but amplify the voices of others. Through The HEAL Project, Rivera is giving survivors a …
First-of-its-Kind Mobile Phone Application Empowers Adults with Tools to Prevent, Recognize & Respond to Child Sexual Abuse NEW YORK, September 16, 2016 —The World Childhood Foundation, founded by HM Queen Silvia of Sweden, and non-profit Darkness to Light, both leading organizations working to prevent the abuse and exploitation of children, together with the telecommunications leader …
Earlier this summer, Darkness to Light announced that their Board of Directors has welcomed two nationally recognized figures to the team, both whom have shown commitment to the public health and safety of children. Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA and Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esq. were nominated and voted onto the Board for terms beginning July 1, …
Here at Darkness to Light, we are constantly amazed by the tireless work and effort our facilitators and partners put forth in training their communities in Stewards of Children®. Everyday we hear training success stories and incredible feedback about the prevention efforts happening all around the country and the world! The CARE House in Dayton, Ohio is …
At Darkness to Light, we’re in the business of preparing adults to shelter children from sexual abuse. But daily we also remember and embrace that we exist under a much wider tent of child wellbeing, which takes so many forms: Physical wellbeing – like nutrition and fitness Social wellbeing – like community connectedness, social support, …
Reporting child sexual abuse can be a monumental hurdle for survivors, but what happens once it’s reported? What happens when the victims come forward, but the justice system isn’t prepared or willing to do what needs to be done to prosecute perpetrators? Recently, Tennessee Watson shared her story, a story that many child sexual abuse victims …
This piece first appeared here and is reprinted with permission. The wild ride of this year’s presidential election has left many looking for landmarks that will guide their choice for the next president. One place to figure out who stands for what lies in the 2016 Republican and Democratic Platforms. So I decided to explore how …
The state of Delaware continues to be a leader in child sexual abuse prevention. The state has joined more than 25 states that require prevention and awareness training for school officials, teachers and parents. The legislation, which was signed on August 10th by Gov. Jack Markell, requires Delaware public schools to implement a curriculum to educate employees …
As part of our Two Minutes for Prevention series, Stewards of Children® author Paula Sellars provides additional insights and experience about the topic covered in the video below. I’ve been working in the field of child sexual abuse recovery and prevention for about 28 years. For reasons I don’t entirely understand, the subject of child …
We recently made a mistake, and we want to make good on it. On the Darkness to Light Facebook page, we offer awareness-building statistics on “Fact Fridays.” We usually post them as stand-alone facts that grab attention and give some quick education. This was our post a few weeks ago: Children living without either parent …
Jenna Rose Simon had been drawing for years before one of her pieces went viral on social media. Ever since, she has been sharing her gift with the world via her online platforms. Her art, which began as a way to find her voice as a survivor of abuse, subsequently gave a voice to other …
As part of our Two Minutes for Prevention series, Stewards of Children® author Paula Sellars provides additional insights and experience about the topic covered in the video below. Nothing feels more natural than to hug the ones we love. Especially children. And hugs are healthy physically and emotionally, for the giver and the receiver. Think …
Several of us at Darkness to Light have kids and lately we’ve been talking a lot about sleepovers. It’s summer so just about every week sleepovers and slumber parties are on the list of possible activities. Some in the child sexual abuse prevention field would say that eliminating …