I am a Thriver from both sexual and domestic abuse. My 5-year-old son “Afrika” is a light that will light this world on fire. Unlike me, he has been raised in Love, I had to learn love. Thankfully I was able to heal and now help others see themselves as worthy.
My first time telling my story was through a PSA with a statewide organization. Crying about my adult rape and child molestation began my mission. I began talking more and volunteering time with survivors and like minded community members.
I will be discussing my advocacy work, my mental health journey and more on a new show launched by Dawn Helmrich and Neil Parekh, “Shining Light on Shadows: A Candid Conversation About Mental Health.” You can watch the recording on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Neil's website.
16 years ago, I noticed few Black-centered organizations or presence that gave me energy of peace nor validation, so I started one. I wanted to feel connected without being sent by a system to change. I knew and had faith that other survivors would join. Our tagline #WeBelieveYou is powerful and resonates with every survivor. They are three individual words that every survivor deserves to hear, to feel and be. Our culturally specific services for sexual and domestic violence survivors and their families have had national exposure.
I created Paint the City Teal Day in 2015 as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Paint the City Teal Day is celebrated by wearing teal and decorating spaces in teal to show support for survivors. TeamTeal365 uses this day to spread awareness and educate the community on ways to prevent sexual violence.
In 2021, Mayor Tom Barrett proclaimed April 2nd as Paint the City Teal Day. Numerous Milwaukee buildings and landmarks lit up in teal including:
Hoan Bridge “Light the Hoan”
Milwaukee Domes
City Hall
The Pfister Hotel
Schlitz Park
600 EAST Wisconsin Café
I-794 Underpass (Broadway and Water Street) – Brighten the Passage
Hyatt Regency Milwaukee
U.S. Bank Center
Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 Office – 301 W. Wisconsin Ave
“Tealing” is the act of decorating something in teal and visually spreading the message of TeamTeal365. This act is the Hallmark of Paint the City Teal Day. From wrapping trees and light poles in teal cloth to creating teal smoothies and teal earrings, our community truly Paints the City Teal.
Paint the City Teal Day encourages everyone to use the color teal to demonstrate support for victims of sexual assault and share a photo using the hashtag #IBelieveYou and #TeamTeal365
My healthy relationship with self opens my inner child and my thriving now to connect. We made it through a mess and now I stand as a message and mission that will be here when I’m dead. The color TEAL and the powerful impact of the Team Teal 360 will continue to uplift and be a vessel for others.
My biggest flex and healing skill has been to rise beyond the ashes and soar, while helping others.
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