When you meet LaDonna, you see hope in her eyes. Her careful smile is ready to open into laughter and warmth at any moment. But her path was not always bright, and her journey today is daily work. At the tender age of 14, her innocence and optimism were nearly snuffed out by the unspeakable trauma of sexual assault. It has been nearly 30 years since LaDonna was kidnapped and sexually assaulted in 1993, and while some details may have faded, she clearly remembers having an advocate at her side.
“I don’t really remember much, but I do remember I had an advocate there,” said LaDonna. “She was such a calming presence. A support system if you need it, someone to hold your hand.”
A sexual assault advocate was the stranger who helped LaDonna through the additional trauma of medical exams, police investigations and legal proceedings.
“There are a lot of men and women who don’t have the kind of support system that I had. There is no way I could have gone through that alone.”
At Center for Community Solutions, our Sexual Assault Victim Advocates provide information and support to survivors that help them onto a path of hope and healing. They are with survivors at forensic exams to provide emotional support and help the victim make informed decisions. They accompany survivors to law enforcement interviews and court hearings. They also provide counseling and help empower survivors by connecting them to essential resources and programs.
"I call myself not only a survivor, but a thriver."
All our services are completely free, because of donors like you. Your support matters. This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we need your help to continue providing free advocacy services to survivors like LaDonna. Your gift can change how someone survives and thrives.
