Table of Contents

• Happy New Year
• New Blog Post: January is Stalking Awareness Month
• Celebrating Success
• Meet Yahni our Boston Marathon Runner
• We are hiring!
• Jim Simons joins Board of Directors
• Planning for the Future
• February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
• Volunteer: Become a Safe Community Ambassador

Happy New Year!

January Is Stalking Awareness Month:  

Learn the warning signs and how you can help 

January is Stalking Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to a form of abuse that is widespread, deeply harmful, and often misunderstood. At The Second Step, we know that stalking is not about unwanted attention. It is about power, control, and fear. This month is an opportunity to raise awareness, support survivors, and affirm the strength and resilience of those who have lived through stalking. 

Read the blog post here

Celebrating Success

We hope you will be able to join us this year at Celebrating Success on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Brae Burn Country Club! Buy tickets and sponsor now!

Interested in joing our host committee? Our first event meeting is on January 27th at 7:00pm. Please reach out to Michaela Estes if you would like to help support The Second Step in planning the event!

Meet Yahni! Our Boston Marathon Runner

We’re thrilled to introduce Yahni, our 2026 Boston Marathon runner! This April, she’ll take on 26.2 miles not just as a race, but as a deeply personal tribute to survivors of domestic violence, including her own family’s journey. From finding community and support at The Second Step to discovering her passion for running, Yahni’s story reminds us that adversity doesn’t define us and that healing, safety, and hope are possible. Every dollar she raises will go directly toward helping survivors build new beginnings and thrive in safe, supportive environments.

Learn more about her journey here!

Donate in support of The Second Step and Yahni!

We are hiring!

We are hiring a Prevention Outreach Coordinator! Interested in learning more and applying, click here.

Jim Simons joins The Second Step Board of Directors

We’re pleased to welcome Jim Simons to The Second Step Board of Directors. Jim brings extensive experience in human resources and total rewards strategy, having worked across a range of industries and now serving as an independent consultant. He is deeply committed to safeguarding the dignity of individuals at risk and supporting those impacted by discrimination or challenging environments. Jim joined the Board in 2025 and looks forward to advancing The Second Step’s mission through service and advocacy. Read Jim’s full bio on our website.

Planning for the Future

As we begin a new year, many people take time to reflect on the values and causes that matter most to them. One meaningful way to make a lasting impact is through a planned gift, such as including The Second Step in your will or naming us as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy.

Planned gifts help ensure that our mission helping survivors of domestic violence heal and thrive in safe and supportive communities continues for generations to come. If you’d like to learn more about how legacy giving works, or if you’ve already included The Second Step in your plans, we would love to hear from you. To learn more, visit our Planned Giving page or reach out to Suzanne Wakefield, Chief Development Officer. We are deeply grateful for all the ways you support this important work.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Become a Safe Community Ambassador!

Helping survivors of domestic violence heal and thrive

in safe and supportive communities.

Thank you to our foundation and corporate partners for supporting

The Second Step and our work with survivors of domestic violence!