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Embrace Your Voice
WITH SURVIVORS, ALWAYS
Every survivor has a story. We want to help you share yours.
This campaign invites survivors - whether you’ve ever worked with HAVEN or not - to share your story in a safe, supportive space. Your story may be featured publicly on HAVEN’s social media, our website, or even read aloud at events like our DVAM vigil, so others can hear the strength, resilience, and hope that survivors embody every day.
We welcome stories of all lengths. You can write a few sentences, a paragraph, or several paragraphs - whatever feels right to you. Your submission will help remind our community that survivors are never alone, and that HAVEN stands with survivors, always.
Prompts to get you started:
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What part of your story do you want others to understand?
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What helped you feel supported or safe?
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What have you learned about your own strength?
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What message of encouragement would you give to another survivor?
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How would you finish this sentence: "With survivors, always..." means…
Past Submissions:
I had no prior understanding of the cycle of abuse and what it really looked like until my mom reached out to Haven and provided me with some pamphlets. Suddenly, I was shocked by how the info aligned with my experiences. This validation and new understanding prompted me to reach out to the attorney at haven to secure a no-contact agreement with my abuser which supported my criminal charges against him in court. More importantly, it helped me begin my healing journey, including therapeutic sessions for my PTSD, and letting go of the shame I had internalized from myself, and others who didn’t understand and support me. Haven helped me get my life back, and I was inspired to help others the same way. Years later, after college, I became a counselor and legal advocate to other victims for a time. I feel strongly about their cause and those like them.
10 years ago your organization helped me change my life. You helped me learn my value, and you've taught me how to share my value with others and help them see their own. 10 years later my life looks completely different I've been in a healthy relationship for 8 years, I have a beautiful family, and now I'm pursuing a new career and direction. Without the healing that HAVEN helped provide, I don't believe that I would be the woman that I am today. If someone reading this story is in the center of abuse, you are worth so much more and HAVEN can help you.
I was a Board member at the time that the name was changed. (The 80’s, I think) Also, this organization was first “housed” at the First United Methodist Church, Mansfield. I worked for Head Start for many years & witnessed women who reached out to HAVEN for support. The services provided them were so valuable! Thank you all for what you do.
Haven helped me get out of a domestic violence case back in 2020 they help me and my daughter get to safe area and made sure we were safe they also helped with putting like a harassment on my daughters father we are now 3 years out and she is so much happier
