Empowered Survivors, Empowered Los Angeles

Health Care Access

County of Los Angeles

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Sexual violence is a widespread problem in California, traumatically affecting people's lives and negatively affecting society. Statewide, 86% of women and 53% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual assault in their lifetime. The impact of sexual violence extends far beyond the assault itself. The short and long terms effects of such trauma include PTSD, anxiety, suicide, depression, addiction, and much more. Social structures also shape victims' experiences with institutions such as hospitals, police, and courts, which often end up re-victimizing survivors instead of getting them the justice and healing they deserve. Navigating these institutions in addition to the lasting impacts of trauma can be isolating. There is a lack of survivor support and rehabilitation, so increased access to advocates, professionals, and therapy can be a lifeline for survivors. These services can reduce the long-term effects of trauma by providing survivors support and control over their care.

Our focus is for survivors to heal. By creating a safe, supportive, survivorship community and environment there is a greater potential for survivors to thrive past trauma. Our programs provide direct services to survivors who are still dealing with the constant effects of sexual and domestic violence. The programs include support groups, advocacy assistance regarding the civil and criminal legal system, therapy, permanent support that promotes healing from the impact of trauma, and education on intimate partner violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. When survivors of sexual violence have felt alone in their trauma, the healing power of connection is profound. Because healing is not linear and every survivor has special needs, we created multiple survivorship programs amongst survivors to encourage one another. Our survivorship programs are innovative methods of therapy that consist of social activities and therapeutic recreation: yoga, sound baths, meditation, self-defense classes, retreats, spa treatments, dance, and much more. Currently we have to rely mostly on the generous contributions of time and talent from local therapists, advocates, instructors, and other community partners, many of which are survivors themselves. We could make a much bigger impact if we were able to pay these partners so they could dedicate more time to supporting survivors, or if we could reach out to other partners that cannot donate services.

Giving survivors the opportunity to heal can have a variety of impacts outside of the survivors themselves. Increased awareness of sexual violence can help empower people to be active bystanders to prevent violence and encourage communities to believe and support survivors. Once survivors are believed and supported by their community, empowered survivors are more likely to seek medical attention and report the crime. Higher rates of reporting could potentially lead to more convictions and a safer community. Also, when survivors are able to heal from their trauma, they can blossom in other areas of their life. They can be more productive at work, strengthen bonds with family and friends, and be more present in their community. Helping people release themselves from the burden of sexual trauma is a vital step towards helping communities in LA County to flourish.

We are measuring its impact based on the number and variety of events hosted, as well as testimonies from survivors as to how our organization has changed the course of their healing. For example, in our virtual survivor meetups, there were a few people who shared their experience of sexual trauma for the first time ever. Having these types of spaces for survivors can truly open the door to healing that otherwise may have remained closed for much longer. In the past year we've held these survivor meetups, virtual group therapy sessions, our first annual fundraiser, aerial dance classes for survivors, boxing classes for survivors, a survivor workout, a community sound bath, and a breakfast event with a panel of survivors discussing the impact of sexual violence. We can see that each survivor involved in these events feels less alone after hearing the stories of other survivors.