Sexual Assault Survivor Turned Harvard Changemaker

My name is LaQuisha S. Anthony,  a young African American Philadelphia native whose desire is to end the silence and stigma surrounding Sexual Violence. This passion emerged from the many years I spent remaining silent about my own personal experiences with sexual abuse.

I experienced sexual abuse twice, as a young child and as a young woman. As a 19-year-old college freshman, I was sexually assaulted, impregnated, and suffered in silence with PTSD, severe depression and suicide for 12 long years. My voice, strength and education were stripped from me! I remained silent about the abuse until other unimaginable circumstances forced me to speak up!

Through the grace of God, I regained my voice and have taken on the charge to end sexual violence in my community and beyond through education, awareness, advocacy and sharing my personal story. I have become a champion against sexual violence by educating the community through my work at a local rape crisis center, as a mentor to at-risk teenage girls, and leading my small grassroots organization, Victory Over Inconceivable Cowardly Experiences Inc. (V.O.I.C.E), which is a network for sexual abuse survivors. I have earned countless honors for my contributions and commitment to my community such as the following, to name a few:

2019 City Council City Of Philadelphia citation for phenomenal work and leadership in the community
2018 KYW Gamechanger
2018 Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape 2018 Black History Maker
2017 KYW News Women’s Achievement Awards Rising Star
2016 Nominated Change Maker by the United State of Women 

I have been selected to attend a special ChangeMaker Executive Education program at Harvard University. I believe this program is the next step to advancing and enhancing my knowledge and skill-set to becoming a more effective change agent in my community and beyond. I believe education is the key no matter what field you are in and opportunities like this program are priceless. 

This once in a lifetime opportunity while priceless in value, comes with a hefty price tag. I am required to pay tuition, lodging and travel expenses and this program does not accept financial aid or grants. While my family and friends have all chipped in I am still falling short in covering these expenses. I have 2 1/2 weeks to meet my goal. 

The honor of being selected to take part in this prestiges program has reignited a fire under me to pursue my degree yet again. After my sexual assault, I dropped out only to return years later but was halted by a institutional financial mix up and my then treatment and recovery process. I was in the middle of receiving therapeutic services for the first time breaking my 12 year silence and did not have the capacity to fight for my sanity and education simultaneously.

I ask that if you can find it in your heart to help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated! Funds will go towards covering the Harvard program and whats left over towards paying my institutional bill that stands in the way of my bachelors degree. Thank you for supporting my efforts to redeem my education and change the world by ending the silence and stigma surrounding Sexual Violence.