When I Became Free

#WhenIBecameFree  is a project I started 3 years ago but needed to put on the backburner for a couple of reasons . Earlier this year I made the decision to give it my all and get it completed. 

#WhenIBecameFree is an effort to bring out the stories of survivors of abuse; child sexual, domestic violence, and/or sexual assault.  For the past few months, I have been interviewing survivors living in my rural area of Wisconsin. These remarkable people come from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. Their life experiences are compelling. 

As a survivor of child sexual assault, domestic violence and sexual assault as an adult, I know firsthand the trauma such crimes can have on an individual. I also know firsthand how difficult it is to rebuild a life as you try to heal, especially in rural America where resources are scarce and gossip is rampant.  It is an isolation all on its own. 

The stories I am collecting, along with my own, are being compiled in a book that will be self-published. Many of the survivors I have interviewed have agreed to be videotaped. Clippings from those interviews will be edited together into a mini-documentary.

My goals in completing this project are to bring about awareness on many levels. 

1) The lack of resources 
2) The strength of survivors
3) That surrounding each one us are many people who have a remarkable story of survival. 

To do this project, correctly, it has turn into a full-time job.  Through it all, I am also guiding other survivors through their healing and helping them find whatever resources we can so that they may build a life free from abuse and break cycles.  Victims are searching me out for assistance due to the lack of resources in our county. 

We are already seeing many positives come out of the project including a newly organized group of survivors in Juneau County, Wisconsin, who have bonded together on the local level to be a support system for one another and victims seeking to become survivors.  Survivors Offering Support, Juneau County (SOS).

Together we are working on a new program, Kelli's Haven, which would bring together our community - the businesses, churches, and organizations in providing a safe refuge for those escaping abuses. Those who participate in Kelli's Haven will have a symbol posted in their window and be advertised as a "safe place" for anyone seeking help to walk into, be provided a secure room to phone and wait for police and/or an advocate. There will be resource material at all of the locations.  Each entity that takes part will receive training on how to assist a person in crisis. We already have many businesses throughout our county who have said they are more than willing to be a Kelli's Haven. 

Kelli's Haven is named after a young woman I first interviewed when I started the #WhenIBecameFree project. Tragically she suffered many years of physical abuse, emotional neglect and sexual abuse at the hand's of her father, including becoming pregnant and giving birth to his children.  Many times over those years Kelli attempted to escape but ran into a rural vast land with no real direction on where to go for help. When she tried to reach out, many didn't understand what was before their eyes and walked away.  Kelli's father did end up being eventually prosecuted for his crimes and only served a few years in prison.  

For more on Kelli's story read: Hidden Family Secrets 

Once the book is completed and published, 50 percent will go towards Survivors Offering Support (S.O.S) for a crisis fund and also to Kelli's Haven.  Then 25 percent will go to ILead Charter School for helping in creating the video. The remaining 25 percent will help me recoup any financial loss, marketing, and seed money for my next project, a children's book on trauma and understanding emotion. 

We do not have a crisis shelter in our county. 
We do not have an advocacy organization in our county, survivors must reach out to neighboring counties for advocacy assistance. In the last few days, I have personally been contacted by over 8 victims looking for help. 
Our story is repeated throughout this county in other rural areas. If we can pull us up by the bootstraps, then maybe we can be a model for others to follow. 

I need financial help to keep this project going - to keep reaching out to victims - to market the project - to print materials and also then for the cost of self-publishing.  Yes, it is a full-time endeavor and I am nearing the point of compiling the chapters for publication. 

I have attained (2) businesses who paid for sponsorship:
Wisconsin River Meats 
Benders Family Restraurant 

And from 

Kyle Roberts Blues,  my 20-year-old son, who has donated money and in-kind support as he will write and perform the music for the video. 

And individuals have donated to the project

As much as I hate to say it, I need to fundraise to keep the project and myself afloat as I do the work. (YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD THAT WAS FOR ME TO TYPE!)

Visit When I Became Free  on Facebook

I also have an Ebay account where I am selling items to help fund this project 

I am told this is my calling, and yes, I do feel it.  But I cannot keep up at the pace that I have without support, so I am asking for it.  I may not have a lot in material things, but I do have a lot of passion and compassion when it comes to this topic. Somehow, it will get completed.