Posts by Laura Penney-Edwards
#TDVAM2021: Supporting Teens is a Community Effort
For many of us, our first meaningful relationships happen in our teenage years. Disturbingly, 1 in 3 teens experiencing physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner (that’s 1.5 million high school students nationwide each year) with clearly demonstrated negative long-lasting effects. It is essential that organizations like Safe Passage and caring adults in…
Read MoreReflections on a Year of Pandemic
As we approach the month of March, we reflect on a year that has been full of grief, loss, change, discovery, and resilience. We have all navigated a new way of living as we continue to grapple with the multiple pandemics our community and country remain entrenched in: the pandemics of COVID, racism, white supremacy,…
Read MorePride 2020: Celebrations Change, Support for LBGTQ+ Survivors as Important as Ever
As we mark the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising this June — a month filled with protests demanding an end to police brutality against Black communities and uplifting Black Lives Matter — we recognize and honor the power of protest and organizing to create systemic social change. While this year’s Pride looks different than…
Read MoreSafe Passage stands in solidarity with Communities of Color
I imagine that many of you, like me, feel outrage when faced with the reality of yet more killings of Black people by white police officers. If you were on social media, you no doubt saw the videos of the death of George Floyd, heard about the violent murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmad Arbery, and…
Read MoreBoard of Directors Statement on the Proposed Union
The Board of Directors at Safe Passage takes very seriously our responsibility to support the mission of the organization as well as the health and well-being of our employees. We have immense gratitude and respect for the entire Safe Passage staff, who continually demonstrate their commitment to advancing the important work of Safe Passage. We…
Read MoreHow you can support survivors during Covid-19
Since Covid-19 became a serious concern, we have learned a lot about our responsibility to physically distance ourselves, and to self-isolate in order to limit the spread. While it is an act of community care to encourage others to stay home, we also know that home is not always comfortable or safe. For people who…
Read MoreWhen Staying Home isn’t Safe
Social isolation is not new for survivors living with abuse. As a tactic frequently used by people who abuse others, isolation is integral to almost every experience of domestic violence.
Read MoreTo our Safe Passage community…
This is such an uncertain and frightening time. I’m writing to you about taking care of one another – our families, our neighbors, and friends – at a time when doing so is tremendously difficult. “Social distancing” has become the new normal for most of us as we deal with the growing threat of COVID-19.…
Read MoreBooks Help Us to Slow Down
Today is International Children’s Book Day, and this year’s theme is “Books help us to slow down”. We encourage you to take some time today (or every day!) to slow down, connect, and read a book with a child in your life.
Read MorePracticing Trauma Informed Mindfulness Meditation
Meditation is really difficult. Have you ever tried? If not, here’s a quick exercise you can do right now. Note: mindfulness isn’t for everybody. So if you feel unsettled by the idea, skip this exercise!
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