I Am Change

The mattresses for the Safe House have arrived!! I'm so grateful for the opportunity has had in creating beautiful, comfortable living spaces for survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking. 10 new queen size beds and 14 twin beds have been gifted to provide a clean, comfortable space for survivors to rest and begin healing 💜 Thank you to Wholesale Mattress for helping us provide this service.

Today I had the privilege of observing and interacting with 23 amazing women; women who survived abuse against all odds and bravely took their lives back.

3 of these women are permanently disabled due to the physical abuse they suffered....but ALL 3 chose to complete the low COPE course today. One woman, Marta, said "this ain't nothing! I navigated life between the hours of 5:30 pm til whenever he passed out for 16 yrs! I ain't about to let some rope and boards get the best of me!"

I won't lie, the course was hard for many,. There were tears of fear, frustration, joy, and success. There were some who chose failure. There were moments of sheer anger where the lines between the past and present were blurred. There were moments of awe and elated joy where some were meeting themselves for the first time in a decade. There was teamwork, support, and encouragement. There was learning to trust and learning to be trustworthy. There was hope. But most of all there was resolve.

As I watched the women in the group navigate the challenges along the course I noticed that each of them had a particular look in their eye...something much more than determination...it was the look of resolve. They had all committed firmly to their course of action. I knew in that moment that each of these women would be alright. I knew in this moment that they would leave camp as so much more than mere survivors.

Today, all the hardwork, all the planning, all the naysaying I endured, all the time I put into this camp was more than worth it as I watched these 23 women conquer their pasts and secure their futures. 💜

It's official!!! One Voice Children's Choir will be performing at our 4th Annual Domestic Violence Art Exhibit and Gala on Oct 13, 2017 @ the Sorenson Unity Center. Mark your calendar and join us..

This year we will be honoring the lives and memories of those lost to domestic violence homicide. We will be putting faces and names to the statistics! These victims were our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and they deserve to have a voice!

I am so grateful for the opportunity we have to raise awareness and create an atmosphere of unity and support in our community. 💜

**Event details coming soon

PLEASE SHARE

We have 2 spots left for our Nov 10 - 12, 2017 Domesric Violence Retreat SOAR.

This retreat is designed for MALE survivors of DV.

This Men's retreat will be held in a beautiful, secluded cabin on 20 acres in Park City Friday, Nov 10th 6pm thru Sunday Nov 12th 5pm.

All meals will be provided. We will have a private chef who will keep us well fed and teach us some simple clean eating techniques.

All rooms are double occupancy. Our group will be small (14 men) and intimate. The cabin hosts 9 bedrooms, 5 full baths, and 2 half baths. A firepit, stream, hammocks, and secluded benches can be found throughout the property.

We have a great weekend workshop planned with amazing speakers, activities, a sunset hike, and ample time to sit alone with your thoughts.

The goal of this retreat is to create a safe space for you to find your wings, learn to trust them, and take the leap that will allow you to SOAR 💙

There is NO COST to attend this retreat, however an application is required and commitment to honor the spot you take is expected.

Please PM me if you would like more details. Also, please feel free to share.💙

**As always, your identity and privacy will be honored and kept 100% confidential. NO PHOTOS will be taken at this event. The retreat is designed around a safe space to allow for healing.

23 domestic violence survivors + one week of outdoor high adventure challenges, learning, growing, making new friends, and rediscovering the long lost parts of themselves = 23 VICTORIOUS, EMPOWERED WOMEN💜

I'm getting so excited for our summer camp!! A year of planning, coordinating, hunting down sponsors, screening instructors, and reviewing applicants has led me down an exciting path of growth and the realization that next year I need a committee!!

This year's IAMchange Outdoor High Adventure Camp has rightly been themed: VICTORIOUS 💜💜💜

There has been so much anger, hate, contention, bashing, and division on FB and social media lately.

I do not believe this is the path to peace, acceptance, empathy, or change.

I think it further divides us and hinders our ability to raise awareness, educate, and create lasting change and unity.

I think it's time to step back and look at where we are going, what we are desiring to create, and choose love and tolerance as we move forward.

The human heart has a great capacity to love......and love will be the only thing that will ever change the world for the better.

I love you. I see your greatness buried beneath the frustrations. I see your desire to do good. I see your longing for change. I see your power. Choose to wield it with love

RAISE YOUR VOICE UTAH!!!!!

is excited to kick the New Year off by honoring those who have raised their voice and stepped up to create powerful change in our community.

On March 31st we will honor 12 local activist (groups or individuals) at an awards baquet.

We are asking YOU to nominate your favorite activists. The board will then choose 3 of the top nominated activist for YOUR (the public ) final vote. That vote will determine the award recipients.

Listed below are the 12 award categories.

1. Politicians/City Officials
2. Human Rights
3. Debilitating Diseases
4. Sexual Assault/Rape/Human Trafficking
5. Animal Rights
6. Environmental Rights
7. Military Rights
8. Disabilities: Physical, Mental, & Emotional
9. Su***de Prevention/Awareness
10. Domestic Violence/Abuse/Dating Violence
11. Addiction Prevention/Awareness
12. Homeless/Refuge Rights

*You may nominate as many people in each category as you like.
*Please include their name, category #, and a brief reason for your nomination.
*Please feel welcomed to nominate yourself

Barbers and stylists needed.

** An opportunity to provide regular haircuts to the homeless in SLC has been presented to iAMchange!! :)

To begin with we need 2 licensed barbers and 1 stylist 2 days a week for a 3 hr block. Days and times can be flexible to accommodate other employment/schedules. You will be compensated for your time. A 6mo commitment is required.

Please message me if you are interested or share the info with those who may be.

3yrs ago my son's and I saw a boy about 14 panhandling on the corner near Sugar House Park. He was the first homeless teen we had ever encountered and our hearts hurt. He had been living on the streets for almost a year, had lice, and was no longer attending school due to his circumstances.

A few weeks later we went into the homeless teen resource center and asked what we could do as a family to help. They suggested we put together some backpacks filled with winter supplies that could be distributed as the weather shifted. We sat down and set a goal......100 backpacks! ( We have never been accused of dreaming small) With the help of countless friends we were able to actually meet our goal that year.

Project was born! This year's Homeless Teen Outreach is shaping up nicely! This project takes a lot of teamwork and love from our local community. I'm so grateful for all those who have reached out and made this year's outreach possible. Every year we have been able to put more items into the packs thanks to local donations.

A big thanks to:

Goodwill in Murray, Savers in Orem, and Deseret Industries in American Fork for collecting and donating the backpacks.

The Red Hat Society of Park City/Midway for the travel size pillows and chocolate.

The Millcreek/ Holladay Rotary Club for hygiene kits.

Adobe in Lehi for $25 gift cards.

Target in West Valley and Taylorsville for fleece blankets.

Hannah Laine and Rick Pridis (and neighbors) for socks, underwear, and snack pack items.

Challenger Academy in Salt Lake, Draper, and Lehi for hats and gloves.

Canyon Grove Academy for scarves.

Emergency Essentials for handwarmers.

iAMvhange for snack packs, bottled water, and gum.

The residents of The Gables, Pemberly, Stone Haven, and Rockwell for coats, boots, and snowpants.

**WHAT WE STILL NEED:

1) Christmas cards. We would like the cards to come with personal handwritten notes of love and encouragement from you or your family inside. This is actually the most treasured item in the backpack!

2) Small wrapped gifts - suggested items - crossword or activity/puzzle books/ journals/mini coloring books/books/ card games( can be found at the dollar store or the $1 bin at Michaels and JoAnns). Movie passes, resturant/fast food gift certificates, hair cut punch cards, DI /Goodwill clothing vouchers.

3) wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and chapstick.

Because of your help we can temporarily ease the stress and sadness of the teens living on the streets in our community this holiday season. If you would like to make a donation (of any size) to this project please contact me.

Thank you for all you do to support our projects and those in need

Today, as we look forward to the future, I ask....has our direction really changed? Has the election of one person really changed what we know in our hearts America stands in need of?

If anything, I believe this election speaks volumes about the American people as a whole. We, as a whole, are in desperate need of love, unity, empathy, compassion, acceptance, healing, and change. For the past year our collective cries of despair, division, and fear have been echoing throughout the universe.

NOW is the time to answer those cries with an increase in love, compasion, acceptance, and unity. Our path forward is the same today as it was yesterday. Choose to BE change. Choose to BE love. Choose to BE compassion. Choose to BE unity.

Let your voice and your actions send healing vibrations out into the world. You ARE the change ❤

I'm so thrilled to announce that our camp for domestic violence survivors has been officially sponsored!! We will be able to gift a 5 night 4 day all inclusive experience to 20 women in 2017 ☺

is an outdoor adventure camp geared toward helping survivors gain the confidence they need to overcome the obstacles they face on the road to healing and living life from a space of thriving, not merely surviving. We focus on cultivating healthy, minds, bodies, and spirits as we get away from the hustle of life and reconnect with ourselves in the warm embrace of nature.

This year we will call the BSA Outdoor Adventure Camp at Maple Dell home! Imagine beginning your day with yoga, meditation, and journaling among the tall Pondarosa Pines or feeling your confidence swell as you conquer your fears on the high ropes COPE course!! I guarantee this will be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure 💜

was honored to support and sponsor 1st Annual event.

It was a beautiful morning of unity as we raised awareness about domestic violence and reminded our community there is love, support, and healing after abuse.

Shawn Carely was the recipient of our award "Walking with Style and Spirit"

We look forward to sponsoring this event next year 💜