Riley Tangeman, MSW, LSW’s Post

The resilience of individuals in our community shines through even in the face of unimaginable hardship. A recent story highlights the journey of a Phoenix woman who survived a double shooting, only to face the loss of her job and home as a result. Her story is a stark reminder of the ripple effects that trauma can have on a person’s life, leaving them to rebuild while grappling with emotional and physical recovery. For survivors of such life-altering events, access to safe housing and community support is essential. Without these foundational elements, the path to healing and stability becomes even more challenging. This is where organizations like A New Leaf strive to make a difference, providing shelter, resources, and hope to individuals who are navigating crises. Her story is not just one of struggle but also of the strength that emerges when the community rallies together to offer compassion and tangible support. It serves as a call to action for all of us to ensure that no survivor has to endure their recovery journey alone. At A New Leaf, we are committed to helping survivors rebuild their lives, offering services that go beyond basic needs to foster long-term stability and resilience. Together, we can create a community where hope and recovery are always within reach. https://lnkd.in/gXGFmmnN

Human trafficking is not only a heinous crime - it is a crime that is dark and has deep, long-lasting effects on its victims. Combating human trafficking and spreading awareness can sometimes feel like an uphill battle when you read news story after news story about human trafficking, or countless stories from survivors - but know that your work truly is making a difference. There is hope! On our new website at www.tatnonprofit.org, under "Our Work," each of our program pages has a "TAT in Action" section which features a person, agency, organization, etc. that has done great work in the fight against human trafficking. This is hard work, but keep doing it! You may never know the full impact of your actions - whether it's sharing our materials, talking to your community about human trafficking, looking out for red flags on your route or making the call when something seems 'off.' Happy National Month of Hope.

This October, Client First is dedicated to honoring survivors, remembering those we've lost, and standing with those still fighting. Together, we can raise awareness and inspire hope for the future. #ClientFirst #ClientFirstInsuranceAdvisors #AndersonSC #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

No matter who we are or where we live, we all want to reduce the public health problem of injury and death from firearms — and everyone can play a role in keeping people safe. But the promise of prevention is often missing from narratives about gun violence. To help advocates shift the narrative, BMSG partnered with the Hope and Heal Fund to create a new resource: "'Together is where we save lives': A messaging guide for California advocates working to reduce injuries and fatalities from firearms." Advocates can use the guide to reframe how we talk about the most common forms of gun violence, which are also the least likely to grab headlines: domestic or intimate personal violence, suicide, and community violence. Learn more: https://ow.ly/AFo250UlSJE.

In America, we often talk about the problem of violent crime. But what doesn’t get enough attention is the long-term trauma that survivors face. Millions endure emotional scars, a lack of resources, and limited access to healing services that can make recovery feel impossible. The impact on survivors—and their families—is profound and lasting. The Alliance for Safety and Justice and their flagship program, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ) are working to change this. As a multi-state advocacy organization, they’re creating a future where all communities are #JustSafe. Through policy reform, survivor representation, and organizing, they advocate for survivors and people with old records, offering pathways to support and healing. When Chosen Few Media and TaylorMade Productions Audiovisual were asked to capture the "Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington" this fall, we recognized the importance of telling this story right. It wasn’t just about capturing an event; it was about amplifying a mission. Our goal was to create a piece that moves people, shines a light on this vital work, and honors the resilience of survivors everywhere. We’re incredibly proud of our team’s dedication to telling this story with empathy, compassion, and a deep commitment to impactful storytelling. High production quality is a given—but telling the most powerful story is always our top priority. Take a moment to watch and reflect on the powerful work being done. We hope it moves you as much as it moved us. #Storytelling #VideoProduction #Impact #PublicSafety #JustSafe #AllianceForSafetyAndJustice #CrimeSurvivorsSpeak #violentcrime Dennis T. Meredith, Natalie Johnson, David Herring, Aaron Faulkner, Jay Sweet, Kyle Chattam, Stephanie Eldridge, Rocky McKoy, Elon Mitchell, Isaiah Decruise, Michael J. Patterson, Jabari Payne

Caring about our youth and families is not novel and it has never been political theater. Funds and programs were created to address the real and present danger runaways and homeless youth face. For 287 days, youth in some parts of New Jersey have no access to #SafeHavens. Ocean and Monmouth Counties provide no local options for emergency or crisis housing for minor youth. Refuge saves lives. The only options are in cities far away, too far for minors to choose because they must leave their schools, peers, and established support systems. They do not know Newark or Trenton, and instead turn to local resources. Sofas. Cars. Tents. Offering favors for perceived safety. For example, 1 in 3 teens is lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home. CLCL Foundation seeks to restore Safe Haven access and protection of local youth who find themselves on the streets or without a home for any reason.

It's day 2 of #MIGlobal 2024. Up first from MI Philanthropy: The Future of Gun Violence Prevention, starting at 10am PT/1pm Eastern. Moderated by MI CEO Richard Ditizio, this discussion examines tech-forward, community-oriented solutions with promise to make our communities safer. https://lnkd.in/gNgHpMDT

“Gun violence isn't just a public safety crisis or a public health epidemic; it's a fiscal emergency. [CVI] isn't just smart policy, smart politics, and sound fiscal management. It offers Republicans—as well as Democrats—an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on public safety while creating jobs, strengthening communities, and reducing the massive economic drain of gun violence on America's prosperity.” Nice work, Andrew V. Papachristos. And thanks as always to you and our research partners at The Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science.

🌟 A Moment of Reflection 🌟 Last week, I struck up a conversation during an outing about what I do for work. I shared my role as the Marketing Communications Coordinator at Safe House Project and the impact our organization has in the fight against trafficking. Then came a question that made me pause: "Do you still feel fulfilled in your job, even though you don’t work directly with the survivors you serve?" It gave me a moment to reflect. The answer? Absolutely, yes. While I may not work directly with survivors most of the time, the work I do still impacts them in profound ways. Whether it’s: 👉 Promoting training that helps a doctor identify a survivor and help get them safely away from their trafficker, 👉 Designing a poster that catches a survivor’s eye in a bathroom stall, leading them to safety, or 👉 Building rapport with organizations so I can provide resources to someone in need. Every piece of marketing collateral, every campaign, every connection – it all ties back to our mission of bringing freedom and hope to survivors of trafficking. To me, fulfillment comes from knowing that the work I do helps amplify the reach and effectiveness of our mission. It equips others with the tools and education to make a difference. And that ripple effect can save lives. So, to anyone in a role that feels “behind the scenes” – remember this: Your work matters. The impact you have may not always be direct, but it is still immeasurable. #MarketingForGood #SafeHouseProject #HumanTraffickingAwareness #PurposeDrivenWork

Community-based programming is so powerful. Low-risk, high-reward strategies need to be funded.