Leaving is Not the End
There are five words I hesitate to say. Five words that reveal a powerful truth, but they are words that must be declared. Leaving is not the end. It took two attempts, but in 2006 I successfully escaped an abusive marriage. It was a relationship that persisted for twelve years and produced two beautiful children. […]
Do We Know This Wasn’t Generated?
When one of my friends sent a picture of our friend group to me a couple weeks ago, I looked at the photo, thought it was cute, and moved on. That is until my friend mentioned that she used AI to input two of our friends into the picture. Once I looked closer, I could […]
Ouboros: One woman’s journey from crime victim to OVS staffer
In June 2026, Lily Morrighan, Founder/Facilitator of Harvest Moon Healing, moves into her role as the Community Engagement Liaison at OVS. Read her story to gain insight into our potential impact on clients – impacts we may never see. Content Warning: This post references homicide Right now, as I prepare to share my story with […]
Gun Violence Awareness Month: Brooklyn Deserves More Than “Getting Used to It”
Every June, Gun Violence Awareness Month asks communities across the country to confront a reality that far too many people have learned to normalize. In Brooklyn, that reality is deeply personal. Gun violence here is not just a headline or a statistic. It lives in candlelight vigils on street corners, murals painted in memory of […]
Project UNSILENCED & Sex Education: Why Organizations Like KAVI Are No Longer Staying Silent About Sexual Violence
Growing up as a Black girl in Brooklyn, New York, school was one of the first places I learned that my body didn’t quite belong to me. Whether it was classmates in 4th grade making sexually inappropriate comments about my body and how it developed, boys peer pressuring me into playing “booty tag” in the […]
Thirty Minutes
This year’s theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward”, celebrates the resilience of survivors and the efforts of those who worked for change. Read this reflection by former Rape Crisis Advocate, writer, and survivor, Stephanie Eghigian, which encaptures this theme perfectly. Content Warning: Contains some details related to sexual […]
The Impact of a Victim Impact Statement
In New York State, victims of crime have a number of rights. In criminal court felony cases, victims have the right to be heard at sentencing; this is done through a Victim Impact Statement. Victim Impact Statements are written or oral statements that describe how the crime has impacted the victim’s life. Victims can present […]
New Year, Better You! Podcasts that Inspire Self-Improvement & Personal Growth
The podcast industry continues to expand and reach millions of consumers every day. The global audience for podcasts reached over 584 million listeners in 2025, an increase from 2024. This growth reflects how people are looking to an accessible and easy way to consume content on the go. As of mid-2025 there were about 4.5 […]
Lessons I Learned at the NCVLI Conference
Two short months ago, I had the pleasure of being a volunteer at the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) annual conference. I had a wonderful experience, and dare I say, a unique one. Compared to many of the attendees — experienced attorneys and victim advocates — I was a layperson. I was attending the […]
Put to the Test
I am concerned – no, honestly, I am terrified. Disappointed. In disbelief. Traumatized sometimes to the point of incapacitation. How did we get here? I allow myself to indulge in this state for a minute – maybe two. I have to put limits on it so that it doesn’t become the space where I live. […]