When we face trauma or experience things that threaten our mental and emotional health, it’s normal to go inward where we feel safe. But often what we’ve experienced has an adverse effect on how we view ourselves and changes what “inside” might look like. Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence and other violent traumas have a way of systematically shutting down healthy responses and mindsets we once had. The good news is that we are all capable of forming or recreating a foundation that’s strong and built with tough materials regardless of our upbringing or adversities that we’ve gone through.

Victimization presents itself differently amongst victims of both Domestic and Sexual violence. Several aspects of a survivor’s life are lost or changed after becoming a victim. There can be loss of control, stability, and overall safety. Professionals in the field often discuss the tools used in gaining power and control in a relationship, such as: isolation, abuse, and manipulation. One might ask, “Where can victims go to seek help when they have no where else to turn, and no one else to support them?”

Mutual Ground would like to recognize National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month is observed every September and was established in 1989 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The purpose of National Recovery Month is to educate the public about mental health services and substance use treatments. This yearly awareness event strives to educate the public to help reduce stigma and also to celebrate those who identify as a person in recovery.

The concept of “trauma” means something different to everyone. It’s a word that carries an incredibly subjective interpretation. What is extremely traumatic to one, can be belittled, shrugged off and minimized by another, which raises the question, what exactly counts as trauma?

Growing up in a Mexican household, mental health and emotions was not a topic that was often spoken about. I’ve come to realize throughout the years, by having conversations with others, that it wasn’t only the household that I grew up in that didn’t often talk about mental health; but other households as well, in specific households of those that identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).

Nowadays, the month of June is widely known and celebrated as Pride month, an entire month dedicated to the visibility and support of the LGBTQ+ community! Personally, as a transgender non-binary and queer person, I look forward to June every year, as it is a wonderful reminder of how many people out there see and love the community I am proudly a part of.

Last June I began working at Mutual Ground in the position of Volunteer Administrator. One very large part of this role is working with in-kind donations. These donations come from families, individuals, civic and church groups, etc. The types of donations we get differ widely, from diapers and snack foods to broken cell phones and running shoes. The one constant of each of these donations is they are given to us by someone with the best of intentions. Everyone who gives hopes that their donation is being used to help the life of someone else.

As a follow-up from last year’s April blog post, of which I was inspired by, we know that sexual assault of all kinds is still extremely prevalent in our world. After all, programs and agencies like Mutual Ground wouldn’t need to exist if sexual violence was eradicated entirely, or at the very least, wasn’t as prevalent as it still is.

From being a one-week celebration to becoming a month-long celebration, in the month of March we celebrate the contributions women have made to culture, history, and society. This year the theme of Women’s History Month is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” A theme to highlight the work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.

Marijuana has come a very long way since its prohibition days dating back to the 1970’s. Since then American views on marijuana have shifted rapidly. Thirty years ago, marijuana legalization seemed like a lost cause with only 1 out of 4 Americans approving the legalization. Now marijuana is the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the United States. On average 2/3 of Americans approve the legalization of marijuana, and 94 million people admit to using marijuana at least once. With this change in views has come a series of fallacies about the drug.

If you are reading this, you most likely already have a connection to, an interest in, or some knowledge about domestic and sexual violence. And if that is true, then you may have heard that domestic and sexual violence take root in the exertion of power and control over another person—controlling finances, freedoms, or relationships, abusing physical and emotional power through violence, etc.

As if there aren’t enough social barriers in today’s society in becoming more inclusive and diverse, one of the major barriers is language. Person first language (PFL) is an etiquette that is used when interacting and providing services to individuals with disabilities or illnesses.

The practice of gratitude is much more meaningful than simply giving thanks, or expressing appreciation for a gift you have received. Practicing gratitude is an individual choice we all have, that is extraordinarily powerful. It is a way of being in life that can alter how we see and experience the world around us. I invite you to consider taking a small step in this direction of practicing gratitude, and experience the shift in your own life.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was first recognized back in October of 1987. Circa 1981, the month of awareness was merely a day dubbed “Day of Unity”. This grew to a week of awareness, and eventually to what we know today as DVAM, an entire month of bringing awareness to the issues surrounding domestic violence (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). What exactly are we aware of this month? Perhaps as important, who are we aware of?

The road leading to substance use recovery is long and winding with many hills and valleys. Bumps along the way can be expected, and the scenery varies from beautiful serenity to pure chaos. When going on a road trip, we all know a passenger’s job is almost as important as the drivers.

It may be hard to believe, but there has been an epidemic taking the lives of people every day, long before COVID hit. The Opioid Epidemic.

The Kendall County Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) was created in January of 2020 after Kendall County State’s Attorney, Eric Weis, contacted Mutual Ground looking for different ways to support victims during their participation in the criminal justice process.

Juneteenth (also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

As April approaches so does the reminder of sexual assault awareness. For all involved in supporting victims on a daily basis, we are very aware of the causes, the repercussions, and the trauma involved when sexual violence takes place. Sexual assault is a vast issue that impacts all people whether it is obvious or not.

My journey with volunteering at Mutual Ground began in the summer of 2020. I first connected with Mutual Ground to become a victim advocate. I took the 60 hour certification class via zoom and found an amazing group of advocates. I was able to participate in thought provoking discourse and discussion. With this course, I learned about the mission and the important work that Mutual Ground does in the community. During my training, I knew this was an organization I wanted to be a part of.