Survivor,
As we enter the holiday season, we want to remind our Crime Survivors Speak community that rest is also a form of healing. This time of year can bring joy, reflection, and—sometimes—unexpected heaviness for survivors. Please give yourself permission to slow down, seek support when you need it, and surround yourself with people and spaces that help you feel grounded and cared for. No matter what this season looks like for you, we are here, we see you, and we honor your strength.
From all of us at Crime Survivors Speak, we wish you peace, warmth, and moments of restoration this December. Jonathon Lewis
Managing Director, Crime Survivor Speak |
The holiday season is here, and it can be both filled with joy and marked by past trauma. CSS’s Member Support Program (MSP) offers activities and resources to help. Austin chapter leader Stephanie Ramires graciously agreed to share some of her experiences below.
Please CLICK HERE to learn more about how YOU can benefit, too! |
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| Meet Austin Chapter Leader Stephanie Ramires! Below Stephanie shares more about her experience with Crime Survivors Speak and our Member Support Program:
How did you get involved with Crime Survivors Speak, Stephanie? I got involved with Crime Survivors Speak almost three years ago. After reporting an assault, I was handed some resources at a police station. The information for CSS sat in a box for several years before I was ready to reach out to my survivor family.
How has Better Help’s free therapy helped you? I love how specific you can get when you're selecting your therapist. I've been working with mine for a year now and I love her. I also appreciate being able to text her at any time, and she usually responds within 24 hours. What drew you to virtual Member Support Program (MSP) events? My agoraphobia and lack of transportation drew me to the virtual events. The virtual groups ironically helped me overcome a lot of my fear to go outside.
What do you like about Wellness Wednesdays? I like that Wellness Wednesday starts early in the day. It helps me start my day on a positive note, thinking in ways that help me stay grounded and compassionate towards myself.
What do you like about the Monthly Healing Space? I enjoy sharing, but hearing other people's stories gives me a powerful connection with resilient and loving survivors. |
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NATIONAL
On November 10th, Crime Survivors Speak hosted a national webinar unveiling the results of our National Victims Compensation Survey, with more than 3,000 survivors sharing their experiences with the compensation system. Over 100 survivors and advocates joined to review the findings and discuss actionable next steps for 2026.
PENNSYLVANIA
On November 15th, Crime Survivors Speak Pennsylvania convened leaders, advocates, and policy influencers in Philadelphia for a policy luncheon. Survivor leaders shared their advocacy experiences, elevated key legislation moving through the state legislature, and identified ways for community members to get more involved in shaping safer communities. MICHIGAN
On November 22nd, Crime Survivors Speak Michigan gathered survivor leaders in Detroit to discuss policy ideas for 2026, strengthen member engagement strategies, and map out a path to advance meaningful public safety legislation next year. GEORGIA
Crime Survivors Speak facilitated the Building a Network of Leaders to Win New Safety Priorities training in Atlanta, where survivors highlighted gaps in support during both the immediate aftermath of harm and the healing journey. |
Join Us for Member Appreciation |
Crime Survivors Speak (CSS) will host its annual National Member Appreciation virtual event on Saturday, December 13 to honor and celebrate members across the country. This celebration will honor crime survivors who have demonstrated leadership, advocacy, and a positive community impact throughout the year. The event will showcase CSSJ’s collective achievements in policy, media, and survivor engagement while fostering connection and gratitude within our national network.
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Reimagining Justice with Ghani Songster |
This week on the Crime Survivors Speak Podcast, we’re honored to share a conversation with restorative justice leader Ghani Songster—a man whose life embodies the power of healing, accountability, and radical hope. After being sentenced to life without parole as a teenager and spending 30 years in prison, Ghani returned home determined to transform the very systems that once abandoned him. Today, he is one of the nation’s most respected practitioners of restorative justice, helping survivors, responsible parties, and communities come together in ways our traditional system never allows.
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Crime Survivors Speak
Alliance for Safety and Justice
1624 Franklin Avenue
11th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
United States
CrimeSurvivorsSpeak.org
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Crime Survivors Speak is a program of Just Safe. Alliance for Safety and Justice (d/b/a Just Safe) is a tax-exempt public charity under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Donations to Alliance for Safety and Justice are deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.
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