Dear #WeRideTogether Community,
It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself and the organization I am a part of. My name is Laura and I am a member of Our Wave, an online storytelling and educational platform for survivors of sexual harm. I am honored to have the opportunity to write this guest blog post and share our organization's mission and resources with your community.
At Our Wave, we deeply understand the life-altering impact that sexual violence can have on survivors. As a survivor myself, I have experienced the feelings of isolation, shame, and fear that often accompany such traumatic experiences. It was through my own healing journey that I discovered the transformative power of connection, support, and education – the very pillars upon which Our Wave was founded.
Our Wave is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides an anonymous storytelling and education platform for survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment. Since our launch in 2019, we have been dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for survivors to share their experiences, connect with others, and access valuable resources for healing.
Our platform allows survivors to share their stories and visual media anonymously, ask questions, reflect on their healing journey, and send messages of hope to others. We prioritize survivor safety and empowerment by offering features such as grounding exercises, escape buttons, and resource referral, ensuring that survivors can engage within a trauma-informed environment. To date, we have gathered nearly 900 survivor stories, answered over 100 anonymous questions about survivorship, and have nearly 69.3 thousand community members.
One of the most inspiring aspects of our work is witnessing the incredible resilience, courage, and strength of the survivors in our community. Each story shared is a testament to the power of breaking the silence and reclaiming one's narrative. By fostering connection and building community, we aim to remind survivors that they are not alone and that healing is possible.
In addition to our storytelling platform, we actively collaborate with local activists, artists, researchers, and survivors to develop interactive educational exhibits. These exhibits explore the complex intersections of survivorship, trauma, violence, and healing, providing a platform for dialogue, reflection, and collective action towards ending sexual violence and promoting healing-centered approaches. We also answer anonymous survivor questions to help survivors feel less alone and get access to critical information they need to continue forward in their healing journey. By harnessing diverse perspectives and expertise, we strive to create engaging and informative experiences that foster empathy, understanding, and awareness.
As an organization committed to supporting youth survivors of sexual abuse in sports, We Ride Together's mission deeply resonates with us at Our Wave. We believe that by working together, amplifying survivor voices, and promoting education and awareness, we can create a world where every survivor is heard, believed, and supported in their healing journey.
We invite you to visit ourwave.org to explore our platform, share your story, find support, or learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of survivors. Whether you are a survivor yourself or an ally committed to ending sexual violence, your presence and support are welcomed and valued. Together, we can build a community of healing, empowerment, and hope. We can break the silence, shatter the stigma, and create a world where survivors are celebrated for their resilience and strength.
Thank you for taking the time to read about our mission and for considering how our work aligns with the incredible efforts of We Ride Together. Remember, you are not alone, and your voice has the power to inspire change.
With heartfelt gratitude and unwavering solidarity,
Laura Sinko
Director of Research and Evaluation at Our Wave
Laura is a PhD Prepared Mental Health Nurse and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner who joined Our Wave due to her passion for promoting healing through storytelling. Laura has a research expertise in gender-based violence healing and recovery as well as trauma-informed storytelling methodologies. Laura serves as a mental health and sexual violence research consultant for Our Wave and hopes that the platform will help survivors find their voice and a sense of community while instilling hope that healing is possible.
