Well, week three of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) has been pretty exciting! Tuesday night was the premier of WLRN’s new documentary on child sexual abuse at Miami’s O Cinema. The documentary, called “Out of Darkness, Into Light,” followed three different survivors of child sexual abuse (including myself) and took a look at our different paths, experiences with abuse and how we came out the other side as warriors.
Aside from my own story of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of my female nanny, the documentary featured the stories of Roberto Santiago and Susan Rubio Rivera. Roberto is a motivational speaker who came from a family of generational abuse and had to face his own demons when he discovered his three-year-old daughter was being abused.
Susan is the executive director of MUJER, a domestic violence and sexual assault treatment center in Homestead, Florida. Susan witnessed domestic violence throughout her childhood, and was the victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of her grandfather.
The documentary, which also featured interviews with our family, friends and a registered mental health counselor specializing in child sexual abuse, was both informative and inspiring. 
In addition to the several abuse survivors, members of social service and civic agencies that made up Tuesday night’s full house, we were joined by special guest Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami-Dade schools. Many thanks to Superintendent Carvalho for talking about our new Safer, Smarter Kids curriculum, which has been sent out to public kindergarten classrooms statewide.
The broadcast premiere of Out of Darkness Into Light is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25th at 9:00pm (repeats on 4/26 at 10:30pm and 4/30 at 7:30pm) on Channel 17 in the Miami area, and will be available to stream online as well. Keep checking here for more info…
Before I sign off for the week, I want to thank Publix, our very special Lauren’s Kids sponsor, for their continued support. We couldn’t do it without you, Publix!
I also want to give a special shout-out to Project Help, a crisis and sexual assault treatment center in Naples. This weekend, Project Help staff and survivors will be doing their annual “Jump to Stop Sexual Assault!” Skydive to send the message that the sky is the limit! I wish I could be there to jump with you, but I’m certainly there in spirit!!!
– Lauren
