start a conversation....

“How do we start a conversation about something that no one wants to talk about?”  This was a question asked by one of our very first Women’s Think Tank supported charities. 
 
In 2019, Stormcells approached Family Nurturing Center, a nonprofit with the mission of ending the cycle of child abuse, and asked how the Women’s Think Tank could support the important work they do.   The answer quickly given by Paul Miller (Director of Donor Relations) was “that’s easy, how do we get people talking about a topic that no one wants to talk or think about.” This began our three-month journey with Family Nurturing Center and this difficult task.
 
To accomplish their mission, Family Nurturing Center offers wonderful resources to support children, adults, and families.   Parenting programs are provided to guide caregivers through the different stages of their child’s life.  These programs help strengthen the relationship between parent and child and help the parent address the needs of the child.  If a child or adult has unfortunately experienced trauma in their life, Family Nurturing Center also has services to help them cope with those events and move forward to more healthy habits and relationships.  According to familynurturing.org, “96% of the children completing individual counseling demonstrated improved coping skills.”
 
Family Nurturing Center also offers community programs to spread awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse.   One in ten children will experience sexual abuse before their 18th birthday.  This statistic is the very reason it is important for all adults to understand the problem and know about the services our community offers.  One of our Women’s Think Tank members commented:  “I had no idea that Family Nurturing Center was right in our backyard and offering such amazing services.  I would have donated, helped….something!”
 
So, what happened to solve the question?  The Women’s Think Tank provided a myriad of solutions to the Family Nurturing Center--most centering around marketing and promotion.  Hashtags were created, contacts were made, and ideas were shared.  But even bigger, Family Nurturing Center engaged twelve ladies in a broader understanding of the problem and their services to combat it.  The ladies attended fundraising galas, became a voice in the community, helped with social media, and volunteered for projects. 
 
The American writer, Margaret Wheatley, said, "Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters."  So in the end, we talked about child sexual abuse.  We spread the word in our community. We had the tough conversations and researched the horrible statistics.  We were uncomfortable, but we created a discussion where there was once silence.  Please consider breaking the silence, in support of a child in your community.  You can follow Family Nurturing Center on facebook , twitter, and ​instagram.  You can donate to through their website at www.familynurture.org or speak with someone about their  programs and services by calling (859) 525-3200.