Help a loved one

During the month of June the United States observes both Juneteenth and Pride Month. Juneteenth commemorates the end* of slavery in the U.S., when the news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached and freed enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865 (*although Black Americans were enslaved in Delaware until December 6, 1865). […]

As a freshman in college – my first real time out from under the constant and very watchful eye of my family, I fell head over heels with the guy I met while eating cafeteria chicken tenders alone in my building’s Common Room.  He was the first guy I met who also thought the Shrek […]

“What did you do to provoke them?”  “Was there alcohol involved?”  “Why haven’t you left yet?”   * These questions are commonly referred to as victim blaming – when a friend, colleague, or acquaintance says things to imply that you might have done something to deserve the abuse. These perspectives and mindsets are harmful on a […]

Hollywood likes to portray the role of friends after a breakup as the people who show up, maybe for a night with some ice cream or chocolate. This has made for some memorable movie moments and plots (Think: Tiffany Haddish’s character spiking drinks in Girls Trip or how Jason Siegel’s character takes a vacation in […]

If you think that a friend or someone you know is doing unhealthy or abusive things in their relationship, it can be difficult to know what to do. You may want to help, but be scared to lose them as a friend or feel as though it is not your place to step in. All […]

If you see a friend that is struggling or in pain, your first instinct is likely to help them in any way you can. Especially, if you think (or you know) that person is in an unhealthy relationship. On average, it takes about 7 attempts before a person fully leaves an abusive relationship, and it […]

One of the most difficult tasks in a relationship can be helping your partner or significant other heal from a previous abusive relationship. What does it look like to comfort them, to walk through the healing process with them, to love them through it? No pressure, either, but as a S/O, you have quite possibly […]

Written by Writer’s Corps member Stephanie Perez True or False: Folks with disabilities don’t desire or can’t be in meaningful relationships. False. Major false. We all desire and deserve to have meaningful relationships where we feel loved and appreciated. This need is felt by people with disabilities too. Some people may be surprised by this […]

A letter to myself on the first morning after walking away from my abusive relationship.   [This is a letter written to the woman I was 9 months ago. These are the things she needed to hear, and that I can now put a voice to after months of therapy and healing space. This is […]