2022 Impact Report

WOW, WHAT A YEAR!

This year brought us an incredible amount of growth and exciting opportunities.

As we take a look back on this year we can't help but celebrate these incredible milestones…. 

January…

We hired our very first paid staff! Erin (Grant Administrator), Sarah (Corporate Philanthropy Manager) and Taylor (Social Media & Outreach Manager), joined Hannah (Founder & Executive Director) in leading our nonprofit towards funding and DV awareness.

February…

We celebrated our 3-year anniversary! It is hard to believe that 3 years ago, Speak Your Truth Today was started by a single Facebook post.

March…

We launched our Ambassadors Program, and 20 volunteers participated! These volunteers became certified in Mandated Reporting, Suicide Gatekeeping, Trauma-Informed Care, and their state’s 40hr Domestic Violence Advocacy training - over 60+ hours worth of training!

Three women smiling at a table with laptops, a phone, and a coffee cup in a cafe with large windows and trees outside.

Sarah (middle), and Taylor (right), join Hannah (left) at the very first in-person nonprofit meetup!

A man giving a presentation in a conference room. He is wearing a pink shirt and gesturing with his hands. There is a whiteboard with handwritten notes and a table with a laptop, water glass, and papers.

Dr. David Wang, SYTT Board Member, providing Trauma-Informed Care training to our volunteers.

“Finding SYTT Literally saved me… Finding validation, being believed, gaining clarity and education on abuse has been healing in a way I never thought possible.”

— Nikki, Volunteer Moderator & Social Media Assistant

“I knew I just had to join the volunteer team and it was one of the best and most rewarding decisions I've made! Turning the pain I carried for so long into compassion and understanding for others has been life changing.”

— Laura, Lead Admin & Volunteer Coordinator

“As one of the first Admin's in Speak Your Truth, I have learned so much through the training we have received, through all the members, and through my own story. So, while I have healed, I am constantly still learning. 

I made a promise to myself a long time ago – that I would do everything I could to help others going through abuse. Speak Your Truth has allowed me to fulfill that promise. ”

— Jennifer, Volunteer HR Admin

April…

We launched a Sexual Assault Awareness campaign, where we hosted our very first in-person She-Hero Brunch (in partnership with Our Tribe Our Village) and amplified 4 survivors' stories throughout the month. We also celebrated the very first Denim Day as a nonprofit.

May…

We qualified for additional funding from Meta through a pitch competition!

July…

We brought on 2 new team members to our growing team! Erin transitioned to becoming a Board Member, and we added Gena (MarCom & Grants Manager) and Cara (Program Manager) to the team!

A woman with long braids, wearing glasses and a sparkly black top, is speaking into a microphone at an outdoor gathering. Another woman with curly hair and a beige shirt is sitting beside her, holding a phone.

Tamarra, Volunteer Mentor & DEI Committee Member (and our newest Board Member!), tells her story at our She-Hero Brunch.

Group of diverse people standing on steps in front of a large house, all wearing purple T-shirts that say 'Speak Your Truth Today'.

Our Speak Your Truth Today Volunteer team at our very first Volunteer Training Retreat - August 15-18, 2022

“My favorite thing about the retreat was our time together! It felt like we were there for a month!”

—Paul, Volunteer Admin & DEI Committee Member

August…

We hosted our very first Volunteer Training Retreat near Nashville, TN! Our volunteers were able to receive a comprehensive Trauma-Informed Care training from our Board Member, Dr. David Wang, and have quality in-person time to rest and connect. Many of these team members had volunteered for over 3 years, collectively giving 26,000+ hours towards supporting survivors weekly - and this retreat was so deserved.

September…

Hannah, our Founder & Executive Director got married! Taylor said it best - “Experiencing love after abuse is a journey within itself. This serves as a reminder that you deserve to be loved fully, to feel safe and cherished, to be heard and supported, while being embraced for all parts of who you are.”

October…

We launched a worldwide RUN the Globe campaign to raise domestic violence awareness and collectively ran 3/4ths of the way around the globe (over 29,100 kms)! We also launched the very first Male Survivor Awareness Day (in partnership with MaleSurvivor, MenHealing, FORGE, Jayce Baron, and BEAM) and shared a survivor's story EVERY SINGLE DAY throughout the month on our new blog featuring Survivor Spotlights.

A smiling couple at a wedding reception outdoors, with the woman in a white dress showing tattoos on her arm and the man in a brown suit, surrounded by guests, trees, and string lights.
Four women standing close together in front of a pink textured backdrop, smiling and making peace signs with their hands.
An elderly woman with curly gray hair wearing a black top, sitting indoors, speaking with expressive hand gestures, with a younger person partially visible holding a pen, and a book titled 'Cash Johnny Cash' on her lap.
A group of people attending a meeting in a well-lit room, seated in a circle around a green sofa, with a woman in a wheelchair in the foreground.
A woman with long wavy brown hair, smiling, wearing a white cardigan and a striped shirt.
Group of people practicing yoga or meditation outdoors by a lake, sitting on mats under trees with a woman leading the session near the water.
A group of nine women and one man gathering indoors in a cozy, warmly lit room with large windows, holding glasses of red wine and smiling for the photo. Five women are standing in the back row, and four are seated in front, one of whom is in a wheelchair. The room is decorated with vintage furniture and a dark rug.
Five diverse individuals sitting on stools on stage at a panel discussion, with a large banner in the background reading 'UNIFIED' and a red 'Design Summit' banner on the side, in front of an audience.
A white coffee cup placed on a table next to a light blue spiral notebook or folder with a sticker that says "Spoil Yourself Today". In the background, there are four people sitting on sofas in a well-lit room with large windows.

November…

Hannah spoke at Facebook's Headquarters in Menlo Park, CA about Diversity & Inclusion in Design to over 400 of Meta's Product Designers to help educate them on how to design for users who are unsafe. She was also selected and published as a 2022 Nonprofit Visionary for the LA TimesOC!

December…

Finally, in December, we gave 27 survivors Holiday Assistance through our Santa Fundraiser in partnership with LocalAnchor, House of Kringle, and Chick-Fil-A.

Group of people outdoors, some clapping and laughing, in front of a building with columns, celebrating. One woman in wheelchair is smiling and clapping.

Erin (top right, SYTT Board Member) announcing that Hannah was awarded as a 2022 Nonprofit Visionary at the Volunteer Training Retreat.

In addition to the above, this year we also…

  • Applied to 20+ various grants locally and nation-wide.

  • Formulated a DEI Committee to help us center, advocate for, and spread awareness of marginalized voices within domestic violence and sexual assault.

  • Launched a podcast called Share Your Truth LIVE and produced 8 episodes that amplify survivor stories, highlight DV resources, and provide abuse education and awareness.

  • Helped 36+ survivors escape abuse (and surpassed our 500th survivor this year!)

  • Launched a Care Package Program and partnered with Thrive Causemetics, TCL, VictimsVoice, and other community partners to provide 7 survivors with tailored care packages.

  • Launched a Job Readiness Program.

  • Created a monthly donor program called “SYTT Monarchs” and grew our monthly donor base by 42%.

  • Grew our social medias by 1,092 followers and our email list by 453 subscribers.

MEET OUR TEAM!

A young woman with curly hair smiling and holding her hand behind her head outdoors.
Close-up of a woman with shoulder-length dark hair, light makeup, and a neutral expression, against a beige background.

Hannah | Founder & Executive Director

Close-up of a woman with fair skin, long blonde hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a white shirt, smiling slightly.

Gena | Marketing, Communications & Grants Manager

A smiling woman with long wavy hair, glasses, and a black shirt against a plain wall.

Cara | Program Manager

A woman with long dark hair, smiling, wearing a grey sweater against a plain background.

Taylor | Social Media & Outreach Manager

A middle-aged woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion wearing a floral dress and a necklace in an indoor setting.

Sarah | Corporate Philanthropy Manager

A woman with shoulder-length wavy brown hair with blonde highlights, smiling widely with visible braces, wearing a mustard-yellow top, in front of a white door and wall.

Jennifer | Volunteer HR Admin

Close-up of an older woman with short gray hair, wearing hoop earrings and a maroon knit sweater, smiling and looking at the camera against a textured wall background.

Laura | Volunteer Lead Admin & Volunteer Coordinator / DEI Committee

A woman with long blonde hair, glasses, and a floral blouse, looking to the side outdoors.

Gina | Volunteer Care Specialist / Moderator / DEI Committee

A woman with light brown hair in a ponytail, wearing a green T-shirt, smiling and looking to her right, with a desert canyon landscape in the background and a rainbow in the sky.

Lisa | Volunteer Inclusion Specialist & Admin / DEI Committee

A woman with long, wavy brown hair with pink tips, wearing a blue denim shirt and hoop earrings, sitting amidst purple flowers outdoors, with a background of green trees.

Laura | Volunteer Programs Assistant & Admin

A woman with long, light brown hair and blue eyes, smiling at the camera, wearing a red and black plaid shirt against a plain beige background.

Kate | Volunteer Social Media Assistant & Admin

A man with a beard wearing glasses, a light blue checkered button-up shirt with a small blue horse logo, and a black cowboy hat, standing outside near a building with windows.

Nikki | Volunteer Social Media Assistant & Moderator

Close-up of a woman with dark curly hair wearing glasses, outdoors in sunlight, with a slight squint and a neutral expression

Paul | Volunteer Admin / DEI Committee

A woman with glasses smiling outdoors at sunset near water.

Tamarra | Volunteer Mentor / DEI Committee

A woman with long, wavy brown hair, smiling and showing her teeth, wearing a white cardigan over a light blue and white striped top, sitting indoors with a blurred background.

Gail | Volunteer Admin

A smiling woman with blonde hair and glasses standing in front of a door with glass panels, holding a bouquet of pink roses.

Rachel | Volunteer Admin

A smiling elderly woman with curly gray hair, wearing glasses and a white top.

Karen | Volunteer Admin

A woman with short brown hair smiling, wearing a plaid shirt over a white top, sitting at a green table outdoors with a sugar-free iced tea drink, possibly at a fair or outdoor event with tents and other people in the background.

Susie | Volunteer Admin

A woman with long blonde curly hair wearing glasses and a blue top, smiling in front of a plain wall.

Jamie | Volunteer Mentor

Close-up of a woman with dark skin, black dreadlocks, wearing a colorful beaded necklace and a beige top, standing in front of a white door.

Lisa Marie | Volunteer Mentor

A man with a beard and mustache wearing a black and red baseball cap smiling at the camera.

Adriane | DEI Committee

Close-up of a smiling woman with long black hair, indoors with a black-and-white landscape photo and a white floor lamp in the background.

Tom | DEI Committee

Melanie | DEI Committee

SYTT Board of Directors:

  • Megan Choe | Board Chair | Enneagram Coach

  • Erin Snyder | Board Treasurer | Associate Director, Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance, Rutgers University

  • Kristy White | Board Secretary | Immigration Attorney, Camino Immigration

  • Dr. David Wang | Board Member | Clinical Psychologist, Fuller Theological Seminary 

  • Tamarra Flewellin | Board Member | Sr. Sourcing Analyst, Herbalife Nutrition 

  • Christopher DeCaro | Board Member (term completion Dec. 2022) | Director of Business Development, Kneadle

  • "Speaking about my own truth knowing it can help someone else become a survivor is almost a weight lifted off my shoulders and a peace I didn't know I needed."

    — Mary, SYTT Member

  • "Knowing there are other individuals who have been through almost exact the same situations as me... Having people to lean on who actually understand has helped me tremendously."

    — Erika, SYTT Member

  • "Being able to hear other stories has been incredibly helpful... It gives hope. Hope that there is a way out of abuse... that healthy & happy relationships are possible."

    Lynne, SYTT Member

  • "Validation was rare outside my family until I found SYTT. But know this - there is never an excuse for abuse. Your disability didn't cause it, there's nothing you do to deserve abuse."

    — Lisa, Inclusion Specialist, Admin

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT 2023 HAS IN STORE FOR US!

We are filled with deep gratitude for your continued support — emotionally and financially. Cheers to a successful year with incredible growth and impact!

— Hannah Hollander | SYTT Founder & Executive Director

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