Hope. Joy. Possibility. We were founded on these values and in 2017, they are at the heart of everything we do.

The volume on the conversation about sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse is up and getting louder every day as all eyes, ears, and hearts are turned toward these issues. The collective voices of survivors are powerful, strong, and undeniable. We are surrounded by meaningful change. And we aren’t going back.

It’s been an extraordinary year for our work at Joyful Heart.

Mariska’s HBO documentary film I AM EVIDENCE premiered in April at the Tribeca Film Festival. Through film festivals and screenings, people across the country learned about the hundreds of thousands of rape kits untested in the United States. The film, and our progress in seeing reform laws signed in many states, inspired people to act and get involved in ending the backlog.

In the spring, legislators and community members in Hawai‘i took a stand against sexual assault and domestic violence during Hawai‘i Says NO MORE Week. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Hawai‘i Governor David Ige made proclamations in honor of Hawai‘i Says NO MORE, and people across the state came together to learn about how to help transform the way society responds to violence and abuse.

Through the Blue Shield Foundation of California's Learning Circle Project, we furthered our research on survivor-centric approaches to treating trauma, opening up new possibilities for healing.

This fall, as allegations about sexual harassment and assault against prominent public figures dominated the headlines and the #MeToo movement formed, we knew we needed to both center survivors and respond to the cultural norms that contribute to this violence. In this pivotal moment we launched the #IWILLSPEAKUP campaign, inviting men to speak out against violence, while also emphasizing supporting survivors, including providing regular self-care resources to our online community.

As this year comes to a close, we are grateful to you, our supporters. Thank you for being part of this journey.