69 www.CharlestonWomenPodcast.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.Instagram.com/CharlestonWomen Twenty-five years ago, a small group of passionate Charlestonians came together to question why child sexual abuse services were only available after a child was abused. Why is education on this topic so limited and most importantly, how can we change this? They mobilized the people around them and began with a yearly conference to give voices to survivors called “Darkness To Light.” Looking at the numbers today, Darkness To Light, a nonprofit committed to empowering adults to prevent child sexual abuse, has a “13,000-plus facilitator and instructor network who educate adults using our curriculum in their local communities, schools, nonprofit organizations and businesses to extend the reach of the organization’s prevention efforts,” according to Darkness To Light CEO Rhonda Newton. The organization believes that the key to stopping child sexual abuse lies completely in prevention and protection. Adults who interact with children are the ones morally and legally responsible for children’s safety and health, and Darkness To Light aims to educate adults to fight for all children. Through media campaigns, webinars, partnerships and more, Darkness To Light has created templates for schools, businesses and professionals to use as a guide in educating adults about signs of child sexual abuse as well as steps that can be taken to prevent future child sexual abuse. All of these fundamentals are based on a theory of change that encourages changes in adults’ attitudes and beliefs from a socioecological framework. Shattering Silence BY EMILY ETHERIDGE Charleston Women in Philanthropy Darkness to Light Rhonda Newton, M. Ed.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1