Monday, February 20, 2012

Empowerment Project

I'm a rape survivor.

If you've read my bio you know I was raped in my own bed when I was sixteen. I pressed charges, and won a rare conviction, but the ordeal shook my life to the core. 

After it happened I honestly believed nobody could ever love me, that if I disappeared, no one would even miss me.  I blamed myself in many ways, not only for the rape, but for the damage it did to my entire family. It was a dark time in my life.

But, to steal a line from an amazing GLBTA Project: "It Gets Better".  It really does. Life got so much better for me, and it can and will for you, too.

My debut novel, "Rape Girl" will be out this fall, and even though I'm a new, untested author, already I've received lovely, heartfelt notes from survivors who visited my blog and reached out to me. I imagine there are others who stopped by but never revealed themselves. I want to offer them something of value here, so I've decided to start a new series of posts each Monday, about empowerment.  We all have the capacity to be joyful and strong, regardless of what has happened to us and I want a day of the week to celebrate that!

I'd love to post submissions from other survivors whether they're photos, videos, artwork, self-portraits, poems, essays, favorite quotes or anything else that makes you feel empowered. I could post them anonymously or you could choose to have your info shared and your website linked if you'd like.

I'll start the series off with an acrostic of a word I believe long overdue to lose it's stigma:

Let's do it together.


  1. I look forward to reading your book Alina and I'm happy for you that you were able to make it through your experience and feel joy again.

  2. Alina, you are such a beautiful, sweet, talented woman. The three men in your life are so lucky! Thanks for being so open and honest in order tO help others. I can't wait to read your novel and I expect mine to be signed!! ;-)


  3. Thanks so much, Michelle and Erin! I appreciate the support, immensely. :)

  4. Wow, I feel like an ass cause I knew you were writing a book called Rape Girl, but had NO idea you had gone through what you did. How did I NOT know this about you? I'm a bit choked up and shocked and...and so proud of you right now. To go through something like that and still become the amazing wife and mother and friend you have is amazing and will be so, so encouraging to others who may have shared a similar experience. Love you so much, Alina and I think this project will be inspiring and full of soul wrenching goodness. Can't wait!


  5. I have to second what Melanie said...I feel like a lousy friend. And I agree with what Michelle and Erin said you. You are really an amazing and exceptional human being! <3

  6. Melanie and Teresa, don't even feel bad for a moment! While I haven't hidden the information, it's not really something that works its way into the conversation all that often either. :)

    Thank you so much for all the kind words and encouragement! I hope this project really does make a difference.

  7. Beautiful blog and exceptional series idea. More women need empowerment. I'm in!

  8. Yay, D.B., awesome! Thank you. :)

  9. I can't wait to read the book or be a part of the project! The more positive healing projects there are the better :)

    I'm so glad our paths have crossed!

  10. Tara, I feel the same way. Will definitely be promoting your project here as well!

  11. Alina, I think it is pretty freaking amazing that you are doing this, and I can't wait to see where your posts go. Way to make an impact!

  12. Rachael, thanks so much! I hope it does make an impact. And I can't wait to see where they go, either. :)


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