Speak Your Truth Today

Speak Your Truth Today is a 501(c)3 non-profit that amplifies the voices of those impacted by domestic violence and provides education and resources that foster community, self-sufficiency and overall well-being.

Speak Your Truth Today was sparked when one woman opened up about the story of her abusive marriage on Facebook. She made a post on her 24th birthday to bring awareness to domestic violence against women, however, as it grew more popular, men who suffered DV and adults who suffered child abuse also came forward, sharing their stories. So, on a whim, she made a Facebook group for DV victims & survivors — in hopes they could share encouragement and resources to those recovering from abuse.

Today, SYTT is now a 501(C)3 nonprofit, 24/7 domestic violence crisis warm-line and Facebook support group, with a growing 19,269 membership. In addition to providing those in need referrals to its community partner network, SYTT’s additional programs include a Care Package Program, a Holiday Assistance Program, and a DV Ambassador Certification Program work to further support members in crisis. Collectively, SYTT has been able to help about 3 people leave abusive relationships every single week since it began in February 2019.

In 2024, SYTT celebrated its 5-year anniversary! After 3 years of Galentine’s Day collaborations with OC United, we worked together to facilitate another yearly event for Mother’s day, honoring the women & moms in their local support group. We were able to get hundreds of flowers donated by Madero 1899, and invited Brooke from Brooke Bloom Co. to lead a bouquet making class. It was truly such a beautiful event!

We collaborated with Radiant Futures for several events, including a Facebook LIVE discussing the Importance of Survivor Voices and Open Mic Night at the Night Owl. Additionally, our partner Our Wave showcased our collaborative research project at the SVRI Forum in Capetown, South Africa.

In 2023, SYTT began partnering with NO MORE and Our Wave, to launch NO MORE Silence, a new, story sharing website. This new platform allows for survivors to anonymously share their stories online, and find similar stories to their own through a tagging system. As a collective, we believe that the data received will greatly impact domestic violence policy work. Last year, Our NO MORE Silence: Speak Your Truth platform shared & read stories 29,117 times. This was a wonderful 1st year milestone!

Thanks to several large donors, we were able to sponsor 9 survivors and their children through our Holiday Assistance Program, and we teamed up with Radiant Futures to expand our program to their survivors in need.

SYTT welcomed 789 new members and supported over 1,178 posts within our Facebook Support Group, and shipped 12 packages through our Care Package Program, assisting survivors in the midst of their transitions from abuse.

We provided 42 survivors Thrive Causemetics make-up and skin-care goodie bags and 29 survivors flower bouquets during local events in partnership with OC United. Notably, SYTT also attended 2 community resource fairs.

We graduated 2 volunteers (with 3 more in process!) in our DV Ambassadors Program, welcomed 3 new volunteers & 3 new interns to our growing team, and educated 2,517 people about abuse through our SYTT Abuse Quiz!

With nearly 20 people per minute being physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, this equates to more than 10 million women and men on an annual basis. Abuse victims are oftentimes isolated from family and friends, with little to no financial means to safely break away from the abuse. Alternately, families and friends oftentimes don’t know about the varying signs of abuse or even what to do until it’s much too late. SYTT uses its Abuse Quiz as an ability/gender-friendly tool to start information seekers on the preliminary path of abuse education, helping them recognize any signs of abuse in their relationship.

SYTT also offers an online Facebook support group for anyone impacted by domestic violence. Uniquely positioned as an innovative alternative crisis warm-line, SYTT’s 24/7 DV support group closes an untapped geographical service gap—crossing the U.S. digital divide—between the local community crisis hotlines, shelters, and police departments. SYTT’s services target’s victims still in abusive relationships when most organizations cannot help the survivor until after they have chosen to leave. The support group provides members a safe, accessible, and empowering digital space where survivors statewide and from all over the world can connect, encourage, support, and understand one another 24/7 in real-time. SYTT’s uses both staff, and volunteer-driven support teams with lived experience. Collectively, SYTT is essentially a supportive partner with survivors, walking side-by-side with them throughout their entire journeys out of abuse. Through SYTT, survivors find their voice!

Located in Orange County, California, SYTT serves adults (18-64+) domestic violence victims and survivors statewide, with an additional worldwide reach via its 24/7 domestic violence Facebook support group. SYTT’s member base spans the United States, and crosses the digital divide.

Speak Your Truth Today (SYTT) started when I decided to open up and share my own story on Facebook. To my surprise, thousands of people identified with what I wrote. SYTT offers a deeply needed space for survivors to receive emotional peer-to-peer support throughout their entire journey out of abuse—something that is not being offered elsewhere in this capacity. SYTT is a place where survivors no longer feel alone in the struggles that they face, and it is an honor to be directing this incredible cause.

The work of Speak Your Truth Today (SYTT) powerfully yet gently offers abuse survivors an online community of engaged listeners, emotional safety, practical resources and empowering knowledge. Because these spaces are facilitated with such care, they're inspiring victims to leave dangerous situations, providing a vital support system, and encouraging incredible growth and healing. As someone who grew up with domestic violence in my home, I understand first hand the importance and great need of the work SYTT is doing. I am so proud of all of us doing the extremely hard work of reclaiming our voice, speaking our truth, fighting for our wholeness, ending cycles of abuse, and pioneering new paths moving forward. It is deeply meaningful and such an honor to serve on the Board of Directors.