Day 1: Building Hope, One Story at a Time
The conference opened with warmth and gratitude as Sonya Desai and Laura Lawrence welcomed attendees. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein shared a video message commending the work of Safe Alliance and the Guilford County Family Justice Center, emphasizing their crucial role in supporting survivors.
Commissioner Kay Cashion and District Attorney Spencer Merriweather offered heartfelt remarks, with Merriweather noting that this conference was a chance to "fill his cup" a sentiment echoed throughout the event. Russ Ferguson reaffirmed his office's support, acknowledging the Family Justice Centers' work across the full spectrum of trauma.
A Survivor's Journey to Safety and Healing
The first major highlight came from Raveen Mustafa, who courageously shared her story of survival. When she first reached out for help, she said it felt like being "dropped in the middle of the ocean without knowing how to swim." Thanks to the compassion of responding officers and the support of the Guilford County Family Justice Center, Raveen found hope and safety for herself and her son. Her son's experience at Camp HOPE, a program for children affected by domestic violence, "saved his life."
The FJC Movement Takes Flight
Catherine Johnson, President and CEO of Alliance for HOPE International, shared how the Family Justice Center model began in San Diego in 2002 and has since taken flight across the nation. North Carolina opened its first FJC in 2005 and now has nine centers and five Camp HOPE locations, making it the fastest-growing Camp HOPE network in the U.S.
When the Guilford County FJC suffered a devastating fire, staff and partners opened a temporary "pop-up" center in just 11 days, a powerful testament to their dedication to keeping services accessible to survivors.
From Survivor to Senator 
Senator Woodson Bradley from Mecklenburg County delivered one of the most moving addresses of the day, recounting her own experience with domestic violence and the long, painful process of finding help. "I tried 17 times before someone believed me," she said. Today, she channels that experience into her work as a lawmaker. "DNA does not make a family, it is love, caring, and protection," she reminded the audience. "You just need this much more courage than what you woke up with to make it through the day."
The Global Impact of the FJC Model
Casey Gwinn, Esq. and Gael Strack, Esq., co-founders of Alliance for HOPE International, shared the global vision of the FJC movement, now spanning over 300 centers worldwide, with 150 in the United States. Strack, who led the first FJC, was also instrumental in advancing laws recognizing strangulation as a key predictor of lethal violence.
"It's not about a building," said Gwinn. "It's about people intertwining their lives to help survivors."
Lessons from the Bench
A panel of judges, Judge Ramey, Judge Gause, and Judge Wiggins, shared insights on the importance of trauma-informed judicial practices. They emphasized efficiency in serving ex parte orders, the partnership with Legal Aid, and maintaining the integrity of court processes so survivors aren't retraumatized by procedural errors. "No matter the outcome," one judge noted, "we must never forget that court decisions don't erase the hurt or fear survivors carry."
A Mecklenburg County Gathering
At the end of Day 1, attendees from Mecklenburg County gathered together for dinner. It was a a time of fellowship, reflection, and relationship building as we prepare for The Umbrella Center's opening next year.
Day 2: Inspiring Hope and Expanding Awareness
The second day began with an uplifting session from Casey Gwinn and Jamal Stroud, M.A., Director of Camp HOPE America. Both men shared personal stories of overcoming adversity and the importance of being "hope givers." As Stroud shared, "Hope is about becoming who you are supposed to be." He proudly noted that although he has a high ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score, his own children's ACE scores are zero, a powerful reflection of breaking cycles of trauma.
Bringing Elder Abuse Out of the Shadows
Catherine Johnson introduced Paul Greenwood, Deputy District Attorney, who delivered a compelling presentation on elder abuse, a crime that steals an estimated $61 billion from older citizens each year. Greenwood underscored that silence is the greatest barrier to justice.
Reasons for silence often include shame, loyalty to the abuser, fear of losing independence, or retaliation. Greenwood dispelled common myths, such as the belief that elderly victims make unreliable witnesses or that cases can't proceed without their direct cooperation. He urged attendees to remember that everyone in North Carolina is a mandatory reporter and encouraged the use of resources like eagle.usc.edu.
Survivor Voices: Improving the Court Experience
A powerful survivor panel, Anna Smith, Monique Harris, and Marva Edwards, shared their lived experiences navigating the court system. Common themes emerged: confusion about legal processes, lack of guidance, and feeling unheard or disbelieved.
They emphasized the urgent need for trauma-informed courtrooms from separate waiting areas for victims to training for judges and lawyers on how body language and word choice can impact survivors. "What survivors need most," they agreed, "is someone to explain everything and walk alongside them through the process."
Closing Plenary with Attorney General Jeff Jackson
The conference concluded with remarks from North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, introduced by Laura Lawrence. Jackson spoke candidly about the challenges of protecting survivors in court, drawing from his own experience providing pro bono legal work for Safe Alliance. He highlighted his ongoing work to eliminate the state's backlog of untested rape kits, which has already resulted in numerous solved cases and convictions.
Jackson has personally visited three of North Carolina's nine Family Justice Centers, with plans to visit them all. He also provided updates on ongoing efforts to secure funding for SNAP benefits, reaffirming his commitment to supporting vulnerable North Carolinians.
Moving Forward Together
The two-day conference was a powerful reminder that while systems and laws matter, the heart of this work lies in people; survivors, advocates, law enforcement, and community members coming together to build safety, connection, and hope.
As Spencer Merriweather said on opening day, we come to conferences like this "to fill our cups." And as attendees left, inspired and energized, one thing was clear: every cup was full , full of compassion, courage, and the belief that the best is yet to come.
