Advocacy in Action

Bertha Purnell is a tireless advocate, founder of Mothers On A Mission 28, and the Chicago Chapter Coordinator for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Driven by the tragic loss of her son Maurice to gun violence, Bertha has dedicated herself to creating a network of support and services for survivors and their families in Illinois. In this episode, Bertha opens up about the motivation behind starting Mothers On A Mission 28—a grassroots organization designed to bridge the gap where existing services fall short in adequately supporting survivors. Listen to discover how Bertha’s relentless advocacy led to groundbreaking legislative changes in Illinois last year, making victim services more available and accessible than ever before. We also delve into the critical need for more Trauma Recovery Centers and how collective efforts can create a more compassionate and effective system for survivors. Please join us as we explore the vision of a leader who turned personal tragedy into a lifelong mission for justice and healing.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
.999To walk into that room of survivors and to hear their chant when survivors speak, change happens.
It's a chill that I will never forget.
It's an overwhelming love for the people in the room.

(00:25):
.999We all share a pain, although a different pain, but we come together to let people know we are stronger than what you thought. 5 00:00:35,79.999 --> 00:00:36,169.999 We are here. 6 00:00:38,834.277775241 --> 00:00:42,614.278775241 Hello and welcome to the Crime Survivor Speak podcast. 7 00:00:42,614.278775241 --> 00:00:47,554.277775241 My name is as Aswad Thomas, I'm the national director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. 8 00:00:47,954.278775241 --> 00:00:54,184.278775241 We are a national network of 185,000 victims of crime from across the country. 9 00:00:54,584.278775241 --> 00:01:12,434.278775241 If you haven't already subscribed to stay up to date on the latest episodes, you can do that on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and other streaming services by clicking the link on your screen or going to the website at www.cssj.org/podcast. 10 00:01:12,804.278775241 --> 00:01:23,84.277775241 So I'm so excited for this new episode of the podcast, and I'm back to talk to another powerful leader in this survivor movement. 11 00:01:23,514.278775241 --> 00:01:34,394.278775241 Our guest for today, Bertha Purnell is the founder of Mothers Ona Mission28, And the Chicago chapter coordinator for crime survivors for safety and justice. 12 00:01:34,744.278775241 --> 00:01:52,474.27877524 For the past decade, Bertha has been working to support survivors and families in Illinois, she has paved the way for remarkable legislative accomplishments and brought together a coalition of survivors and organizations to make more victim services available and accessible for folks. 13 00:01:52,584.27877524 --> 00:01:55,314.27877524 In the city of Chicago and across the state. 14 00:01:56,14.27877524 --> 00:02:00,264.27877524 Bertha's story is really the definition of healing through action. 15 00:02:00,324.27877524 --> 00:02:03,504.27877524 And we're so excited Bertha to talk to you today. 16 00:02:03,504.27877524 --> 00:02:06,234.27877524 So welcome to the Crime Survivors Speak podcast. 17 00:02:06,418.92926357 --> 00:02:10,407.26693031 Thank you so much, and I am truly happy to be here today. 18 00:02:11,684.27877524 --> 00:02:19,244.27777524 podcast Awesome, we're so excited for so many other people to know what I know also well, just the amazing human being and advocate you are. 19 00:02:19,484.27877524 --> 00:02:21,714.27877524 So Bertha, let's, let's jump right into it. 20 00:02:21,724.27877524 --> 00:02:25,234.27877524 Bertha, you've been a pivotal part of the survivor movement. 21 00:02:25,664.27877524 --> 00:02:30,204.27777524 For safety in Illinois, but also you have your own organization. 22 00:02:30,204.27777524 --> 00:02:34,247.26693031 Can you tell us a little bit about Mothers On a Mission 28? Sure. 23 00:02:35,167.26593031 --> 00:02:46,837.26693031 I founded Mothers on a Mission 28 out of my pain after the murder of my youngest son, Maurice Rayshawn Purnell Sr. 24 00:02:46,837.26693031 --> 00:02:52,917.26593031 Here on the West Side of Chicago, there was no advocacy for survivors. 25 00:02:53,497.26593031 --> 00:03:01,177.26693031 I really didn't know what that looked like as far as healing went, but I did know something had to change. 26 00:03:02,327.26693031 --> 00:03:03,497.26693031 I found a way. 27 00:03:03,617.26693031 --> 00:03:12,667.26693031 I walked away from my 40-year nursing career to found this organization to help other survivors who were suffering like myself. 28 00:03:15,54.27877524 --> 00:03:16,754.27877524 Thank you for sharing Bertha. 29 00:03:17,84.27877524 --> 00:03:18,174.27877524 Would love to hear from you. 30 00:03:18,184.27877524 --> 00:03:38,431.17907136 What has been the impact of you starting this organization for the mothers that are part of your organization? Aswad, it's so humbling and it helps my healing to know when I sit amongst people who have suffered the same pain but yet a different pain. 31 00:03:39,191.17907136 --> 00:03:46,51.17907136 And the fact that I've been able to help them in a way that it relieves some of their pain... 32 00:03:46,901.17807136 --> 00:03:53,321.17907136 Going to the funeral homes with them, helping them to fill out the crime victim compensation forms... 33 00:03:53,321.17907136 --> 00:04:08,31.17807136 Which is really an intimidating form, sitting in meetings with them with funeral homes, and also working with the detectives on their cases, helping them to get the answers that they weren't getting before. 34 00:04:08,661.17907136 --> 00:04:22,1.17907136 And that is so important when you want people to heal healthy because when you're calling a number and you're constantly being put on hold, that only adds to the anxiety. 35 00:04:22,61.17807136 --> 00:04:25,71.17907136 I've, I've taken that away from the people. 36 00:04:25,471.17807136 --> 00:04:30,871.17907136 That I work with, I get them a direct number that they can call to get some of those answers. 37 00:04:31,271.17907136 --> 00:04:36,341.17807136 And I'm here to work with them through that process as long as they need me to work with them. 38 00:04:36,451.17807136 --> 00:04:43,414.27877524 them So you're helping parents and families navigate the justice system. 39 00:04:43,874.27877524 --> 00:04:53,974.27877524 You're helping families with funeral and burial arrangements, often going to funerals, often going to the morgue at times with families. 40 00:04:54,384.27877524 --> 00:05:05,944.27877524 So Bertha, would love to hear what were the experiences that you and your family had with the hospital staff or law enforcement and prosecutors in your case, and, and did you receive any victims compensation. 41 00:05:06,694.27877524 --> 00:05:10,557.26593031 In my personal case, the day that, I found out that. 42 00:05:10,557.26693031 --> 00:05:14,527.26593031 my son had been shot and we rushed to the hospital... 43 00:05:14,597.26693031 --> 00:05:22,767.26693031 They took my son to Mount Sinai Hospital, here in Chicago, where we had to sit outside the emergency room. 44 00:05:22,777.26693031 --> 00:05:31,127.26693031 We were not even allowed inside the hospital until I started to have chest pain, and they took me in to be evaluated. 45 00:05:32,157.26693031 --> 00:05:44,207.26693031 As a nurse myself, I knew that I was not getting proper treatment, but I was not in a frame of mind to really navigate that. 46 00:05:45,97.26693031 --> 00:05:47,917.26593031 Actually, the person who came out to tell me. 47 00:05:47,917.26593031 --> 00:05:52,417.26693031 that my son was dead was one of the security guards. 48 00:05:53,47.26693031 --> 00:06:06,127.26693031 The violation of HIPAA in that instance and the dehumanizing that I was a mother waiting on some information on my child, to have to sit outside... 49 00:06:07,17.26693031 --> 00:06:20,937.26693031 you, know, as I look back on it, what kind of treatment is that and how much more trauma was added to my situation? I did not know much about victim compensation. 50 00:06:21,607.26693031 --> 00:06:33,867.26693031 I worked up in Aviston, Illinois for some of the finer hospitals, and we didn't get gunshot victims like that, so I, I had never come across anything like that. 51 00:06:35,107.26693031 --> 00:06:45,807.26693031 The next day, a man from one of the organizations came, rang my doorbell, and gave my sister a packet for me to take into the funeral home. 52 00:06:46,347.26693031 --> 00:06:51,977.26693031 No explanation as to what it was, how to navigate it, or anything. 53 00:06:52,827.26693031 --> 00:06:56,867.26693031 Later on, I found out it was a crime victim compensation form. 54 00:06:57,787.26593031 --> 00:07:00,247.26693031 Luckily, the funeral home did it for me. 55 00:07:00,857.26693031 --> 00:07:11,477.26693031 But I had insurance on my son and at that time there was a cap, so I didn't qualify for the victim compensation form. 56 00:07:12,427.26693031 --> 00:07:13,847.26693031 I found out later. 57 00:07:13,947.26693031 --> 00:07:23,687.26693031 But Oswald, to be honest with you, when you're in that frame of mind and things are just happening so fast... 58 00:07:24,327.26593031 --> 00:07:37,97.26693031 When we went to the cemetery, they told me that the funeral home did not put enough On the cost and that I needed $3,000 or my son couldn't be buried. 59 00:07:38,207.26593031 --> 00:07:39,97.26593031 Here I am. 60 00:07:39,127.26693031 --> 00:07:40,137.26693031 Give me my bag. 61 00:07:40,177.26693031 --> 00:07:44,667.26693031 Let me put this on a credit card so my baby could be buried. 62 00:07:44,667.26693031 --> 00:07:56,437.26693031 But luckily there was someone there to advocate for me and she asked them why they couldn't call the funeral home and have them add that expense. 63 00:07:56,817.26693031 --> 00:08:15,767.26693031 But that's just Something that I've seen happen over and over to families who are grieving and they can be taken advantage of in those situations because I was ready to put that $3,000 on the credit card because my baby had to be buried, not thinking about an insurance policy. 64 00:08:16,237.26693031 --> 00:08:24,207.26693031 So in those situations, I wanted to be there to help somebody else the way that a family member had helped me. 65 00:08:24,887.26693031 --> 00:08:30,587.26693031 Because there was no advocacy organizations that helped me through that process. 66 00:08:30,587.26693031 --> 00:08:34,457.26693031 And I didn't want another family to go through what I had went through. 67 00:08:36,317.26693031 --> 00:08:43,264.27877524 Bertha, as the many conversations that you and I had over the years, I didn't know that you went through. 68 00:08:43,294.27877524 --> 00:08:44,374.27877524 that experience. 69 00:08:44,404.27877524 --> 00:08:48,414.27877524 One, just the lack of support when it comes to Victims Compensation, right. 70 00:08:48,414.27877524 --> 00:08:55,24.27877524 So we just handed this packet of information that was expected to complete that in hopes of getting resources. 71 00:08:55,64.27877524 --> 00:09:09,304.27877524 But to hear you talk about that experience that day of burying your son and being told you didn't have enough funding to cover that expense. 72 00:09:09,674.27877524 --> 00:09:11,424.27777524 And it's something that I've heard. 73 00:09:11,794.27877524 --> 00:09:29,764.27777524 Many times before, and I think there's a lot of opportunities to really lift up the dignity and respect or the lack thereof that happen to crime victims and families when we are navigating some of the worst things we have ever experienced in our lives. 74 00:09:30,44.27877524 --> 00:09:35,844.27877524 Um, but you talked about the need for like starting your own organization to help other survivors and also the need. 75 00:09:35,854.27877524 --> 00:09:41,834.27877524 to change what so many victims go through as it relates to the Victims compensation program. 76 00:09:41,844.27877524 --> 00:09:54,534.27877524 So I wanted to give you a huge round of applause, Bertha, one of our leading voices in the state of Illinois in helping to pass a bill last year that changed the Victims compensation program. 77 00:09:54,534.27877524 --> 00:09:56,374.27877524 And That's a, a large part due to your. 78 00:09:56,444.27877524 --> 00:10:00,934.27877524 advocacy and you organizing other survivors and organizations across the state. 79 00:10:00,974.27877524 --> 00:10:03,194.27877524 Bertha would love to hear from you. 80 00:10:03,204.27877524 --> 00:10:12,164.27877524 How did it feel to work on a campaign to change the victim compensation program, which is a vital resource for survivors across the state. 81 00:10:12,554.27877524 --> 00:10:17,987.26693031 Aswad, working on that campaign was so rewarding because it was so needed. 82 00:10:18,827.26593031 --> 00:10:31,147.26693031 To get the survivors together to raise their voices, to have their voices heard, to be a part of the policy changes that needed to happen. 83 00:10:31,957.26693031 --> 00:10:37,247.26693031 It wasn't that I was just fighting for anything, I was fighting for a need for survivors. 84 00:10:37,667.26593031 --> 00:10:44,157.26593031 The voices had spoken, and it was time for them to listen to what survivors said. 85 00:10:44,597.26693031 --> 00:10:46,457.26693031 And I thank God that they did. 86 00:10:46,817.26693031 --> 00:10:59,597.26693031 And to be a part of that was so rewarding, and to stand with other survivors who was in there fighting just as hard because there was something that we needed. 87 00:11:00,67.26593031 --> 00:11:01,917.26693031 We want the violence to stop. 88 00:11:02,657.26693031 --> 00:11:10,997.26693031 But until it does, we need the people to be able to heal without so much trauma. 89 00:11:11,627.26693031 --> 00:11:17,347.26593031 And alleviating some of that trauma with that bill that was passed is monumental. 90 00:11:18,547.26793031 --> 00:11:24,667.26693031 We as survivors really needed that and that is a win for survivors across Illinois. 91 00:11:25,907.26693031 --> 00:11:43,414.27877524 So some of the things that you mentioned, Bertha, expanding the cap for compensation, expanding the time limits for victims to follow police report into apply for the program, in addition to that, expanding who's eligible for Victims compensation. 92 00:11:43,904.27877524 --> 00:11:51,734.27777524 And working in collaboration with organizations and the Attorney General's Office to change the victims compensation program in the state of Illinois. 93 00:11:52,104.27777524 --> 00:12:01,74.27877524 So Bertha, in addition to changing victims compensation, you've also been a very vocal advocate for trauma recovery Center. 94 00:12:01,444.27877524 --> 00:12:07,764.27877524 We have trauma recovery centers across the state of Illinois, but there isn't a TRC in Chicago. 95 00:12:07,934.27877524 --> 00:12:16,484.27877524 Bertha, we'd love to hear, how can a trauma recovery center In the city of Chicago, help fill the gaps of services that victims and survivors urgently need. 96 00:12:17,294.27877524 --> 00:12:29,307.26693031 You know, Oswald, to the people who are saying that we don't need we have enough, those are the people who really need to be educated. 97 00:12:30,287.26693031 --> 00:12:42,137.26693031 There is no way that a person in need should have to travel from the West Side of Chicago, to Waukegan, or to 95th Street when they are in need. 98 00:12:43,487.26693031 --> 00:12:45,207.26693031 That is just inhumane. 99 00:12:46,247.26593031 --> 00:12:53,867.26693031 We need for people to be able to get the care that they need within a, a short timeframe. 100 00:12:55,197.26693031 --> 00:13:07,107.26593031 If they have to take three buses and they need to get somewhere else for their children, they can't run to the South Side or to Waukegan and still pick up their children. 101 00:13:07,557.26593031 --> 00:13:10,397.26693031 We have to make it convenient for people. 102 00:13:11,27.26693031 --> 00:13:20,987.26693031 to get the needed help their trauma recovery centers provide so that the family can grow back together healthy. 103 00:13:21,867.26593031 --> 00:13:33,7.26693031 We need trauma recovery centers in communities where people are being harmed and hurt so that people can get the help they need. 104 00:13:33,327.26693031 --> 00:13:38,67.26593031 So they can go back to living productive lives as much as possible. 105 00:13:38,467.26693031 --> 00:13:53,167.26693031 And traveling 45 minutes to an hour and sometimes longer, especially if you're traveling by bus, you're crying, you're upset, you're on a bus, there's so many other things going on, you're adding additional trauma to these people. 106 00:13:53,507.26693031 --> 00:13:56,657.26693031 We have to alleviate those barriers to care. 107 00:13:57,27.26693031 --> 00:14:02,167.26693031 We need to provide so that people can get the care that they need. 108 00:14:02,887.26693031 --> 00:14:04,777.26693031 In the neighborhoods where they need it. 109 00:14:05,837.26693031 --> 00:14:27,314.27877524 That right there is really about building this infrastructure of victim services in local communities, right, by investing in Trauma Recovery Centers so survivors don't have to take three buses just to go out and seek services while they're still recovering from being a victim of a violent crime. 110 00:14:27,344.27877524 --> 00:14:29,84.27877524 So we really need to invest more. 111 00:14:30,344.27877524 --> 00:14:44,224.27877524 Bertha, one of the things that I find so inspiring about you and something that I think a lot of advocates can learn from is, is how you've gone about mobilizing people with different perspectives around these issues. 112 00:14:44,414.27877524 --> 00:14:47,274.27877524 As an example, you've been hosting a series. 113 00:14:47,354.27877524 --> 00:15:00,954.27877524 of resource fairs in Chicago to bring together survivors, service providers, law enforcement, the AG's office, really to help connect victims to services and offering healing circles as well. 114 00:15:01,404.27877524 --> 00:15:06,114.27877524 Also talk about unsolved cases and how to communicate well with survivors and families. 115 00:15:06,114.27877524 --> 00:15:13,704.27977524 Can you tell us a little bit more about the resource events that you've been doing and what has been the response of people who have attended these events. 116 00:15:14,14.27977524 --> 00:15:16,487.26693031 These events really warm my heart. 117 00:15:17,57.26693031 --> 00:15:27,527.26693031 I initially started out here in Austin, where I live, and we brought together the State's Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's Office. 118 00:15:27,977.26693031 --> 00:15:32,747.26593031 What we have here in Chicago, they're called Family Liaison Office. 119 00:15:33,297.26593031 --> 00:15:37,857.26693031 They are the officers between the families and the detectives. 120 00:15:38,267.26693031 --> 00:15:48,987.26693031 We have CSSJ join us because they're a big component for survivors, and then we have a restorative justice circle, a healing circle. 121 00:15:49,387.26593031 --> 00:16:08,457.26693031 But in these expos, we give each organization a time to tell exactly what they do in this process, and they give them numbers that they can call, so they don't have to be passed from one person to the other. 122 00:16:09,907.26693031 --> 00:16:11,757.26693031 They get this information. 123 00:16:12,697.26693031 --> 00:16:28,447.26693031 Then we take the families into a room, and we sit in a healing circle, and it gives them a time to unload, to get some of that, that pressure off, and they can start to heal. 124 00:16:29,447.26693031 --> 00:16:33,637.26693031 And those circles are so, so very important. 125 00:16:34,157.26693031 --> 00:16:37,187.26593031 We've done three here in in Chicago. 126 00:16:37,187.26693031 --> 00:16:39,757.26593031 We have two to go before this year. 127 00:16:40,117.2659303 --> 00:16:48,277.2669303 In the first expo that we did, there were some officers from the south side who asked me if I could duplicate it there. 128 00:16:48,647.2669303 --> 00:16:55,387.2669303 So We did it on that side, but it gives families the information they need. 129 00:16:55,837.2669303 --> 00:17:04,667.2669303 In Chicago, when I first started this work, one of the things that I heard was, we haven't heard from our detective in a year since it happened. 130 00:17:04,897.2669303 --> 00:17:06,617.2669303 We're cutting that barrier down. 131 00:17:07,617.2669303 --> 00:17:11,67.2669303 And that is a way to help survivors. 132 00:17:11,437.2669303 --> 00:17:18,937.2659303 And that comes from listening to what survivors say that they need is how these expos came to be. 133 00:17:19,497.2659303 --> 00:17:21,307.2669303 I thank God for the vision. 134 00:17:21,707.2669303 --> 00:17:30,97.2669303 I thank God for the help from CSSJ and the partnership, and I thank God for the Attorney General's office that they saw a need. 135 00:17:30,447.2669303 --> 00:17:32,847.2659303 The State's Attorney's office, they saw a need. 136 00:17:32,857.2669303 --> 00:17:34,747.2659303 The police, they saw a need. 137 00:17:35,727.2659303 --> 00:17:38,757.2669303 And now we're trying to help the people heal healthy. 138 00:17:39,167.2669303 --> 00:17:44,947.2669303 And as I said, that circle at the hand is also so, so very important. 139 00:17:45,357.2669303 --> 00:18:02,457.2669303 A lot of people don't know about restorative justice and restorative healing, but that's something that we're trying to teach in order to break down some of the violence in our communities because if we can stop the hurt, we can stop the violence. 140 00:18:04,727.2669303 --> 00:18:08,744.2787752 If we can stop the hurt, we can stop the violence. 141 00:18:08,844.2787752 --> 00:18:11,754.2787752 So just extraordinary to hear about these expos. 142 00:18:11,764.2787752 --> 00:18:17,304.2787752 If you are in the Chicago area, monitor our cssj.org 143 00:18:17,344.2787752 --> 00:18:21,274.2787752 events webpage for the upcoming date for resource fair. 144 00:18:21,274.2787752 --> 00:18:25,474.2787752 And we hope if you are in the Chicago area that you'll be able to attend the next expo. 145 00:18:25,564.2777752 --> 00:18:28,184.2787752 Bertha, once again, you've been such a just amazing. 146 00:18:28,264.2787752 --> 00:18:28,844.2787752 leader. 147 00:18:28,884.2787752 --> 00:18:34,894.2787752 And we are just always so grateful here at Crime Survivor Safety and Justice to partner with leaders like you. 148 00:18:34,894.2787752 --> 00:18:44,674.2777752 You have changed laws, you have changed lives, you had to help victims get access to services and you have built this community of survivors and advocates as well. 149 00:18:44,924.2787752 --> 00:18:50,24.2787752 What do you find most rewarding about supporting and advocating for survivors. 150 00:18:50,724.2787752 --> 00:18:53,17.2669303 You know, Oswald, you keep saying, "You." 151 00:18:54,507.2669303 --> 00:18:55,367.2669303 I say we. 152 00:18:56,777.2669303 --> 00:18:58,397.2659303 We have worked together. 153 00:18:59,277.2669303 --> 00:19:01,427.2669303 We have listened to survivors. 154 00:19:02,117.2659303 --> 00:19:06,537.2669303 Even with survivors? Speaks, that is enormous. 155 00:19:07,17.2669303 --> 00:19:08,977.2669303 That's something we do together. 156 00:19:09,607.2669303 --> 00:19:10,897.2669303 So, it's not just the me. 157 00:19:10,897.2669303 --> 00:19:14,797.2669303 I might have a vision, but we carry it out together. 158 00:19:14,847.2669303 --> 00:19:22,917.2669303 And that's what it's all about, listening to survivors and bringing the need of the survivors to the forefront. 159 00:19:23,557.2669303 --> 00:19:30,707.2669303 Be it in legislation, Finding who the detective is on a case, sitting in in court with people. 160 00:19:31,117.2669303 --> 00:19:39,187.2669303 Because Aswad, I've called you when a family member didn't have the money to bury their loved one during a service. 161 00:19:39,317.2669303 --> 00:19:40,857.2669303 And you came through for me. 162 00:19:41,77.2659303 --> 00:19:42,307.2659303 So it's a we. 163 00:19:42,797.2679303 --> 00:19:43,977.2669303 It's not just a me. 164 00:19:43,997.2669303 --> 00:19:44,727.2669303 It's a we. 165 00:19:45,77.2669303 --> 00:19:48,887.2669303 And I thank God for the partnership with CSSJ. 166 00:19:49,297.2669303 --> 00:19:54,147.2669303 And I thank God for the partnerships that we're building with other entities. 167 00:19:54,277.2669303 --> 00:20:03,97.2669303 The state's attorney's office, the attorney general's office, the FLOs, and we're lifting survivors to give them the healing that they need. 168 00:20:05,54.2787752 --> 00:20:06,314.2787752 You're right about that. 169 00:20:06,314.2787752 --> 00:20:18,684.2777752 It is the we, this movement that we've built in Chicago, and Illinois, and across the country of survivors and organizations coming together to really build this new vision for safety. 170 00:20:19,474.2787752 --> 00:20:20,984.2787752 You mentioned Survivor Speak. 171 00:20:21,154.2787752 --> 00:20:27,614.2787752 I know you've been to several Survivor Speaks in Illinois, which you've helped lead, and you've also been to our national event. 172 00:20:27,704.2787752 --> 00:20:45,517.2669303 Can you take us back to that feeling or that experience when you walked into or was part of your first Survivor Speak event? Hm. 173 00:20:45,517.2669303 --> 00:20:47,177.2669303 Aswad, now you're going to make me cry. 174 00:20:47,267.2669303 --> 00:20:50,234.2787752 [laughs] [laughs] Take your time. 175 00:20:52,114.2787752 --> 00:21:11,177.2659303 To walk into that room of survivors and to hear their chant, "When survivors speak, change happens," it's a chill that I will never forget. 176 00:21:11,217.2669303 --> 00:21:16,87.2669303 It's an overwhelming love for the people in the room. 177 00:21:17,517.2669303 --> 00:21:25,807.2669303 We all share a pain, although a different pain, but we come together to let people know we are stronger than what you thought. 178 00:21:26,787.2659303 --> 00:21:31,657.2669303 We are here and the survivors speak each year. 179 00:21:32,867.2669303 --> 00:21:35,297.2669303 I feel it even stronger. 180 00:21:36,227.2669303 --> 00:21:39,27.2669303 The people, the chanting, the hugs. 181 00:21:40,517.2669303 --> 00:21:42,647.2669303 Oh my God, it's just overwhelming. 182 00:21:42,847.2669303 --> 00:21:47,407.2669303 Support It's what we should be doing every day. 183 00:21:48,577.2659303 --> 00:21:52,307.2669303 And I try to carry that in everything I do. 184 00:21:53,707.2669303 --> 00:22:00,637.2669303 That feeling, I want everybody to feel that feeling because that's a part of healing. 185 00:22:02,97.2669303 --> 00:22:04,707.2669303 It just lifts the load. 186 00:22:05,357.2669303 --> 00:22:09,947.2669303 For me, I feel like some of the load has been lifted when I walk into those spaces. 187 00:22:11,197.2669303 --> 00:22:12,57.2669303 It's amazing. 188 00:22:14,814.2787752 --> 00:22:16,694.2787752 thank you for sharing that, Bertha. 189 00:22:16,694.2787752 --> 00:22:16,724.2777752 It's... 190 00:22:16,764.2787752 --> 00:22:27,614.2787752 Uh, You know, I was like, I've never asked Bertha that question, right? What was it like for her during her first Survivor Speak experience? And what you shared is exactly what I went through during my first event. 191 00:22:27,824.2787752 --> 00:22:33,344.2787752 So if you're out there listening, if you haven't been to our Survivor Speak, we do these events. 192 00:22:33,404.2787752 --> 00:22:41,884.2787752 in all of the States that we work in, including California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. 193 00:22:42,244.2797752 --> 00:22:57,394.2787752 And so if you haven't been to our survivor speak in those States, you know, go to the website right now, become a member for an opportunity for you to be part of survivor speak, or if you want to watch what Bertha just described, go to our crime survivor for safety and justice, YouTube page to watch. 194 00:22:57,444.2777752 --> 00:23:01,324.2777752 The recap videos of our survivor speak events, Bertha. 195 00:23:01,324.2787752 --> 00:23:05,104.2787752 It's been a pleasure as always talking with you. 196 00:23:05,284.2787752 --> 00:23:08,4.2787752 Thanks so much for being today's guest. 197 00:23:08,224.2787752 --> 00:23:17,774.2787752 If you want to learn more about Bertha's work in her organization, you can go to MothersOnaMission28.org 198 00:23:17,834.2787752 --> 00:23:22,514.2787752 to support Bertha's organization and just the amazing work uh, that she's doing as well. 199 00:23:22,734.2787752 --> 00:23:35,704.2787752 If you are in the Chicago area and you want to join the crime survivors for safety and justice, Chicago chapter that's led by Bertha, go to the website www.cssj.org, 200 00:23:35,754.2787752 --> 00:23:39,354.2787752 scroll down to Illinois, click on our membership link. 201 00:23:39,394.2787752 --> 00:23:44,64.2787752 And become a member of the Chicago chapter as well. 202 00:23:44,344.2787752 --> 00:23:51,54.2787752 Once again, Bertha, thank you so much for being on today's episode of the Crime Survivor Speak podcast. 203 00:23:51,154.2777752 --> 00:24:05,77.2669303 Any final words of encouragement to Survivors Bertha that you would like to share? I would like to say to all of the survivors, I look at survivors as not only the person that has been directly impacted. 204 00:24:05,527.2669303 --> 00:24:08,657.2659303 but also those communities where those crimes happen. 205 00:24:09,747.2659303 --> 00:24:11,77.2669303 Please join us. 206 00:24:11,657.2659303 --> 00:24:13,37.2679303 Lift your voice. 207 00:24:13,697.2669303 --> 00:24:16,947.2669303 Let's take our pain and turn it into our purpose. 208 00:24:17,677.2669303 --> 00:24:19,847.2669303 We can stop the violence. 209 00:24:20,597.2669303 --> 00:24:22,907.2669303 Together, we are stronger. 210 00:24:22,907.2669303 --> 00:24:24,797.2659303 Thank you so much, everyone. 211 00:24:25,794.2757752 --> 00:24:26,344.2777752 Thank you. 212 00:24:26,374.2787752 --> 00:24:29,724.2777752 And when survivors speak Bertha, Change happens. 213 00:24:29,904.2777752 --> 00:24:30,574.2777752 there it is. 214 00:24:30,594.2777752 --> 00:24:31,144.2777752 There it is. 215 00:24:31,284.2777752 --> 00:24:31,750.9447752 So- it happens. 216 00:24:31,750.9447752 --> 00:24:39,804.2787752 laughs] always, always, I think a new one that I heard our members say is that when survivors speak, we pass bills. 217 00:24:40,577.2669303 --> 00:24:41,97.2669303 we do. 218 00:24:41,247.2659303 --> 00:24:41,857.2659303 Yes, we do. 219 00:24:42,364.2777752 --> 00:24:42,404.2777752 [laughs]. 220 00:24:42,404.2777752 --> 00:24:42,515.7067752 Yes, we do. 221 00:24:42,515.7067752 --> 00:24:42,589.9927752 We do. 222 00:24:42,589.9927752 --> 00:24:46,734.2777752 So thank you so much to everyone for listening to today's episode. 223 00:24:47,34.2787752 --> 00:24:56,34.2787752 To become a member of Crime Survivor for Safety and Justice or join our email list, visit the website at www.cssj.org 224 00:24:56,44.2787752 --> 00:24:59,264.2787752 to join a chapter near you or our national network. 225 00:24:59,544.2787752 --> 00:25:10,994.2787752 Remember you can tune into All podcast episodes on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other streaming platforms at crime Survivors for safety and justice. 226 00:25:11,14.2787752 --> 00:25:13,414.2787752 We are healing through action. 227 00:25:13,504.2787752 --> 00:25:19,44.2787752 And when survivors speak, change happens, join the movement and we'll talk to you all soon.