Big Lake resident Sarah Colford recently helped to create a memorial to survivors of sexual violence in Minneapolis. The memorial was created by the organization “Break the Silence” which aims to help survivors of sexual abuse.

The Unveiling

The memorial was unveiled last Saturday in Boom Island Park. It is the first permanent memorial honoring survivors of sexual abuse in the the United States. Three free-standing panels display mosaic artwork depicting sexual assault survivors.

Several individuals spoke in a live-stream of the unveiling, including V, author of the play, The Vagina Monologues; Al Bangoura, superintendent of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board; Tarana Burke, founder of the “Me Too” movement; Nicole Mathews of the Minnesota Indian Women Sexual Assault Coalition; and the board members of Break the Silence.

Break the Silence worked with Minneapolis Parks and Rec to bring the project to life. Lori Greene designed the mosaic artwork, and JE Dunn handled the construction of the project. Damon Farber did the landscaping design.

A recording of the live-stream is available at Facebook.com/BreakTheSilenceDay.

Inspired to Action

Colford is a survivor of sexual violence. The first time she was assaulted was when she was only five years old, and she was assaulted again at 21. She met her sex trafficker when she was in a very low place, and was trafficked in the area between 2005 and 2006.

When she was finally able to break away from her abusers, she decided to dedicate her life to helping others. She went through a 40-hour training program to become a sexual assault advocate and counselor. For about a year, she volunteered as a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) program manager. After she left the program, she felt that she needed to fill her life with another program to help sexual assault victims. She worked with a few sex offender treatment programs, and she heard about Break the Silence in 2016.

Break the Silence

“It was such an amazing organization,” Colford said. “I knew I needed to be part of it.”

“Break the Silence” was a new organization that, with her passion, she could really help to grow. She started out as a moderator of the group’s Facebook page, and later came into a position on the board of directors.

From the early days of the group, the volunteers dreamed of creating a memorial to honor survivors of sexual assault. Last year they were finally able to hit their fundraising goal of $650,000 and were able to break ground on the project.

Sexual Abuse

“Sexual Abuse is so prevalent in our world,” Colford said. “People are starting to break their silence and move away from the blame and shame.”

Colford says that when she first began her advocacy for sexual assault victims, the report rate of the victims was only 16%. Now, with all her work and the work of her fellow volunteers, that rate has gone up to 43%.

Colford hopes that this project will bring awareness to the cause. She wants to “light a fire” under other cities around the nation, and motivate them to create their own memorials.

Most importantly, she wants to continue to surround survivors and victims with love and support, and to let them know they are never alone.

Continuing Outreach

Break the Silence continues to hold “Truth Telling” events, which give victims a platform to be open about the abuse they’ve gone through, and gives other victims inspiration to come forward with their own stories. They also hold peaceful protests against sexual abuse.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.BreakTheSilence.org.