Brave Step

06/03/2026

💙 Voices of Change 💙

Recovery does not happen in isolation. Sometimes, it begins when survivors find a space where they are seen, understood and no longer carrying their story alone.

One participant recently shared this reflection about Brave Step’s group therapy experience.

We are continually reminded that the journey to wellbeing is strengthened through community, courage and the willingness to show up authentically for one another. To every survivor doing the hard work: we see you and your voice matters. 💙

06/02/2026

Supporting someone through trauma or sexual violence can be meaningful — and emotionally heavy.

Loved ones and allies often carry worry, grief, exhaustion, or helplessness while trying to show up well for someone they care about.

But support does not require perfection.

Listening, believing, respecting boundaries, and staying present can make a powerful difference. And caring for yourself along the way matters too.

You deserve support, rest, and compassion as well.

05/29/2026

✨ One Brave Thing Friday ✨

What if your next brave step was stepping into leadership?

Volunteering with Brave Step is more than giving your time. It’s helping create spaces of recovery, hope and connection for survivors, loved ones and our community. Whether you love building relationships, planning events, leading groups or serving behind the scenes, there’s a place for you here.

Current opportunities include:
💙 Peer Leader
💙 Board of Directors
💙 Meat Fest Committee Member

You never know how your voice, experience or presence could help someone feel less alone.

Interested in learning more? We’d love to connect with you. Reach out to [email protected].

05/28/2026

We are deeply honored to share that Brave Step has been recognized in Acquisition International’s Non-Profit Organization Awards 2026 as:

🏆 Most Impactful Survivor Support & Advocacy Program 2026 – North Carolina

This recognition belongs to every survivor who has trusted us with their story, every supporter who has stood beside us and every advocate helping create a world where recovery, hope and justice are possible.

At Brave Step, we believe survivors deserve more than awareness. They deserve compassionate support, community, advocacy and pathways toward wellbeing. We remain committed to walking alongside survivors and loved ones every step of the journey.

Thank you for believing in this mission and helping us continue this work across North Carolina and beyond. 💙

05/28/2026

💙 Voices of Change: Sharon Jordan

Over the years, Sharon Jordan has grown alongside Brave Step, not only in her own journey but in the ways, she continues to show up for others.

Now serving as Brave Step’s new Peer Leader Liaison, Sharon is helping strengthen one of the most meaningful parts of our community: survivor-led peer support.

Peer groups remind survivors they are not alone. They create space for connection, understanding, recovery and hope, and behind those spaces are peer leaders who listen deeply, encourage courage and help others feel seen.

In her new role, Sharon will help support and encourage those leaders as they continue walking alongside survivors.

Her journey is a powerful reminder that growth can turn into leadership and that survivors themselves often become some of the strongest sources of hope and connection for others.

We’re grateful for Sharon, her heart for this work and the compassion she brings to our Brave Step community. 💙

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor those who served and recognize that some carry invisible wounds long after their service ends.

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) impacts service members and veterans of all genders and backgrounds, often affecting mental health, relationships, trust, and overall well-being. Many survivors carry these experiences in silence.

Support matters.

By listening, believing, and creating safe spaces for recovery, we can help survivors know they are not alone.

At Brave Step, we remain committed to supporting survivors of sexual violence — military and non-military alike — with compassion, education, and community.

05/23/2026

One Brave Thing: Staying Connected.

Growth and support do not have to end when a group ends.

For past Loved Ones group participants, our Loved Ones Alumni Support Group offers a continued space for connection, encouragement and community with others who understand the journey of supporting someone impacted by trauma or sexual violence.

This virtual group meets once a month and is open to prior Loved Ones participants who want to stay connected and continue growing alongside others.

Sometimes one brave thing is simply showing back up.

For more information, contact [email protected].

05/21/2026

We are deeply grateful to Healthy Charlotte Alliance for their generous investment in Brave Step and the community we serve. 💙

This support will help expand access to trauma-informed mental health care for survivors of sexual violence and the loved ones who support them, ensuring more individuals in Mecklenburg County receive timely intake, personalized care, and ongoing support.

Recovery does not happen in isolation. When survivors and their support systems are strengthened, entire families and communities benefit. Thank you, Healthy Charlotte Alliance, for helping create a more resilient, trauma-informed community.

05/21/2026

💙 Voices of Change 💙

As we close out this year’s Color It Blue campaign, we want to recognize the incredible sponsors and prevention partners who helped make this movement possible.

Because of their support, communities were reached, conversations were started, survivors and loved ones were reminded they are not alone, and prevention education continued moving forward.

Thank you for helping us create ripple effects of awareness, recovery and action throughout April and beyond.

✨ Boots Etc, , , , , and Amelie's French Bakery.

At Brave Step, we believe prevention is community work, and there is still room for others to join this mission.

Whether you’re a business, organization, faith community or community leader, becoming a prevention partner is a meaningful way to:
💙 Support survivor recovery
💙 Promote prevention education
💙 Engage employees and communities
💙 Help create safer, more informed environments

Small actions create powerful change when communities show up together.

If your organization wants to help make an impact through future campaigns, workshops, sponsorships or community engagement, we’d love to connect.

📩 Email [email protected].

05/19/2026

💙 Education Is Prevention

What if community could support healing without pressure?

For many survivors, connection can feel complicated. There may be a desire for support… and a need for space at the same time.

Both can be true.

Recovery doesn’t require immediate openness or constant connection.
It can begin with small, choice-based steps on your own terms.

💙 Community can look like:
• Listening before sharing
• Showing up quietly
• Engaging when you feel ready
• Taking space when you need it

Because community isn’t a requirement, it’s a resource.

And when connection is rooted in choice, it can create something powerful:
a sense of belonging, safety, and shared humanity.

You don’t have to do this alone.
And you don’t have to do it all at once.

🎥 Watch the full session with Dr. Natalie Ricciutti: https://youtu.be/DVxu0i3-cuU

Healing in Community (Without Pressure) | Peer Support for Survivors | Dr. Natalie Ricciutti