LaDonna Renee VST Foundation, Inc.

05/05/2026

Excited to attend

Excited to attend!

04/29/2026

🩵

04/21/2026

There are moments in life that don’t stay where they happened. I used to think it was just one room, one moment, one memory. But the truth is, it followed me…into other spaces where I felt trapped, unheard, and unsure if it was safe to speak.

Lately, I’ve found myself being more reflective as I navigate the challenges of balancing and juggling life.

For me, it started in a small back room where I sat in silence, afraid to ask for help, unsure if I would make it out. This is a reflection on the “white rooms” I’ve found myself in since then, and what it means to slowly learn how to feel safe again.

*Images are AI-generated and used to help visualize moments and emotions connected to this story.

I don’t always realize why certain moments stay with me the way they do.

04/18/2026

One year ago 🩵 Looking forward to 4/30

04/13/2026

I wanted to take a moment to recognize the impact organizations can have when they invest in the communities they serve. This $20,000 donation supporting survivors of domestic violence and s*xual assault is a powerful reminder that this work truly matters.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I’ve been wearing teal and different awareness messages throughout the month. One day last week, I was wearing a shirt that read: “I am not my trauma, I am powerful – Sexual Assault Awareness Month.” And something unexpected happened.As I was near the front of the store, a customer walked by, stopped, and motioned for me to come over. She opened her arms and said, “Give me a hug.” I don’t always think about what I’m wearing in those moments, but something told me to walk over.
We embraced, and it was one of those hugs you don’t rush. It was real. It was needed.

She told me that she loved my shirt and that it was a powerful message. I tried to respond, but my eyes filled with tears. In that moment, I realized not only did I need that hug… she might have too.

As a survivor, there can still be moments of hesitation. Wearing those messages can feel vulnerable. Sometimes I’ll have a thought, such as, I don’t want people to think I’m proud of what happened. Because the truth is, it’s not something anyone would choose.

But it is part of my story.

And I’ve chosen to use that story to heal, to grow, and to help others do the same.
That moment reminded me that when we show up authentically, we never know who we’re reaching, or how deeply we’re connecting.

It also reminded me how meaningful it is when organizations support causes like this. As someone who works within one, I’ve seen how impactful it can be, not just in the community, but for the people within those organizations as well.

I’m honored that we’ll be attending the 27th Annual Tea & Tonic on June 5th in support of the Center for Community Solutions. I invite fellow retail leaders and organizations to join us. Grateful. Inspired. And continuing to advocate for myself and for others 🩵💜

04/12/2026

🚨ATTENTION🚨

$5,000 scholarship available! 🎉

This year, the American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF), in partnership with TAT, has added a new opportunity to their scholarship program that is specifically aimed at supporting survivors of human trafficking. The $5,000 Survivor Scholarship will be awarded to one recipient, and can be used to cover expenses including but not limited to education, housing, food assistance, daycare services, treatment recovery, or rehabilitation needs.

Applications are due May 1, 2026 at 11:59PM PT.

Additional details and application information can be found here: www.buses.org/aba-foundation/scholarships/ -Scholarship

Please share this with any survivors of human trafficking you may know!

04/03/2026

Thank you, Tell Somebody, for sharing survivor stories! *Slight correction*, the younger photo of me was taken about 6 months after the kidnapping 🥲 Thank you to everyone who has commented or shared this piece 🙏🏾 And thank you, Aleesha, for all of the work that you do, for educating families, and spreading awareness about child SA!

When I was a kid, I was kidnapped and s*xually assaulted for hours. Luckily I escaped!
Tell Somebody — It Could Save a Life. When I was 10 years old, my family met a man who said he was “turning his life around.” He carried a Bible, and presented himself as someone who wanted to do good. He befriended my mother and our family, and what we thought was kindness slowly revealed itself to be a nightmare. We didn’t know then, what he meant when he said he wanted to change his life. We didn’t know he was a convicted s*x offender against other children, long before he ever crossed paths with me. When I was 14, he kidnapped me and for nearly 10 hours, I was assaulted and feared for my life. By the grace of God, I escaped the next morning, and helped put him behind bars. It was later, that I learned I wasn’t his only victim. That is why it is so important to tell somebody 🗣️a parent, a teacher, a counselor, a friend, or an advocate. If something doesn’t feel right… If you or someone you know is being hurt… If your intuition keeps whispering that something is off… Speak up!
Even though my abuse was not prolonged over years, surviving that incident, and ultimately helping put him in prison, saved other children. I don’t know if “proud” is the word, but I do know my survival stopped him. I became the means through which a dangerous person, was finally removed from the community. I touch on this in my book, “Faith and the God Fairy” by Ladonna Boyd, available on Amazon. It explores the dissociation I experienced during my kidnapping and the assault. In those moments, I held onto thoughts of the people I loved. That love, helped me endure what he was doing to me. It kept me fighting for the possibility of seeing my family again. It reminded me that my spirit was still alive inside me, even when I felt disconnected from my body. Having that second chance at life, has shaped everything I do. Finding purpose, building my nonprofit, engaging in community service, speaking out, and sharing my story with others ❤️‍🩹 all of this has supported my healing journey. I survived. And now I use my voice so others know that they are not alone. Speak up. Because silence protects the abuser, and speaking up protects others. You might be the voice that saves a child. You might be the reason someone survives!

You can help a child protect themselves from abusers, by gifting them a FREE Tell Somebody book! 📚 gofundme.com/GiveAFreeBook

Child abusers, please stop and seek therapy and God.
Parents, talk with and believe your children. ❤️
Survivors, seek therapy. 💪🏽
(To share your story of abuse, message me)
www.TellSomebodyToday.com

04/03/2026

🩵 April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month 🩵

I’m incredibly grateful to work for an organization that invests in the communities we serve. Seeing a grant go to support survivors of domestic violence and s*xual assault means more to me than I can fully put into words, both as an employee and as a survivor.

I also couldn’t miss the opportunity to thank Judy, who stepped into her role as DM in our district in 2022 and helped kick off this support simply by being curious about one of her leaders. Since then, so many others have played a part in keeping it going and growing. Thank you, to all of you, you know who you are 🙂

Moments like this are a reminder that the work being done truly matters. There are so many individuals, employees included, whose lives have been impacted by trauma, and support like this creates real change.

As a survivor, I’m especially appreciative of the conversations and continued learning around how we support our teams. As someone working within the organization, I also believe there’s an opportunity to continue building on this impact through things like trauma-informed leadership development and ongoing education. These tools can help leaders better support their teams, foster trust, and create environments where people feel safe while continuing to grow.

Grateful to be part of something that gives back, and inspired by the ways we can continue to learn, evolve, and support one another 🩵🙏🏾 Thank you, Suzanne Miako Colby, for your shout out and for the work that you do Center for Community Solutions!

*xualassaultawarenessmonth