By: Kim Jones

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

According to the calendar, winter is over, but no consulted with Mother Nature. Some days, it feels like winter and other days it feels like spring. When it feels like spring, you want to get outside and get some yard work started and prepare your garden. The City of Flint has started picking up yard waste as of April 1st.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This is a time for advocates, survivors, their loved ones, and the community to come together and talk openly about sexual violence, to support survivors, increase knowledge and awareness, and identify strategies and resources to prevent sexual violence.

To help a survivor, family and friends are probably the people who know the survivor best and can help them through this. As a family member of friend, you may be able to help a survivor feel safe just by being near them. You may be able to provide emotional support and help a survivor to reach out for services.

The most important thing you can do to help a survivor to heal is to be consistent and let them know you believe them, that the assault was not their fault, and that you will do whatever you are able to do to support them over time. It is not always easy to be a helper for survivors, but your efforts will be well worth it.

As I was writing this article, I came across this…
To the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence,
We are writing to inform you that, effective immediately, all our grants with the office on violence against women have been terminated. The Department of Justice has concluded that these grants no longer effectuate the agency’s priorities.
This was dated April 14, 2025.
What do you think about that? How could they not think this is vital to all sexual assault survivors and victims?

In the last Monday of May, we honor and mourn the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. So, take some time out of this day and remember those who have fallen for the freedom we have today. Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day!

The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day in most countries. The tradition to celebrate this holiday is native to the USA. Although, world-wide celebrations of Mother’s Day is influenced by different traditions, they are all common in origin.

They very first Mother’s Day was celebrated in 1908 in the USA, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial service to honor her mother. Mother’s Day officially became a national holiday in 1914. To all the mothers, step mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and all who fulfill the mother role in our lives, may you all have a blessed and happy Mother’s Day.

To my mother in heaven, may you have a heavenly Mother’s Day. I love you.