SUPPORT
SUPPORT
SUPPORT
The first pillar and primary focus is support by facilitating:
SURVIVORS
SUPPORTING
SURVIVORS
(S3).
RESTORE
SUPPORT
SUPPORT
Survivors Supporting Survivors combined with resources, information, and opportunities to have their voices heard and validated allows persons impacted by MSM & MST to restore their health and well-being.
EMPOWER
SUPPORT
EMPOWER
I believe that when survivors are on a path to restoring their former selves, they are better able to travel on a healing journey that can empower them to speak up and advocate for themselves in many situations.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy can take many forms, but in its basic premise, it is merely speaking up for fairness on behalf of those that are not in a place to be able to speak up for themselves. This can be by any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.
Through the education, work, and experience that Lori and Sam gained throughout their lives in academia and conflict management programs, speaking up for others that feel unable to has been a lifelong pursuit. Speaking up for others in a collaborative and non-confrontational manner with respect, honesty, and integrity has also been a firm tenet for them both. It is these tenets that guided Sam, Lori and their team of volunteers, in determining a best path forward in ensuring that survivor-centric solutions and policies were considered by the Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence, Veterans Affairs Canada and MSTstakeholder entities.
Many have asked how Lori & Sam were able to get leaders to engage in conversation with them...they simply asked politely and offered their honest lived experience opinions.
As of Februrary 2023, concerns that are brought to light within the INJ20K Group of survivors, Sam will continue to do her best to see that they are taken forward to the appropriate department by combining years of advocacy, negotiation, and conflict management experience and engage as directly as possible with those in positions responsible for seeing solutions and policies are carried out.
When opportunities were given to have these critical conversations, appreciation has been expressed by many for this collaborative and respective approach from both persons impacted by MSM & MST, and others that have engaged in discussions.
It is the proven approach that Sam will continue using.
“You can’t make someone do something they don’t want to, but if you are kind about it, you can convince them to do the right thing, even if they are uncertain what that is."
~ D.G. Novak
