Mother fights sexual abuse
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
Lisa Newman, founder of The Fear to Freedom Project, has turned her family's tragedy into raising awareness for child sexual abuse prevention. Saturday's Child Safety Awareness Event, held at the Polk County Sheriff's Office Main Headquarters, was the idea of her son, a survivor, who wanted a way to help children understand how to be safe.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
Bikers Against Child Abuse poses for a quick photo before getting back to showing off their bikes and talking to the kids.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
Kim Alvarez, facilitator for Darkness to Light Stewards of Children, tells her story and how she got involved in the fight against child sexual abuse.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
Lt. Jerry Conley, a school resource officer with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, was one of the keynote speakers at Saturday's Child Safety Awareness event held at the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Winter Haven.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
There were bounce houses for the children to play in at Saturday's Child Safety Awareness event held at the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
The Romero family poses for a quick photo before returning to the festivities. Mother, Melissa Romero, is joined by her daughters, Kylie, 10, and Mikayla, 4.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
Edie Rhea and volunteer Ellis Rayburn stand next to the Healing Rootes Ministry sign. Survivors and vendors set up their booths to display the many services now offered to help fight child abuse.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
Five--year-old Olivia Stroud, daughter of Jessica and Paul Stroud, peeks out from a bouncy house while her parents, watched her.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ
Lisa Newman, founder of The Fear to Freedom Project, has turned her family's tragedy into raising awareness for child sexual abuse prevention. Saturday's Child Safety Awareness Event, held at the Polk County Sheriff's Office Main Headquarters, was the idea of her son, a survivor, who wanted a way to help children understand how to be safe.
To see her at the grocery store, you would never know the trauma her family faced.
But Lisa Newman is not going to be silent. On Saturday, she shared her story how her son, 5, was not only the victim of sexual abuse but also used for sex trafficking. She and her son organized Fear to Freedom, an organization dedicated to helping parents know how to prevent sexual abuse.
