Shining Light In Darkness

Recently, we had the opportunity to bring law enforcement, victim advocates from Durham and Apex, and clinicians from Wake and Durham County together for a training and conversation about human trafficking.

These are conversations we need to keep having.

Human trafficking can be difficult to recognize, and survivors may come into contact with many different people before they ever receive help. That’s why it’s so important for law enforcement, advocates, clinicians, and community organizations to know what to look for and understand how we can work together.

No one agency or profession can address human trafficking alone. The more we learn from one another, the better prepared we are to recognize the signs, connect survivors with resources, and make sure they receive the support they need.

A huge thank you to Courtney with the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault for facilitating the training and helping guide such an important conversation.

This is what collaboration should look like. People coming together, learning from each other, and becoming better prepared to serve our communities.

Because when someone needs help, we all have a role to play.

We Are Stronger Together!!

Join us as we remember and honor those across North Carolina whose lives were lost to domestic violence.

We will gather to read their names aloud because every name represents a life. A family. A story. A person who mattered.

Saying their names is an act of remembrance.
Hearing their names is a call to action.
Remembering their names reminds us why this work must continue.

Come stand with us as we honor their lives, hold space for those who loved them, and recommit ourselves to a future where fewer names have to be read.

Please join us on Friday, October 2nd, at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Durham County Courthouse for a brief vigil honoring the people who have lost their lives across North Carolina in 2026 as a result of domestic violence.

Each year during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we gather for our Reading of the Names, a time to remember those whose lives have been taken and to recognize the devastating impact of domestic violence on individuals, families, and communities.

This year, we are proud to stand alongside Shining Light In Darkness and StandUp-SpeakOut of NC, two fellow DV/SA service providers in Durham, as a united front coming together for this important community event.

The program will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and will include local dignitaries who will read the names of those we are honoring.

Please reach out with any questions. We hope you’ll join us as we remember, honor, and stand together against domestic violence.

💜 Wear purple and join us.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗭𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗦𝗡’𝗧 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗔 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗘.

The Red Zone generally refers to the period from the beginning of the fall semester through Thanksgiving, when college students, particularly first-year students, face heightened risk of sexual assault.

But awareness alone isn’t enough.

A safer campus is built by what all of us are willing to notice, question, interrupt, and change.

Check on the friend who suddenly disappears from the group. Don’t laugh off behavior that crosses a line. Respect a boundary the first time. Step in when something doesn’t feel right. Believe someone when they trust you enough to speak.

During the Red Zone, prevention cannot rest on telling women how to stay safe.

We have to create campuses where everyone helps make safety the standard.

Look out for each other. Speak up for each other. Be the person who makes the difference.

Seen. Heard. Supported.

The way the Apex community has embraced Shining Light In Darkness for the past several years has meant more to us than you may ever know. Your support sends a powerful message to survivors: you are seen, you are valued, and you do not have to face this journey alone.

To everyone who has welcomed us, encouraged us, and stood beside our mission, thank you. This is what community looks like.

Now help us carry that light even further. Give. Volunteer. Share. Stand with survivors.

Because the next survivor who reaches out may be counting on all of us. Don’t just believe in the mission. Be part of it. Help us make sure that when a survivor is ready to take that first step toward safety and healing, Shining Light is there to answer.

Learn how to get involved: https://www.shininglightindarkness.org/

When we shine together, darkness doesn’t get the last word.

We were privileged to take part in an insightful panel discussion focused on domestic violence against men, organized by Daniel’s Voice and generously sponsored by Mount Level Missionary Baptist Church’s Health Ministry. This event served as a powerful platform to challenge the prevalent misconceptions surrounding domestic violence, particularly emphasizing that men can indeed be victims. The discussions delved into the unique challenges faced by male victims and highlighted the crucial support systems they require.

The dialogue was not only eye-opening but also profoundly moving. It served as a poignant reminder of the critical need to extend our support to every member of our community, irrespective of gender. By shining a light on this often-overlooked aspect of domestic violence, we are better equipped to create inclusive and effective solutions that uplift and protect all individuals in our society.

Join us in breaking the silence and standing up against domestic violence. Let’s support every survivor and work towards a safer, more inclusive world for all.

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