Meet Erin
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am originally from Hopedale, MA. But after graduating from Westfield State in 2001, I have lived in a lot of different states and traveling across country, enjoying life and getting to know myself and others along the way. I loved living the gypsy life and living in various parts of the country and I LOVE road trips, the scenery, the smells, the sights, meeting new people, making memories and just everything about a road trip either solo or with great friends energizes me and teaches me more about life! I love to read, write and get lost in nature with my camera and thoughts. I am very close with my family, who is fun, loud, loving and super supportive! I have two awesome sisters, a niece who is just too great for words and a son who is my heart, my world and the biggest, silliest goofball I know, this kid is always laughing and will put a smile on the grumpiest of faces and warm up the heart. I wear my heart on my sleeve, love being in love, I love myself, and I believe treating others fairly and with love and I give others more chances than most.
List six positive aspects about yourself.
Loving
Sarcastic/Goofy
Open-Minded
Advocate
Believer
Sexy
Please share a story with us that relates in any way to this movement.
Ten years ago on NYE (04-05) I had gone to a club in the theater district in Boston with some friends. At some point in the night I could not see straight, and could not feel my legs. I lost my friends, a bouncer saw me sitting on a couch and carried me outside leaving me on the curb. The next thing I know I wake up in the backseat of a car with three men smoking weed and one was sitting in the back rubbing his hands on my exposed flesh. I tried getting up and getting out of the car, but the man grabbed me and threw me down on the floor of the car, tearing my pants off and raped me. The other two men raped me as well, and they did this repeatedly. I tried fighting them off when I could, begged them to stop, and at one point I had opened the car door to try and scream for help, but one of them was standing outside of the car slamming the car door into my head, and the man who was rapping me strangled me, telling me he was going to kill me. I ended up blacking out again. I don't remember how many times they each raped me or how long it was. But when they were done, I was so grateful that I wasn't dead and they were done. I sincerely thought that some random person was going to find my dead body in the dumpster in the back alley they had parked the car where they raped me. I was fortunate enough to find a police officer who got me the medical attention I needed and an amazing detective who helped me in every way. And skipping to today...there was a DNA match for one of the three men, but after chasing and searching for him and a two hour standoff with 200 SWAT team members he killed himself (the man was a gang member and had a long criminal history), this was in March 2008. I have traveled a path of healing with the help and support of my family and friends. I have had traditional counseling, healed with yoga, self exploration, healing and A HUGE PART of my healing is Thanks to Shawna!! Since having met her back in 2010 she has been instrumental in helping me further my healing and deepen my own understanding. I have also joined a few speakers bureaus and advocacy groups as well as participated in a survivors weekend writing workshop and journaling. Since having healed and closing that large canyon between my "old" self before the rape and who I am today, I like to think of myself as a Cooler, better, stronger version of my old self and I have had the amazing bonds, experiences and friendships with people I would have never otherwise met.
Why do you want to be a part of she.?
It is an amazing and uplifting organization
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am originally from Hopedale, MA. But after graduating from Westfield State in 2001, I have lived in a lot of different states and traveling across country, enjoying life and getting to know myself and others along the way. I loved living the gypsy life and living in various parts of the country and I LOVE road trips, the scenery, the smells, the sights, meeting new people, making memories and just everything about a road trip either solo or with great friends energizes me and teaches me more about life! I love to read, write and get lost in nature with my camera and thoughts. I am very close with my family, who is fun, loud, loving and super supportive! I have two awesome sisters, a niece who is just too great for words and a son who is my heart, my world and the biggest, silliest goofball I know, this kid is always laughing and will put a smile on the grumpiest of faces and warm up the heart. I wear my heart on my sleeve, love being in love, I love myself, and I believe treating others fairly and with love and I give others more chances than most.
List six positive aspects about yourself.
Loving
Sarcastic/Goofy
Open-Minded
Advocate
Believer
Sexy
Please share a story with us that relates in any way to this movement.
Ten years ago on NYE (04-05) I had gone to a club in the theater district in Boston with some friends. At some point in the night I could not see straight, and could not feel my legs. I lost my friends, a bouncer saw me sitting on a couch and carried me outside leaving me on the curb. The next thing I know I wake up in the backseat of a car with three men smoking weed and one was sitting in the back rubbing his hands on my exposed flesh. I tried getting up and getting out of the car, but the man grabbed me and threw me down on the floor of the car, tearing my pants off and raped me. The other two men raped me as well, and they did this repeatedly. I tried fighting them off when I could, begged them to stop, and at one point I had opened the car door to try and scream for help, but one of them was standing outside of the car slamming the car door into my head, and the man who was rapping me strangled me, telling me he was going to kill me. I ended up blacking out again. I don't remember how many times they each raped me or how long it was. But when they were done, I was so grateful that I wasn't dead and they were done. I sincerely thought that some random person was going to find my dead body in the dumpster in the back alley they had parked the car where they raped me. I was fortunate enough to find a police officer who got me the medical attention I needed and an amazing detective who helped me in every way. And skipping to today...there was a DNA match for one of the three men, but after chasing and searching for him and a two hour standoff with 200 SWAT team members he killed himself (the man was a gang member and had a long criminal history), this was in March 2008. I have traveled a path of healing with the help and support of my family and friends. I have had traditional counseling, healed with yoga, self exploration, healing and A HUGE PART of my healing is Thanks to Shawna!! Since having met her back in 2010 she has been instrumental in helping me further my healing and deepen my own understanding. I have also joined a few speakers bureaus and advocacy groups as well as participated in a survivors weekend writing workshop and journaling. Since having healed and closing that large canyon between my "old" self before the rape and who I am today, I like to think of myself as a Cooler, better, stronger version of my old self and I have had the amazing bonds, experiences and friendships with people I would have never otherwise met.
Why do you want to be a part of she.?
It is an amazing and uplifting organization