Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence

We’re so honored to welcome Jim Babcock as our Denim & Desserts host. From Disney magic to West Michigan charm! Jim, with nearly 35 years at The Walt Disney Company, now brings his hosting expertise to Denim & Desserts! As co-host of "Saugatuck on Sunday" radio show and a beloved local emcee for fundraising events and the like, he’s sure to make the night unforgettable. Join us on April 16th at Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant to support vital programs that create safer futures for all. Get your tickets today: ResilienceMI.org/events

A huge thank you to the Coopersville Area Community Foundation for their generous $7,000 donation! Your support empowers us to provide vital services for survivors and work toward a future free from domestic and sexual violence in Ottawa and Allegan counties. We appreciate your commitment to building a safer, stronger community!

Meet India, Resilience’s newest Advancement Manager. With over eight years of experience in marketing, community engagement, and fundraising, India brings creativity, strategy, and passion to every project. Her background spans nonprofits, food service, fashion, and education, where she has successfully connected organizations with their audiences through compelling storytelling and relationship-building. As a fundraising and communications expert, India has worked on donor engagement initiatives, corporate partnerships, and brand development. She is driven by a deep commitment to strengthening communities, fostering connections, and making a lasting impact. When she’s not crafting marketing strategies or spearheading fundraising campaigns, you can find India exploring new creative projects, managing her Frenchie’s antics, or brainstorming innovative business ideas.

Trauma-sensitive yoga offers a safe and supportive space for survivors to reconnect with their bodies and find moments of peace. These free sessions are open to survivors 18+ and are designed to promote healing through gentle movement. Classes will be held on Thursdays at 11AM at the Resilience Program Office, located at 411 Butternut Dr. in Holland. Yoga mats and blocks will be provided. Registration is required - please sign up by emailing [email protected].

A huge thank you to the Gentex Community Share Board for awarding Resilience with $35,000 to support survivors in our community! Your generosity will provide lifechanging resources, safe shelter, and critical advocacy for those facing domestic and sexual violence. Gentex has been a valued partner in this work for years, and their continued investment strengthens our mission to create a safer, more resilient community. We are deeply grateful for this incredible support and the impact it makes every day. Thank you for standing with survivors!

And just like that, our Open House has come to a close— and what a success it was! We were honored to welcome over 50 of our valued community partners and members who joined us to explore our vital services. Guests toured our space, planted seeds of resilience for our kiddos to nurture in their healing garden, symbolically gave the key to safety, and more. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and helped bring this event to life! Missed the event? We’d love to show you around! Contact Danielle Evans, Director of Advancement, at [email protected] to schedule a tour.

We’re excited to welcome you to our Community Open House tomorrow from 5 PM–7 PM! Come explore our space, connect with our leadership team, and learn how our programs and services are making a lasting impact in our community. Light refreshments will be provided. If you haven’t already, please RSVP to help us plan for this free event. You can RSVP at https://lnkd.in/enhVSqy. We can’t wait to see you there!

We’re so honored to welcome Karah Ruczynski as our keynote speaker for this year’s Denim & Desserts! A survivor, advocate, and leader, Karah uses her voice to empower others and foster healing. As the founder of JKC Solutions, she helps organizations build people-centered workplaces, and as the host of the Resilient Moms podcast, she creates space for conversations about trauma, resilience, and growth. Karah’s journey as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse underscores the importance of the prevention work we’ll share more about at Denim & Desserts - because healing matters, and so does stopping violence before it begins. Join us on April 16th at Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant to hear Karah’s story of courage and perseverance, and to support vital programs that create safer futures for all. Get your tickets today: ResilienceMI.org/events

In partnership with the Holland Area Arts Council (HAAC), Resilience staff recently created worry stones to offer to survivors. A heartfelt thank you to HAAC for providing supplies and collaborating with our team to craft these meaningful tokens of healing! Click the link to read our blog on the power of healing for survivors. https://lnkd.in/gTFYhqUG

We’re honored to receive a $4,000 grant from the Allendale Community Foundation! This generous support strengthens our ability to provide essential services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Thank you for standing with us!