in groups and activities, events and
collective work towards healing.
We incorporate the principles of
Kwanzaa into our work, ancestor
acknowledgment, art, reiki, yoga,
hula hoops, urban gardens, goddess
work, candles, water and sage,
meditation, prayer, music, dance
and movement into our work for
helping survivors to develop and
learn techniques for healing.
Healing is a journey and at SASHA
Center we already know that
survivors may never forget what
happened to them, but the work
is about fully integrating this
horrible experience into their lives
and using as a place of power to
make change in their lives and in
10
AMAZING WOMEN SPEAK!
the lives of others.
to a person who had been raped, let
alone help them.
women were victims of rape,
attempted rape, or sexual assault
in 2008.
Also, I am a survivor of child sexual
molestation by a family member
and was sexually assaulted twice
in the context of a dating situation,
both before I was the age of 18.
AWS: How did you get involved in
the work you do?
Kalimah: When I was a student
at Wayne State University, in the
School of Social Work, I signed
up to be in a field placement
and to do my practicum hours as
a practicing social worker at the
Detroit Police Department’s Rape
Counseling Center. I was afraid of
this population because I was sure
that I would not know what to say
www.amazingwomannetwork.com
I knew these experiences led me to
want to work with this population
and more specifically I did not
necessarily believe that my situations
were handled appropriately by
my family, the community or the
agencies that I sought help from. I
mean those that cared enough tried
and I certainly knew that they all
meant well. However, there were
some tools, information and skills