Executive Director_St. Paul, MN

[Kenosha Alexander]

The Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA) provides leadership and resources for sexual assault programs and allies to prevent sexual violence while promoting a comprehensive, socially just response for all victims/survivors. We support, convene, and collaborate with sexual assault programs, advocates, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to promote a more victim-centered response to sexual violence, and increase effective criminal justice. Our prevention programs take action before someone is harmed, and we work with policy makers and elected officials for laws and programs that fight sexual violence. MNCASA provides:

1. Victim and Survivor Support by helping partner programs and medical personnel, law enforcement, and legal and social service providers deliver state of the art victim advocacy and support.
2. Prevention Support by developing the capacity of partner programs and others to design and implement effective community-level primary prevention strategies.
3. Policy Reforms through public policy education and advocacy.
4. Systems Change by developing capacity in medical, criminal justice, social service, and judicial systems to incorporate a coordinated and victim-centered approach into their responses.

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Kenosha  Davenport Alexander Progressive Change Agent, Destroyer of Boxes, Nonprofit Whisperer 304-992-3455 kenosha....@gmail.com

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[Ellen Begaii]

Hello Kenosha,

I am reaching out because I want to see how I can help.  I will give you a bit of my back story and see where it goes from here. 

My name is Ellen Begaii. I grew up in Duluth, MN and left when I was 21. The first time I can remember being sexually assaulted is when I was around 5 or 6 years old. I was pushed down by a boy I was running away from, I remember being scared. He sat on top of me and untied my swimsuit. I ran crying to my babysitter and she said to me "Oh, it just means he likes you". Yes, we've all heard that one right?  The next was in Jr high. The boys on the bus would grab me, touch me, put my head in their laps, all types of things that again.... just meant that they liked me.  I would beg my dad to drive me to school so I could avoid them. At school boys would snap my bra so hard it left bruises. I think I may have really hurt someone for slapping my back side, I turned around and kicked him where it counts. I was sent home, not him. if I remember that right. There is a whole lot more in between as well.  

Now here is the other side that I am remembering now in the end of my 40s. I think I said something really mean to that boy that pushed me down, as in he was reacting to whatever it was that I said or did, and I don't know how that has effected him if at all.  I liked the attention from the boys, but wanted it from different boys.  I think now what their home life must have been like to think that treating someone this way would be ok.  There are several more stories from my life that makes me look back and think "Oh, you poor girl."  

Looking at the statistics from the nsvrc.org publications blows me away. As a step-mom of a 16 year old boy, I find myself in uncharted territory.  I recently became a certified Adult Mental Health First Aid from the National Council Of Well Being, and the community coordinator for Make Mental Health Matter. 

This information comes from the top of my current mountain. 

If you would indulge me, I would like to tell you how that mountain has looked just recently. I have gone from unable to get up from bed, call it burnout, depression, exhaustion from raising two very strong individuals to adulthood, the processing of a lifetime of traumas that couldn't be looked at when there was so much else to do.  (A far more common story than I thought.) to a space where I am trying to get a new positive space from where I can help others. This has included, creating a youtube channel, (a few of them), writing a journaling guide and publishing it, creating a future that I want with my family, and Oh yea, Quit smoking cigarettes, Quit drinking alcohol, Quit laying in bed, and Started creating a life that I can feel proud of. 

Adjusting to what my body allows, then taking it a little further every time I can, has put me in a space where I feel I can start to help others.  

I am not sure who to reach out to, or what I can even do.  I have been to college 3 times, but did not finish a degree. I worked in banking and mortgage for 20+ years. and I have life experience in how to make all the wrong choices that ended up being the right choices because they all led me to where I am now. 

If you could please direct me to somewhere I may be able to help, I would greatly appreciate it. 

I hope you have an amazing day, 

With Gratitude,

 Ellen Begaii

 Inspiration Guide, Mental Health Warrior, Life Survivor and Thriver.