By Heather Mack, Board Chair
As I head to the end of my second year as Chair of The Second Step board, I have been thinking a lot about how my journey with the agency started. Many years ago, I had an unexpected (and frankly shocking to me at the time) experience when a close friend—someone I saw daily and was very close to—confided in me that she had experienced domestic violence. I went to her wedding; I knew her husband and had spent social time with them before they separated. How had I not known this?
Very thankfully, she had escaped by the time she told me, but I had no idea it had been happening. I was shocked. She was strong, successful, unfailingly positive and upbeat and surrounded by family, friends and colleagues who loved her, including me. It opened my eyes to something I hadn’t fully understood before: this can happen to anyone. And I have since learned how hideously common it is.
I realized how easy it is to miss the signs—even when they’re happening to someone right in front of you. That experience stayed with me and sparked a sense of responsibility to learn more, to speak up, and to support the work of organizations like The Second Step.
Because the truth is—survivors are everywhere. They are our friends, colleagues, neighbors, and loved ones. And all of us have a role to play in creating a world where survivors are believed, supported, and safe.
That’s exactly what The Second Step does every day – we walk with survivors on their unique path first to safety then to stability, and over time, healing, and hope.
Many years later, my wonderful friend is in a loving mutually supportive marriage and she offered me a path to joining this amazing community of people who serve survivors every day. I will always be grateful to her and for her.