CAMDEN — Finding Our Voices has its first full-time, paid staff member. United Midcoast Charities provided a $7,500 grant that helped the nonprofit bring Mary Kamradt on as executive assistant.
Finding Our Voices is the grassroots and survivor-powered nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse across Maine. Kamradt’s promotion comes as the group is filling more gaps in the safety and well-being for women and child domestic abuse victims, according to Patrisha McLean, the group’s president and founder.
“Mary started as a volunteer, and soon became indispensable in moving forward our innovative projects,” McLean said. These projects include pro-bono, gold standard dental care for women and child survivors; a fund paying for shelter, legal, car and food expenses to empower women victims to get out and stay out and keep their children safe as well; online support groups; healing retreats; and a “Let’s Talk About It” tour that this fall is bringing survivor-led community conversations to public libraries from Millinocket to York.
Kamradt also facilitates the group’s online support group for women survivors whose adult children are voluntarily estranged from them due to manipulation of the abusive ex. Finding Our Voices provides a general, weekly online support group as well, facilitated by Pamela Gagnon da Silva, a therapist through Resilient Women out of Hancock County and a Finding Our Voices board member.
Kamradt previously worked as the data coordinator for Seattle’s oldest and largest domestic violence agency, where her duties included providing all of the government reporting for grants and managing the confidential client database. She moved to Maine in 2021, just when Finding Our Voices became a public charity non-profit.
“As a survivor myself,” said Kamradt, “I was so excited about the opportunity to bring my sister survivors into the light through the unique and creative programs of Finding Our Voices. I especially appreciate how we provide support that understands and does not judge because we have been there ourselves.”
For more information, visit findingourvoices.net.
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