Message from Senator Alessandra Biaggi
My silence lasted 25 years. For most
of my life it was unthinkable to me that
I would ever be able to speak publicly,
let alone at all, about the sexual abuse
I experienced as a child. I believed that
I would go to my grave without ever
having spoken about it.
But seven months ago, I stood on
the fl oor of the New York Senate and
shared that I was survivor of child sexual
abuse as I cast my vote in favor of
the Child Victims Act (CVA). Little did
I know that as I spoke up in the Senate,
three of my colleagues in the Assembly
were also sharing their stories. In
the months since we have found sisterhood
and solidarity in our shared pain
–– and resolve to end childhood sexual
violence and abuse.
This month, I joined those brave
women and other survivors and advocates
to mark the beginning of the
one-year look-back window created by
the CVA. Standing together in Time
Square, I felt stronger than ever in the
knowledge that for the fi rst time the
CVA creates meaningful accountability
and a pathway to justice for survivors.
The CVA extends the criminal statute
of limitations to 25 years for misdemeanor
sexual offenses and 28 years
for felony sexual offenses. In civil
cases, it extends the statute of limitations
to 55 years.
It also creates a one-year look-back
window for survivors who have aged
out of the statute of limitations. Beginning
August 14, 2019, for one year, any
survivor –– no matter their age –– can
fi le a civil claim against their abuser
and any institution that enabled the
abuse they experienced. If you are a
survivor of child sexual abuse, I encourage
you to reach out to organizations
like Safe Horizon who can help
you learn more about your options.
You can connect with Safe Horizon’s
community programs by calling (855)-
234-1042 or visiting www.safehorizon.
org/get-help/child-victims-act/.
The CVA is a trauma-informed law
that centers the needs of survivors.
The 25 years it took me to process and
begin to feel able to speak about what
I had endured were not unusual. For
many survivors, it takes years before
they are ready; in fact, the average
age for someone to speak about their
abuse is 52. The CVA gives survivors
the time and space they need to pursue
justice on their own terms.
This law was long overdue. The
more than a decade in which it languished
in the state legislature is a
blemish on our state’s history. As the
one-year look-back window begins, we
face a moment of reckoning. Institutions
that have harbored abusers for
far too long must decide whether they
stand with survivors or will continue
to turn a blind eye.
Speaking out about what I experienced
is never easy. But each time I do,
I remember the countless survivors
who are out there, some of who are
ready to speak out and others who may
never be. To all survivors: Know that
you are worthy of a world that respects
your body and your being. At the very
least, you are worthy of the opportunity
to seek justice on your own terms.
It took far too many years, but at long
last survivors in New York have that
opportunity.
Mount Saint Michael students bring clean water to villagers in DR
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, AUGUST 3 36 0-SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 BTR
SENATOR ALESSANDRA BIAGGI
A group of Mount Saint
Michael Academy students
had an experience of a lifetime
during summer break.
In partnership with BLUE
Missions Group, ten Mount
students in grades 11 and 12
traveled to the Dominican Republic
to supply clean water to
a remote village at the bottom
of a mountain.
The students, along with
a chaperone and three adult
leaders from BLUE Missions,
including engineers and laborers,
left New York City
destined for Los Guayuyos,
DR with a plan to bring water
to the village but also with
a theme: Live in the Moment,
which meant no cellphones
and no watches. The journey
began with a fl ight from La-
Guardia Airport followed by
a two-hour bus ride to the entrance
to the Campo, from
there; it was a 30-minute ride
in a pick-up truck to the community
of Los Guayuyos, Dominican
Republic.
“Traveling out of the country
for the fi rst time was a
huge deal for me,” revealed
Deiondre Stewart, 11th grade.
Accommodations were modest,
a sleeping cot covered
with a mosquito net inside
a local church, an outdoor
latrine and a river shower.
Meals were prepared daily by
the women from the village.
The project was simple; supply
the village with clean water.
Sounds easy, but there was
a lot of work to be done. The
volunteers had to fi rst build a
water tank, dig trenches and
lay pipes to run water from
the top of the mountain down
to the village. Work began at
7:30 a.m. each day and continued
until 5pm. Rain and mud
made the work tough, but the
volunteers persevered. Day
after day, they woke up early,
crossed a river, hike up and
down the mountain to dig,
shovel, transport and glue
pipes. The students worked together
with men and women
from the community to get the
tasks done.
On day fi ve, three days before
the completion of the project,
the group took a break to
spend to some quality time
with the locals. They entertained
the children with magic
tricks, arts & crafts, a dance
party and animal costumes.
They shared what life back
home was like and learned
more about life in Los Guayuyos.
Evan Dutzer, 11th grade
admitted that, “The trip was a
great experience that opened
my eyes to a way different lifestyle
than mine. The people
live a humble and happy lifestyle
in community with one
another and it was beautiful
to see.”
After eight days of hiking
2½ hours each day up the
mountain and intense manual
labor, the project was completed.
A water source was
identifi ed, a tank was built,
trenches dug, pipes were laid
and water was supplied to all
39 families in the village. The
group celebrated ‘Water Day,’
the moment water arrives to
the community for the fi rst
time. The entire community
came together and a faucet
was opened for the fi rst time
bringing, fresh, clean water
to the village. Everyone showered
and enjoyed playing with
the running water. The journey
of water from the source
at the top of the mountain
down to the village was complete.
Now, when they turn the
faucet, clean, safe and abundant
water will be there.
For the duration of the
project, the students ‘Lived in
the Moment,’ no cellphones,
no watches. Kyle Rahaman,
11th grade stated, “I cannot
put into words how life changing
the trip was for me. “Live
in the moment” is a motto that
I will never forget and it has
taught me that a simple life
is a happy life. Seeing all the
families in Los Guayuyos have
smiles on their faces showed
me that we take a lot of things
for granted.”
Before heading back to New
York, the community hosted
a farewell party for the volunteers.
They expressed their
gratitude for all the hard work
that was done to bring clean
water to the village. Both the locals
and the volunteers shared
how meaningful the experience
was for each other. “This
trip taught me the importance
of teamwork and that the small
tasks we accomplish everyday
can have a much greater impact
than we think,” said Deiondre
Stewart, 11th grade.
Mount Saint Michael Academy students traveled to the Dominican Republic to supply clean water to a remote
village. Photo courtesy of Mount Saint Michael Academy
/www.safehorizon
/www.safehorizon