Keynote Speaker For This Year's
Giving Voice- EmpowerSurvivors 2017 Conference
November 11, 2017 in Stillwater,MN
Matthew Sandusky
This year we will once again be having Matthew Sandusky as our keynote speaker! We are very excited to have Matthew back in Stillwater for a day of "Giving Voice" to childhood sexual abuse, supporting survivors on their healing journeys, providing resources, educating the public, aiding in prevention and coming together as one survivor family and community. Come join us for a day to celebrate being survivors and
being a "keep kids safe community"
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| Survivor, Advocate, Author, and Founder of The Healing Hearts Foundation |
- CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVOR
- MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND AUTHOR
- FOUNDER OF PEACEFUL HEARTS FOUNDATION
Through his work with Peaceful Hearts, Matthew, raises awareness around child sexual abuse in local communities, supports the life-saving work of children’s advocacy and sexual assault treatment centers, and advocates for legislative changes. Matthew works with researchers, clinicians, the media, politicians, social workers, and child protection professionals to raise awareness and improve the quality and availability of services to survivors nationwide.
In addition to his advocacy work, Matthew is committed to empowering and educating children to use their voices and help protect them against abuse. He is working with other advocates to implement an in-school curriculum to empower children to use their voices as a first line of defense, along with parents and teachers.
Matthew is also an accomplished author, chronicling his years of abuse in his memoir, Undaunted: Breaking my silence to overcome the trauma of child sexual abuse, which sheds light on the truth about abuse and the healing journey that a victim goes through to become a survivor.
As an internationally recognized spokesperson, on the topic of child sexual abuse, Matthew is asked regularly to comment on breaking news. He has done a one-on-one interview with Oprah Winfrey, been featured in two documentaries, Happy Valley and Invisible Scars, and is regularly published in major newspapers across the country.
Matthew attended Penn State University, studying Business. He along with his wife and children currently reside in State College, PA. Through his work with Peaceful Hearts Foundation, Matthew Sandusky has moved from victim to survivor of child sexual abuse.
Interview with Oprah Winfrey- 2014 (TRIGGER WARNING)
Trailer from the 2014 Documentary " Happy Valley"
Amir Bar-Lev’s documentary HAPPY VALLEY takes an unflinching look at an iconic American institution in the wake of unthinkable scandal. Nestled in the idyllic area known as Happy Valley lies the town of State College and the home of Penn State University. For over 40 years, Joe Paterno was the celebrated head coach of the school's storied football team. Lauded not only for his program's success on the field, but also for students’ achievements in the classroom, Paterno was a revered figure in a town where team loyalty approached nationalistic fervor. Then in November 2011 everything changed when longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse, setting off a firestorm of accusations about who failed to protect the children of Happy Valley. Filmed over the course of the year after Sandusky’s arrest as key players agreed to share their stories, HAPPY VALLEY deconstructs the story we think we know to uncover a much more complicated and tragic tale. Director Bar-Lev creates an indelible portrait of a wounded community and an engrossing investigation into the role big time college football played in both the crimes and their aftermath.
Speaker and Advocate Jane Straub will also be on hand delivering a great introduction to the the adverse childhood experience study and the resiliency of survivors! Jane is an incredible warrior for survivors and our communities children!
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| Montana's Sweetheart Tara Walker Lyons! Survivor, Advocate, And Author of Tara's Law, And Speaker Tara will be on hand to discuss her rise from victim, to survivor , to thriver! |
