Great Things Are Happening Here At EmpowerSurvivors!

EmpowerSurvivors wants to give a very LARGE shout out and warm welcome to our newest EmpowerSurvivors certified peer support specialist and facilitator Rachel Block! Rachel participated in our weekly meetings and has shown us what it means to go from victim to survivor, to thriver!

Rachel will be heading up a new EmpowerSurvivors peer support group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse beginning July 1, 2019 in Eagan, Minnesota . This new group will meet weekly on Mondays from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm at the Wescott Library ( Dakota Room) located at 
1340 Wescott Road, Eagan, MN 55123 . We are so excited to have Rachel heading up this group and using her experience to help others find healing.

Rachel’s Story:

I am a third generation intrafamilial childhood sexual abuse survivor. My grandmother, mother, aunts, some of my cousins, and I were victims of childhood sexual abuse by the hands of other family members. This trauma made me susceptible to additional abuse both as a child and an adult. I survived online predation and statutory rape as a child as well as date rape and violent acquaintance rape as a young adult in college. Despite the odds, I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. I obtained an AFA in Music from Anoka-Ramsey Community College in 2012 and a BA in Psychology with Magna Cum Laude honors from Augsburg College in 2015.

My entire life I had pushed all of my hurt and pain deep down into what I called my Pandora's box. I knew if that box ever opened, chaos would soon ensue. One box can only contain so much and by the time I graduated from college it was bulging at the seams, seeping out old memories and pain. After the high of accomplishment wore off, I found myself in a pit of despair, holding pieces of my shattered Pandora's box staring at the swirling vortex of memories, thoughts, and emotions.

On July 20th, 2015 I attempted suicide for the third time in my short life. It was that day that changed my life forever. With support from my therapist, significant other, his family, and my friends, I was able to break the silence about my childhood sexual abuse as well as the subsequent abuse. I broke the cycle of abuse and distanced myself from toxic family members, putting my needs first and getting the help I needed for the first time in my life.

After extensive healing via group and individual therapy, on both a professional and peer support level, I decided to use my personal experience to help others. I received my MN DHS Approved Peer Support Specialist Certificate in 2017. Though I did not reenter the workforce in the human services field, I continued to support those in need from a volunteer standpoint.

"EmpowerSurvivors has had the biggest impact on my mental health recovery and healing journey. Both the online and in-person support groups not only made me feel normal in an abnormal situation, but also gave me a sense of safety, security, and care for one another that my family of origin had never given me. I am excited to volunteer with EmpowerSurvivors and be a part of someone's healing."

To join Rachel and fellow survivors for the EmpowerSurvivors new Eagan group please register with Rachel by text, phone and/or email at :

Rachel.EmpowerSurvivors@gmail.com                                                              651-323-1298.

EmpowerSurvivors " New" peer support group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse begins Monday, July 1, 2019 in the "Dakota Room" at the Wescott Library in Eagan , MN!!

***** Cost: Minimum $5.00 donation to attend meetings, more if able.

****** Must register before attending.

Weekly Peer Support Groups
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Peer support groups are led by survivors of childhood sexual abuse that use their own healing, knowledge and experience to aid others in their healing journey's. Being part of a peer support group helps reduce the stigma of abuse, isolation, aids in self discovery, finding resources, support and well being!

                             Contact Person (for Eagan Location only):
                                                       Rachel Block
                                                   Call, email or text
                                          Rachel.EmpowerSurvivors@gmail.com
                                                       651-323-1298

                                                       Main Office:                                                                                                                  EmpowerSurvivors                                                                                        Main Contact Person: Elizabeth Sullivan                                                                             EmpowerSurvivors@gmail.com                                                                                                651-323-4721                                                                                                          1940 Greeley Street South                                                                                                        Suite 210                                                                                                                   Stillwater,MN 55082

More information about EmpowerSurvivors, peer groups, classes, and more!
www.EmpowerSurvivors.net