The Clean Slate Diaries

THE 2013 CLEAN SLATE TESTIMONIALS

The event was spectacular, incredibly moving and I think completely effective in accomplishing your goal! Not a soul left that place feeling complacent or alone. It also started a lot of great conversations between my colleagues and I regarding the work we have left to do (a mountain’s worth!), but with an excitement and conviction that’s inspiring.  It was a privilege and an honor to be part of Saturday’s proceedings.Your mission is my mission and I respect and admire your ability to make such change and momentum come to fruition. – Kari Wertz, LeMoyne College

Renee, thanks for asking me to be a part of your event. I feel honored that I was able to contribute. You are a gift from God for doing such work. Thank you! - Wayne, Male Survivor Speaker

Thank you for your gift to reach and make a change one life at a time! This is my second year at The Clean Slate Diaries, and I was so blessed to see that the colleges have come on board and the testimonies of those who shared, as I too am walking out many of the dark corners of my life one day at a time. Their stories give me hope that I too will continue to move forward in victory one day. Thank you so much for all you do and continue to do! - An Attendee

Last night was a night I’ll never forget. Thank you so much for inviting me to speak at The Clean Slate Diaries. A huge thank you to all of the people who have supported me throughout the years and who continue to – I really don’t know what I would have done without you – I feel so loved and encouraged and I know last night was only the beginning! – Emma, 1st time Survivor Speaker

Renee, I can’t thank you enough. You make a huge difference in people’s lives. You make people feel loved and welcome and happy to be alive. You are an amazing human being and your story moved me to tears. You understand things. You want to help. You know what it’s like. It may not seem like a lot to some people, but to every abused person … It means the entire world. It means the entire world to me. And I admire what you’re doing. I admire your heroic duties. Keep doing what you’re doing. You are truly blessed. And I look forward to doing whatever I can for your event in the future! This event has opened so many eyes and heals me with every step I make, bettering myself and protecting others. Thank you! - Kali Jean. 22 year old Clean Slate Artist & Survivor

Congratulations on a very successful Clean Slate Diaries!  Thanks for including us. The faculty and students are already talking about “next year” so please let’s keep in touch! - Kim Armani, Director, SUNY Oswego Metro Center

Renee, tonight was incredible beyond belief! You are an inspiration! Hope we can continue to partner with you for many years to come. With much love and gratitude - Randi Bregman, Executive Director of Vera House

Thank you so much for last night! It was an unforgettable experience that has touched our hearts and souls forever! Please count us as volunteers whenever you need us! You are an amazing woman and we are so blessed to have you in our lives! - A Sponsor

Renee, The Clean Slate Diaries on Saturday was an experience beyond anything I had ever imagined.  I am so in awe of your ability to bring people together, create an environment of healing, support and empowerment, demonstrate the many forms that healing and support can take, and leave the audience feeling hopeful and motivated to create change.  I was personally deeply moved and honored to witness the strength and generosity of so many courageous survivors.  And professionally, I was extremely grateful that so many individuals had the opportunity to experience the impact of sexual and relationship violence from so many different perspectives, and to learn about how they might be part of creating positive change.  You are amazing!  Your genuine nature and your admirable ability  to connect with and validate the experiences of others is so wonderful to experience.  Thank you for all you bring to our community and all you have brought into my world. Congratulations on a fantastic event! - Janet Epstein, Director, The Advocacy Center at Syracuse University

Thank YOU for letting me be a part of such a moving night. It was really rewarding for me to work on this show with you and I know it means a lot to a lot of people. - Kari Litteer, Stage Manager & Student at LeMoyne College

I am so impressed by how the CSD has grown, and how you have reached out to college campuses around the country. Keep up the good work. You are a ball of sunshine. I just love being in your presence!!!! God bless you! - Joanne Perry, Performer

Yesterday’s event was so great, Renee. I’m really grateful that you started the Diaries and that we were able to make it! Hannah Sollecito, Community Relations Chair, REAL for Planned Parenthood Rochester-Syracuse Region Steering Committee

The 2012 Clean Slate Diaries Testiomonials

“The 2012 Clean Slate Diaries was FANTASTIC!”

It was truly an honor to be a part of and it was more than I thought it would be! You are an amazing person and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for inviting me/us with open arms to be a part of something so powerful and inspirational. It was truly touching to be surrounded by healing and survivors, with people who were open and willing to tell their stories with no guilt or shame, to acknowledge what has happened but not let it ruin them or define them. So often we are silent about painful events in our lives that we do keep them secret and let them erode us. It is great to know you and have witnessed others — male and female– like yourself who did not let themselves be beaten by the fight but who rose like phoenixes. It was more than inspirational and more than words. I want to thank you and all of the committee for allowing us to be a part of The 2012 Clean Slate Diaries! The work you are doing is profound and meaningful and I would love to be a part of The Clean Slate Diaries for as long as possible, even if just as an audience member!! – Chevaun, Choreographer, The Dance Theatre

“Recovery to the next level…”

Having the opportunity to be a part of “The 2012 Clean Slate Diaries” was life changing!  I truly believe it brought my “recovery” to the next level.  To have the opportunity to be surrounded by so much love and support and actually feel it that night was amazing! Thank you for all  you continue to do with that project.  I know that someday it will get to the national level! ~ Jolie, Vocalist

“Thankful…”

“What a very impressive show, from beginning to end! I am thankful to you for giving me the opportunity to speak. I am proud of myself, something I could never be just a few years ago.” ~ Dan, Speaker

“How Great Movements Begin…”

“I am proud of me…”

“What a powerful evening. I have described it to my oldest daughter, through tears (good tears) and SHE was visibly choked up too. She is proud of me, I am proud of me, my mother sent me a wonderful email saying she is proud of me. I feel like I was able to help a few other people on Saturday night find a voice or a way to help with some healing. I do know that the tangible things I had shared are things other people can do too.

I had a few people come up to me and let me know I had helped them along their journey, and that felt wonderful. You had a whole room full of people who left there changed people. Stronger people. Braver people. Understood people.

I think one of the things I’ll always have to work on is the self worth issue, and Saturday night, I FELT worthy, and I loved how you welcomed the recognition of the audience. It wasn’t in the least bit self-centered, it was you saying YES, I DID THIS WONDERFUL THING and that kind of model reminds me that I can accept the thanks or the comments without negating them or diminishing myself.

I hope you are flying high still today because you created magic.” – Blythe, Speaker and Survivor

“Not to ever be forgotten…”

“Wow what a powerful and amazing night of passion, emotion and information!! Thank you for the opportunity, I had wonderful experience, not to ever be forgotten, thank you all!” – A Performer

“Celebrating the ability to let go and move on…”

Renee – You did such a wonderful job putting this event together to honor those who have no doubt walked a difficult path.  I give you sooo much credit for going public with this and I wanted to support you as a friend..of course!  And yes my tears were part of realizing the pain and tears of joy to see how all of you are celebrating the ability to let go and move on!  The entertainers were amazing and really helped to make this an even more special event! – Ann, Attendee

“Full circle…”

“I will never forget the premier of THE CLEAN SLATE DIARIES. One thing I do know is this experience of the video has almost bought this full circle for me I just have one more important thing to do to be whole.

You my friend are a blessing to me and so many others.  The event was done with so much dignity and respect, I believe we all gained a little something back on Saturday night.  You are a shining star that survivor’s will be sitting around the room with friends or family and say: Have you seen the CSD and that will mean the healing process has begun and they are no longer enslaved to that horrible pain. Thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart from us all.” – Helena,  Survivor

“A fundamental right, to feel safe in our own world…”

Hi Renee .. Sometimes something comes along that you know needs to be promoted and supported , and Clean Slate was one of those things for me .. It’s such a fundamental right , to feel safe in our own world , that the people who violate that basic trust , need to be held accountable , and the people that are violated need our love and  help in making things okay again .. Whatever shape that takes .. Music is something that I do , that others usually appreciate , and I consider it a gift , to be given readily and with heart .. So there you have it .. You did a great job in bringing us all together and like I said , I’ll be ready again down the road ..  I really appreciated being part of the celebration, and will be happy to help out with any further endeavors. – Paul, Musician

“Quantum leap on my journey of healing…”

“It was your vision and passion and boundless energy that took a simple idea and turned it into the remarkable event by which we were all so blessed. If my words or my music were of benefit to anyone in that room, it is only because you invited me to be there and assured me that it would be a safe and loving environment. Six months before we first met, I would not have been able to even consider taking on that challenge. Even after I committed to it, every fiber of my being conspired to take me down and silence me.  But through it all, there was something about the radiance of your spirit that convinced me I not only COULD get through the darkness and do this thing, I HAD TO! And I did. For that quantum leap on my journey of healing, I can never thank you enough.” – Crystal, Speaker & Performer

“I left feeling acknowledged…”

“Thanks so much for the wonderful, inspiring event on Saturday night! It was truly touching & the performers were incredible. I’m sure the evening will help many on their way to healing. I left feeling acknowledged for what we all, as survivor’s, have been through. Congratulations on putting this all together – you are a blessing, Renee.” ♥ – A Survivor

“My dear…”

“All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…what a great night Saturday was…..You were awesome and all the performances were marvelous…Hats off to you my dear…..” A Survivor

“Continue my journey in my healing…”

I just want to thank you for having the clean slate diaries event on saturday night…I found the fellow survivors of childhood sexual abuse and rape very uplifting as I continue my journey in my healing from my rape and abuse…I do hope that you and/or Vera House set up similar events to that one not only for us survivors, but also for those who love and care for us while we embark on this difficult but necessary journey toward healing…I will try to let you know how my recovery is going from time to time and I hope we can stay in touch…..Please let me know of similar events to the one last Saturday that happen in the CNY area, because I would love to attend them, if I can…..Lasting Friendship ~ Tom, Survivor

“Who believes people and who believes also in what he’s doing…”

“Dear Renee, One proverb of my ethnic group says “when you’re a nice person sometimes you meet someone who believes in themselves and who believes also in what he’s doing”.  When we first meet at my studio I saw on you that you’re a really nice person and you believe what you’re doing and what you’re looking for and that makes me happy after our conversation in my studio. The second things was during the rehearsal when one gentlemen said that, “the drumming was too loud”. I heard you say that, it is what you’re looking for and that makes me really proud and more I believe in you. I had really liked your reaction this day. That’s why I said to all dancers and drummers - do what you can do to make happy Dear Renee, and God bless my prayers were answered. Jill, I and all dancers and drummers were really happy for your reaction just after the performance.
Once again, thank you for having us.” ~ Biboti, Wacheva Cultural Arts

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