Help a Seattle Neighbor Find Healing and Independence

I am raising funds for a wonderful human who recently fled a physically and mentally abusive live-in relationship. She and her young son are staying with a friend, and they are safe, but she needs to move into her own housing and cover some outstanding bills. She has good support systems in place, but at the end of the day, money is keeping her and her kiddo from rebuilding their lives.

I am calling on her Seattle community–and beyond–to help her get her back on her feet. I have a list of her particular needs below as well as a few words about her aspirations.

Here’s what she needs help with:

For the past three years, my friend worked with unhoused people and built a mutual aid program that was doing really beautiful work in our community. Although she cannot feasibly keep doing that work, it is her dream to continue giving back to her community by creating a trauma-informed healing hair practice. Any additional funds she receives will go toward helping her become a certified, trauma-informed life coach.

My hope is that we can collectively raise $20,000 to cover these expenses and help our neighbor flourish.

I am so in awe of my friend, for her strength, resilience, and her humility in asking for help. (And, as my long-time hairdresser, damn, does she make my hair look chic!)

Thank you all for your contributions, big and small.

Sincerely,

Lauren D. Sawyer, Ph.D.

Seattle, Washington