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About Us
Interact is a private, non-profit, United Way agency providing services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through safety, support and awareness.
Each year Interact serves over 31,000 people. Providing them with hope for a future free of abuse. One example is Othaey.
Othaey had to grow up fast. After witnessing years of abuse, Othaey did what she could to keep her mom, younger brother and sister safe. She wanted to help her mom. But, Othaey was scared.
One night, they fled. Othaey remembers sleeping in the car. Nowhere to go. They found Interact and mom moved the family to Interact's shelter. Othaey was 16 years old. Finally, they had a chance to be safe -to start over.
After all the horrors Othaey experienced as a child, no one expected much from her. But during late night talks at the shelter, her Interact counselor challenged her to dream. Othaey went on to become the first in her family to get a college degree. She saw the world as a member of the U.S. Air Force. Now, she is working on a graduate degree.
Othaey recalls her days in the Interact shelter as the best of her childhood. It was the turning point -where she learned that she was valuable and strong. That she could do it.
Othaey recently returned to Interact. But not as a victim. Othaey, now a mother herself, has broken the cycle of violence. She volunteers at Interact providing encouragement and support to the thousands of families Interact serves each year. Othaey says it has been her dream for a long time to give back. Othaey tells families, like no one else can, there is a way out. She shows them hope. |
