“I have served three and a half months with The Firecracker Foundation. I have loved this foundation ever since I read the mission statement: “Honoring the bravery of children who have survived sexual trauma with a community invested in the healing of their whole being.” Their whole being. Not just one aspect of them, but all aspects. What this organization does for survivors is so much more than just giving them free quality therapy, which in itself is a large and wonderful task. Tashmica, along with her volunteers and interns, have an overarching goal to serve and honor survivors in every way possible. Tashmica is not limited by one vision; her vision expands every day to include new events, ideas, and partnerships that The Firecracker Foundation can act on to further reach out to survivors and the community.
In my time working with The Firecracker Foundation, I have done grant research, communications work, and acted as a liaison between the foundation and other organizations and events. Doing all of these different tasks have given me a better understanding of what the The Firecracker Foundation, and Tashmica, does for survivors. Tashmica must be one of the busiest people I have met, but she still has time for herself, her family, and any survivor that is in need at any particular time. Just in the short time I’ve been with the foundation, we’ve participated in and promoted The Vagina Monologues, Take Back the Night, Fashion for the Fire, and The Big Banquet Challenge. Tashmica has been a model, an actress, and a guest on two different radio stations. We’ve painted our goals, hopes, and dreams across all types of social media. We’ve looked for new ways to fund our organization. We’ve successfully continued old partnerships and created new ones. All in all, we’ve been pretty busy.
I couldn’t be more proud to work with Tashmica to further realize her vision for our community and survivors. Happily, I will continue to work with Tashmica as her intern this fall. Until then, I hope others will take it upon themselves to help The Firecracker Foundation while I’m away by volunteering or interning over the summer; if you can’t donate your time, make a monetary donation. Share in the pleasure and sense of accomplishment that I’ve gotten through helping The Firecracker Foundation. ”
– Miranda Madro, Communication Intern, Winter 2015
