Past Work
There is a fundamental underlying principle that I found to be true: If you are not in action in life, you are not really living life. It is up to us to live that life with intention and purpose.
This page shows much of the work I have done in my volunteer and advocacy work. While the list is long, it is not exhaustive in what I have done.
Some of the items in this list have corresponding media that offer an opportunity to see the work in action. They will be shown as a highlighted CLICK HERE. When clicked the supporting media will appear in a new window.
“We have two lives; the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
Confucius
6/2025
Giving Voice, Gaining Power
The first workshop session of Giving Voice, Gaining Power: The Denim Discussions was held on Saturday, June 28th, 2025 at the Parkside Campus of the University of Wisconsin (UW-Parkside). It was presented as part of the Paths To Healing Retreat & Conference for Survivors of Sexual Violence.
Inspired by Dr. Rain Warren’s Red Chair Project, the workshop presented a space for survivors to speak their truth. The circumstances of every survivor’s trauma are unique. Each healing journey is unique as well. Our truths are no different.
What we all share, though, are the feelings and emotions that revolve around the shame and guilt from our experience. It is what robs us of power in our lives.
In healing, that which we can give voice to loses its power over us. I believe in the power of sharing our truth with others. In speaking, we no longer allow our shame to imprison us in silence.
The Denim Discussions is a space to speak our truth as it exists for us; without judgement; without shame. It is rediscovering the power of our voice.
It is our story…
Your story.
5/2025
NAMI of Racine County
I have chosen to step up my level of commitment to the mission and vision of NAMI of Racine County. As of May 1st, I am beginning a two-year term serving on their Board of Directors. In my work with BeLEAF Survivors, NAMI Racine, and NAMI Wisconsin I have discovered that the journeys of healing I have worked to create for survivors is simply another version of the journeys of recovery that NAMI seeks to provide for individuals and families who support or live with mental illnesses.
Stepping into a role on NAMI Racine’s board is a natural expansion of my commitment to rebuilding and empowering lives affected by trauma and circumstances.
5/2025
The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread
On May 1st, I attended a community briefing sponsored by both the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and the MacArthur Foundation on Intersecting Realities: How Technology and Systems Shape Family Experiences. MacArthur Fellows Nicola Dell and Mary L. Gray presented about different aspects of technology today and its impact on families, work spaces and society as well. It was a very interesting and informative evening.
4/2025
CBS58 – Milwaukee
April 2025 was an active month for television appearances, with three separate occasions where I appeared in broadcast segments.
On 4/13/2025, CBS 58 Racine & Me aired a segment where I highlight the struggle that BeLEAF Survivors now faces to find funding after the 2/3 reduction in Voca grant funding received starting on 10/1/2024. I also speak to legislative advocacy being done asking for the the state legislature to allocate additional funding that has been requested by the Department of Justice for crime victim services.
To watch the segment, CLICK HERE.
The segment above was actually recorded on 4/9/2025. A very heart felt appreciative shout out to Alex Corradetti, the host of Racine & Me, for being a friend and ally of survivors. After recording our segment, she said if she heard about other opportunities where I could speak to the needs of survivors, she would propose my name as a resource.
The VERY next day, Wisconsin’s Attorney General was hosting a press conference speaking about the VOCA cuts and Wisconsin’s efforts to overcome them. Alex pitched my name to the newsroom as the human interest side of the story. I was interviewed by Pavlina Osta. Parts of the interview were included in the segment for that evenings news.
To watch the news story segment that aired on 4/10/2025, CLICK HERE.
On 4/27/2025, CBS 58 Racine & Me aired another segment where Alex interviewed Candace Sanchez, BeLEAF’s Board President, and Callen Harty, the original founder of Paths To Healing. Because of a last minute guest cancellation, Alex chose to fill the time gap with additional footage from my 4/10/2025 news segment interview.
To view the segment and hear more about Paths To Healing, CLICK HERE.
4/2025
Racine County –
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Together with Rachel Cortez, Coordinator of Ascension Health Care’s 24/7 Mobile Sexual Assault Treatment Center in Southeast Wisconsin, we presented a Trauma Informed Approach training session to local law enforcement officers at the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training held at Gateway Technical College’s Racine Campus.
CIT programs are partnerships between local law enforcement, mental health providers, local NAMI chapters and other community stakeholders designed to improve the outcomes of police interactions with people living with mental illnesses. A CIT program provides 40 hours of training for law enforcement on how to better respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis.
We were orignally invited to speak to the “lived experience” of survivors when they present to the emergency room after an assault. Our focuses were: 1) Informing and educating officers to understand the trauma based responses that they may encounter when working with survivors in the immediate aftermath of sexual violence; 2) Understanding the various aspects of a forensic examination that a survivor may undergo; 3) Recognizing vicarious trauma in themselves and acknowledging their need for self care.
The presentation was very well received. An invitation was extended to become regular presenters of the Trauma Informed Care module for both CIT and CIP training going forward. Only minor additions were required to meet the requested outcomes when teaching the module. I look forward to making a difference for survivors AND improving outcomes when individuals living with mental illness interact with law enforcement.
3/2025 – 4/2025
NAMI of Racine County
I taught the first 8-week Family-to-Family course offered by NAMI Racine in two years. The individuals who participated were amazing. The need for additional classes is huge. I am working with NAMI Racine with the hopes of holding another in person class in the fall and maybe even an online only version over the summer. Stay tuned!!!
3/2025
City of Racine –
Department of Community Safety
On 3/30/2025, the City of Racine, Department of Community Safety hosted the Strength in Every Scar gathering for domestic violence survivors and grieving mothers. It was an afternoon for reflection and renewal helping women understand the difference between pain and hurt, acknowledge their resilience, and taking steps toward healing.
Domestic violence and sexual assault many times are two sides of the same coin. I gave a short presentation sharing BeLEAF Survivors, promoting the work we do and acknowledging the participants for their journeys of healing.
To learn more about the City of Racine’s Department of Community Safety and their mission, CLICK HERE.
3/2025
Safe & Sound – Racine
On 3/25/2025, I represented BeLEAF Survivors at Safe & Sound – Racine’s Neighborhood Changemakers event.
Safe & Sound’s mission is to unite residents, youth, law enforcement and community resources to build safe and empowered neighborhoods. To learn more about their mission and their work, CLICK HERE.
3/2025
Legislative Advocacy Day
On 3/4/2025, I participated in a Legislative Advocacy Day in Madison. The anticipated 70% reduction in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding that was slated to go into effect on 10/1/2024 has become reality. The cuts were disasterous to many agencies and organizations across Wisconsin and across the entire country.
BeLEAF Survivors had budgeted for a reduction of $61,000 from their annual grant amount of $311,000 in the previous 3-year grant cycle. When the next 3-year annual grant amounts were announced, BeLEAF’s awarded amount saw a reduction of just over $200,000 per year. A full one third of their total annual operating budget.
It is now the biennial budget making process in the Wisconsin Legislature. The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) specifically acknowledged the VOCA cuts in the opening paragraph of the cover letter submitted to the Governor with its 2025/27 budget request. It asked for an increased allocation of $66 million to fund crime victim services as an offset to the reduced VOCA dollars.
BeLEAF Survivors staff and I met with seven different state lawmakers that day asking them to support the DOJ’s request and keep the additional funds in the final budget that will be presented to the Governor in a couple of months.
1/2025
BeLEAF Survivors
The Racine Area Manufacturers And Commerce (RAMAC) organization held its 4th annual “Nonprofit Draft Day“. The event is modeled after a professional sports draft and aspires to connect prospective board members (free agents) with interested nonprofits (scouts).
I represented BeLEAF Survivors at this year’s event.
1/2025
TMJ4 – NBC Milwaukee
On 1/9/2025 Samantha Sustachek, BeLEAF’s Co-Director of Operations, and I had the opportunity to speak with Tahleel Mohieldin of Milwaukee’s Touch TMJ4 about the challenges that are facing BeLEAF since the VOCA cuts came into effect on 10/1/2024. Though struggling, BeLEAF remains committed to empowering survivors on their journeys of healing.
To see the article and watch the interview, CLICK HERE.
12/2024
NAMI of Racine County
Sometimes volunteering is simply just fun. NAMI of Racine County hosted a Christmas Feast for their clients. I was invited to play Santa Claus. It was a great night. Great food prepared by amazing people.
To see Santa, CLICK HERE.
10/2024 – 12/2024
Racine County
BeLEAF’s Executive Director has been working for a long time to create a working relationship with Racine County. Because BeLEAF offers a service to the citizens of Racine County that no one else does, the hope is to one day receive regular funding as part of the county’s budget. She had been informed that there was a chance for some one-time funding as part of a resolution (2024-76).
On 10/24/2024, I spoke at the County Board meeting during the public comment period. To view my comments, CLICK HERE.
NOTE: It is part of Racine County’s Facebook Live Page. You may need to be logged into Facebook to be able to view it.
The Executive Director and I both followed up numerous times and attended other meetings as well. In December, the resolution was approved and BeLEAF was granted a one-time allotment of $25,000.
11/2024
CBS58 – Milwaukee
On 11/10/2024, CBS58 – Milwaukee aired an inteview with BeLEAF’s Executive Director and I about the impact the Federal VOCA cuts are having on BeLEAF Survivors.
To view, CLICK HERE.
8/2024
NAMI of Racine County
Completed NAMI’s Crisis Intervention Partners (CIP) Training. CIP training is a 16-hour training designed for wide-ranging audiences interested in better understanding and improving interactions with people who experience mental health crises. Through information and practice, CIP works to re-train participants to effectively use attitudes, beliefs, and verbal/non verbal skills when responding to crisis situations.
Part of the CIP training is the NAMI Wisconsin Hearing Voices Simulation. It is an educational and awareness training to provide insight and a better understanding of those who experience auditory hallucinations, as well as challenge misunderstandings and stereotypes.
5/2024
BeLEAF Survivors
On 5/3/2024, I was honored with the presentation of the BeLEAF Sexual Assault Services’ 2024 Star of Courage Award. “The Star of Courage Award is given to a community member who has improved services and response to sexual assault survivors.”
5/2024
NAMI of Racine County
On May 1st 2024, I was honored with NAMI of Racine County’s Luann Simpson Commitment to Mental Health Award. It is awarded to an individual that:
1. Has clearly taken steps to achieve recovery in their own life.
2. Has utilized their own recovery to provide hope to her/his peers.
3. Has utilized their own recovery to implement change within local and larger systems.
4. Has utilized their own recovery to bring awareness of recovery philosophies to the community.
5. Lives or works in Racine County.
Being recognized with this award holds so much meaning for me. I know the person for whom the award is named. She is the stuff of legend. Her story of recovery over her mental illness and the accomplishments she has achieved in her life are a beacon of hope to individuals living with mental illness. Her life and story demonstrate that recovery is possible.
4/2024 – 6/2024
Wisconsin State Assembly District 62
Seeing the discord and disfunction present in Madison during my legislative advocating for 2023 Wisconsin Act 241, and motivated by my role in its passage, I threw my hat into the ring and started a campaign to become the Representative for Wisconsin’s 62nd State Assembly District.
I ultimately ended up withdrawing. Most candidates began planning their campaigns by finding staff and gathering endorsements in the fall of 2023. I literally came out of the woodwork at the beginning of April 2024. I had gathered sufficient signatures to place my name on the ballot, but I worried with my late start that if I won the primary, I did not have a large enough pool of volunteers or the finances to conduct a full fledged campaign. After a name is on the ballot, withdrawing is more difficult. I chose to not submit my nomination signatures.
In hindsight, withdrawing was probably premature. Afterwards, conversations with other campaigns and their staff revealed I had begun to generate growing support and a resevoir of goodwill. They wished I would have taken my campaign at least through to the primary election.
However, events in life happen for a reason. I know my former opponent will serve Wisconsin well. I can now focus on the advocacy that is so important to me.
Press Release: CLICK HERE.
4/2024
Chippewa Falls Correctional Facility
I was invited to speak at the Chippewa Falls Correctional Facility as part of their Crime Victim’s Awareness Week events. In two sessions, I spoke with over sixty men in their care. The same as my previous discussion at RYOCF, my discussion with them had three goals. First, to create empathy and understanding for victims of crimes by hearing directly from the victim of a crime. Next, to help them understand that sexual violence occurs to both women AND men. And lastly, to break through stereotypes many of them hold like “men don’t cry” or “man up and deal with it”; that it is OK to talk about sexual violence as a male. Speaking with the men there was simply amazing.
1/2024 – 3/2024
Wisconsin Legislative Advocacy
Stemming from the Legislative Advocacy Day in October of 2023, two concurrent bills were introduced in the State Assembly and State Senate, AB940 and SB877, to provide $55 million over two years in funding to fill the gap in VOCA funding.
– 1/2024: I wrote individual letters to every Wisconsin state legislator, 132 in total, seeking their support for this bills.
– 1/25/2024: BeLEAF’s Executive Director and I both testified before the State Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families in support of SB877. Videos of the tesimony are below.
– To view BeLEAF Executive Director’s testimony, CLICK HERE.
– To view my testimony, CLICK HERE.
– 2/8/2024: I testified before State Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety in support of AB940.
– To view my testimony, CLICK HERE.
– 2/2024: I wrote individual letters to every Wisconsin State Senator, 33 in total, seeking their support for SB877 when it came up for vote in the full chamber.
– 3/27/2024: Success (Sort of)!!! Wisconsin Governor Evers signs SB877/AB940 into law. Now, 2023 Wisconsin Act 241 providing $10 million for one year.
1/2024
NAMI – Wisconsin
Trained and certified to become an instructor to training individuals as peer facilitators at NAMI affiliates across Wisconsin.
11/2023
Unspoken Conversations with Candace
After my first podcast interview with Candace, she realized that it was a fantastic segway into what became her entire season 3 theme: Male Survivors. Hence the season 3, episode zero (S3 E0) moniker. She partnered with Neil Parekh (Link), based in New York and did the entire season in a video format.
So much had occurred in my journey since our original recording that Candace invited me back to be their final guest of the season. In this powerful episode, “The Transformation From Trauma to Triumph with Scott Kinderman”, I share details of my inspirational journey from trauma to transformation.
Additional notes to that journey: The journey into transformation is not a singular event. If you have read the “About Me” page, in the last section “Possible Futures and An Unexpected Gift”, I tell of receiving the phone call from my brother that my mother was entering hospice care. In this interview, there is a point where I begin speaking to the realization that my mother was once a little girl with her own dreams. There is a synchronicity to this moment.
You see, this video was recorded on the very same day as receiving my brother’s call. My friend helped me find a new context of my mother. This recording captures my first raw thoughts as I worked to wrap my head around the new reality I had discovered only hours earlier.
Another shift you may have noticed is that in the podcast I say that my adult relationship with my mother is complete. And on the “About Me” page, I say it as the relationship I had with the unhealed version of my mother was complete. That shift is significant. It opened the door to realizing a new relationship separate from the one born out of abuse was possible.
Lastly, making the connection that my mother and I shared trauma across generations, for the first time in my entire life, allowed me to say those final three words… and mean them.
The journey of healing never really ends.
You can watch it here: CLICK HERE.
11/2023
2023 ECI Everyday Hero Award
I was nominated and selected as one of three finalist for the 2023 ECI Corporation’s Everyday Hero Award. Part of their process was the creation of a video story about why I was chosen. (Video link below. Scroll down on the page and look for my name.) I was selected as the runner up. No matter. Being runner up earned BeLEAF a $10,000 donation from ECI!
Press release: CLICK HERE.
Video story: To view, CLICK HERE.
10/2023
Legislative Advocacy Day
Legislative Advocacy Day in Madison. Along with many others from across Wisconsin, spoke with legislators to raise awareness of looming Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding cuts that would affect sexual assault service providers (SASP) across the State of Wisconsin and the nation. These cuts would hit the SASP’s beginning October 1st, 2024 and would be devastating to many organizations. There is a separate post on my blog page about these cuts. (Future) To read it, CLICK HERE.
10/2023
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Joined the Board of Directors of Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA).
9/2023
EndCAN’s Walk Together Milwaukee
The Walk Together to End Child Abuse and Neglect is a series of community fundraising walks taking place across the nation to support the National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect (EndCAN). Walk Together events celebrate the strength of child abuse survivors while bringing communities together to create cultural change. The Milwaukee walk was held on 9/16/2023.
I was one of two featured speakers at the event and shared my story to those in attendance. At the event, I received their “Unspoken Hero” Award for working to end child abuse and neglect.
As part of raising awareness of the event, there were three media opportunities in which I participated:
– CBS 58 – Milwaukee: Morning show interview. To watch, CLICK HERE.
– 89.7 FM WUWM: Lake Effect interview. To listen, CLICK HERE.
– Spectrum 1 News: Spotlight interview. To watch, CLICK HERE.
6/2023
“Giving Voice, Gaining Power”
Started my video blog series dedicated to a core principle of my healing journey: That which you can give voice to loses its power over you.
6/2023
NAMI – Wisconsin
Trained and certified to lead / teach the NAMI Family-to-Family Course. NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. It is a designated evidenced-based program. This means that research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition.
4/2023
Racine Youth Offender Correctional Facility
I was invited to speak at the Racine Youth Offender Correctional Facility (RYOCF) as part of their Crime Victim’s Awareness Week events. I spoke with around fifty young men in their care. My discussion with them had three goals. First, to create empathy and understanding for victims of crimes by hearing directly from the victim of a crime. Next, to help them understand that sexual violence occurs to both women AND men. And lastly, to break through stereotypes many of them hold like “men don’t cry” or “man up and deal with it”; that it is OK to talk about sexual violence as a male.
4/2023
NAMI Podcasts
NAMI of Racine County paired me with a therapist to discuss multiple dimensions of the effects sexual trauma has on individuals and families. Their original proposal to us was for a 10-15 minute conversation. On the day that we recorded, the three of us ended up talking for almost three hours. In the end this was released as a three-part podcast series, totaling almost 90 minutes of insightful and impactful information.
You can listen here:
Episode 1: CLICK HERE
Episode 2: CLICK HERE
Episode 3: CLICK HERE
4/2023
NAMI of Racine County
Held the first meeting of the Sexual Assault / Abuse Survivors (SA/AS) peer led support group for survivors. Meeting twice per month, Racine County now had a resource to support survivors while waiting for counseling or therapy to begin, as well as through their entire journey.
2/2023
NAMI
As part of the action plan to create the SA/AS support group, there was training and certification I needed to obtain. Trained with NAMI – Wisconsin to become certified in peer-to-peer support group facilitating. Trained with NAMI of Racine County to become certified in their C.A.R.E.S. model of peer facilitating.
1/2023
Collaboration Created
Witnessed that there was a large wait list for the free counseling and therapy services offered by BeLEAF Survivors. To address that need, I approached NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Racine County with a request to create a peer led support group as an additional resource for survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse in their healing journeys. Together we created a plan of action to launch the Sexual Assault / Abuse Survivor (SA/AS) peer led support group.
8/2022
BeLEAF Survivors
Joined the Board of Directors of BeLEAF Survivors of Racine County. Elected to the Executive Committee as Treasurer.
4/2022
Volunteer Center of Racine
Received the Volunteer Center of Racine’s Health Services Award.
3/2022
My first podcast inteview
DEFINITE TRIGGER WARNINGS! The first time telling my story publicly. Powerful, raw, and emotion filled. It was recorded in March of 2022 but released in January 2023. Unspoken Conversations with Candace is a platform where “taboo” topics are discussed openly in order to spark difficult and uncomfortable conversations. It is a safe place for anyone who has had trauma to be heard.
The release in January of 2023 was a pivotal moment in my journey. Hearing my own voice speaking my truth awakened the realization that I DID have a voice and that it could be powerful.
My interview is Season 3 Episode 0 (S3 E0). Listen to it on Spotify CLICK HERE.
2021
Fight to End Exploitation (FEE)
Trained to become a volunteer advocate for victims of human trafficking.
8/2020
City of Racine
Trained to become an elections poll worker. I continue to be a poll worker to this day.
3/2020
BeLEAF Survivors
Trained to become a volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual assault.
2018 – 2019
Racine Literacy Council
Became an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor and taught a Microsoft Excel class.
11/2004 – 5/2007
Racine Montessori School
Chairman of the Racine Montessori School Adolescent Committee that added the 7th & 8th grades to RMS.
Want to know more? Or help?
If you would like to know about a particular project or would like to help in some way, reach out to me. Just click over to the ‘Contact Me’ page or Click Here. There you can either fill out and submit the Contact Form, email me directly, or give me a call.