Conversations with LaTrossica Wilson

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaTrossica Wilson.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
First, I’d like to express my gratitude to you and your team for giving me the opportunity to share my story through your platform. 1 in 10 children are sexually abused by their 18th birthday and I happened to have been one of them. It’s still difficult to share at times, but I’ve met many who tell me because of my story, they are learning to heal and help their families break their silence.

To know my story is to understand how it all started; and that was before I was born. I was conceived in the womb of a 14 year old child. Yes, my mom got pregnant with me at 14 and birth me at 15. It had to be very difficult for her. From what I was told my biological dad denied me and didn’t want anyone to know that he was sneaking around with a dark skinned girl, as light skinned girls were his thing during that time.

After I was born, the courts required a DNA testing proving he was indeed my biological father. He too was only 15 years old at the time of my birth. I believe that this is what may have set the tone for what I now believe became a generational curse to my family.

Being born into poverty to a teen mom, where she and her child both were denied, left room for others to take advantage of her and I in my opinion. I was told by members of my famiy that my mom was sexually abused by uncles after having me. From age 8 to 12 years old I was sexually abused by an uncle as well.

My mom had more children, but her pain was too much to bare as she turned to drugs and the streets for healing. I was left to be raised by my aunt who’s husband sexually abused me for years and I kept quiet about it. The truth finally came out. My aunt was angry with me for not telling her, but soon after had him arrested. Once he was released from jail he was accepted back into the house where he later died. My aunt died a few years after her husband causing me to become homeless. I confided in a high school friend who’s mom allowed me to live in their home. When my biological dad got the news, he immediately came and got me and made me live with him and his family. Within a year of living there my dad raped me. When I told family, no one believed me. They would tell me that he was, “a preacher” and “there is no way he would rape his own child.” Social services eventually got involved. A case worker came to the high school I attended and recorded me telling her what had happened to me. She stated that it was my word against his because his other children in the house were too young to know what was going on. This case worker later died and my case was lost. The system failed me. Incest rape is real. By age 17 I found myself in an abusive relationship and by 20 years old I delivered my first child with a black eye from domestic violence.

I blamed God and everyone I knew for the pain I endured. I tried to kill myself 7 times and just couldn’t die. For over 20 years I was afraid to tell anyone. I felt I would not be believed nor would anyone help me to end my pain. I would journal things until I found the courage to stop blaming myself and to trust God again through my healing process.

I started mentoring and volunteering in schools and churches where others would tell me their abuse stories. After having a few conversations with police and others in law enforcement, they all apologized for failing me as a child. This influenced my decision to go public with my truths. I was ridiculed again, but this time by in laws and church members.

I had a family member ask me for pictures to prove I was raped by my dad, and even had to send a cousin to jail for harassing and threatening my life on social media. I’m grateful for the judge in the courtroom who spoke up on my behalf. He told my cousin “that my story should be heard” and that “no one has the right to tell me to stay silent about something that is helping many living in silence”.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No ma’am and no sir, it has not been a smooth road on this journey. Personally, I am still healing daily.

My strength comes from not only my faith in God, but also from being able to help others recognize the signs of pedophiles and sex offenders; as well as how to cope after the abuse has taken place.

My biggest struggle on this journey is still always wanting to be a daddy’s girl, even though he did what he did to me. There are times when I can’t connect with others because they judge me for telling my truths or criticize me for being so forgiving of my attackers.

It’s a struggle, but I know breaking my silence has and still is helping to break the silence of so many who have been sexually abused. My strength lies within my struggle and I will not be silenced.

With that, here I am now. A Memphian who overcame poverty, rape, homelessness, and domestic violence. I wrote my first book Turning Pain into Power which launched in 2015, to spread the message of ending the silent culture around childhood sexual abuse. I’m a former educator of the Memphis City and Shelby County Schools System and an advocate for children and families affected by sexual abuse.

I’m currently the Executive Director of the No More Silence Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing coping mechanisms through the arts using multiple educational strategies to help families heal after the abuse trauma.

In 2018, I opened a facility in Memphis in the 38118 zip code. By 2019 police officers presented me with the 2018-2019 Juvenile Crime Victims Bureau report, showing sex crimes amongst children decreased by 20% in that zip code. By 2020 the NMSF was awarded a Proclamation and certificate from the Shelby County Government Mayor Lee Harris’s Office, honoring myself and my team for our Coping Through The Arts Program-coping sessions provided to families affected by this abuse.

People from all over the world have reached out to me for ways to help their families cope. Right before the pandemic, my team and I were blessed to provide coping mechanisms to a youth ministry from Iowa. They brought about 20 of their students and staff to the No More Silence Foundation to participate in our coping through the arts program.

I conduct community walks, annual holiday tea parties, and rallies throughout Memphis to bring awareness to incest rape and sexual abuse. I’ve been able to serve more than 2,000 families and attended court as victims’ support.

Currently, we have a new coping office located in Uptown Memphis to assist victims with coping mechanisms through the arts that will help manage their trauma. We offer resources for safe housing due to sexual abuse and domestic violence, assist victims with home furniture, tutoring, financial education, gifts during the holiday season, as well as volunteer and job resource opportunities for youth and adults.

Because of our hard work, the NMSF has also received support from: Shelby County Government Mayor Lee Harris Office,
Memphis Police Department 100 Club of Memphis, Tennessee Justice Center, News Channel 3 Community Changers, Wal-Mart Community, Kroger Community, and Pound4Pound Motorcycle Club; just to name a few.

What got me here is realizing that the pain from my trauma would keep me mentally bound if I didn’t let it out. I believe that no one deserves to be sexually abused and ask that others continue to help me to bring awareness to this horrific crime so that those living in silence will have a voice that will be heard.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Personally, I believe in God first. I’m a loving wife, supportive mom and homeschool mom, author, a listening ear, caring, one who loves people, and wise beyond my years, so I’m told.

Professionally, I’m a mentor with a well-known company providing business owners advice with their personal and professional records of documentation that have to be filed with the government. I specialize in advocacy-advocating for families in need, guiding them with the resources to want and live in a safer environment.

I’m known for my ability to speak up when no one else will. I’m known for calling out the wrong and trying to find a solution for the right. I’m also known as Mrs. Wilson to my former and current students; as well as to those who can’t pronounce my first name. Lol.

I’m most proud of not giving up when I wanted to so many times. I’m proud of having the courage to share my story even when it’s sickening to someone else. No matter how many times I seem to fall off this bike ride we call life, I manage to get back up and keep pedaling no matter how fast or slow I need to go. I WON’T QUIT!

What sets me apart from others is that quitting is NOT an option for me. I take my pain and turn it into power daily; not just for me but for everyone around me. I eat, sleep, and breathe ways of healing for those who have ever been affected by childhood sexual abuse. My plate is always filled with options.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I would say the characteristics that I feel are most important to my success would have to be my ability to be hopeful, transparent, patient, and strong even when I’m feeling too weak to carry on.

Pricing:

• Gold Hand Membership $5,000
• Silver Hand Memphis $2,000
• Red Hand Memphis $1,000
• Purple Hand Membership $500
• Blue Hand Memphis $100

Contact Info:

• Email: nomoresilencememphis@gmail.com
• Website: www.nomoresilencememphis.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nomoresilencefoundation
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/nomoresilencefoundation