Breaking the Silence: How Community, Education & Empowerment Fuel Change for Survivors
In this heartfelt and deeply important episode of The Make It Count Show, host Michelle Latocha brings together two incredible women: Tricia Cosgrove, Community Engagement Manager at the Niagara Sexual Assault Centre (NSAC), and Brianna Brady, co-founder of Empowher Niagara.
This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a continuation of one.
Michelle, Brianna, and Tricia open up about the ongoing need for awareness, education, and community support in the fight against sexual violence. Their discussion revisits the Empowher Niagara Gala and highlights the life-changing impact the raised funds are having on survivors and youth across Niagara.
“It’s easy for conversations around sexual violence to fade once the headlines do,” Michelle shares. “But we need to keep the momentum going.”
Why Talking About Sexual Violence Still Matters
Tricia explains that one of the biggest challenges in her role is normalizing the conversation. With over 11,000 students reached last year alone, NSAC’s public educators are helping students across all age groups understand key topics like:
Consent
Healthy boundaries
Social media safety
Anti-human trafficking
Child abuse prevention
The message is simple but powerful: “You have the right to be safe, strong, and free.”
Programs like their CAP (Child Abuse Prevention) initiative, which starts as early as Grade 1, equip children with the vocabulary and confidence to speak up—and the results have been profound. Many disclosures from children have been made thanks to this early education.
Social Media & Safety: A Modern Challenge
As mothers of young children and teens, Michelle and Brianna discuss the duality of social media—a tool that can empower but also mislead. While young people today are more informed about consent and identity, they’re also exposed to hyper-sexualized content and unrealistic body image standards.
“Even buying a bathing suit for my daughter can be a challenge,” Michelle says. “It feels like innocence is being stripped away too early.”
Tricia affirms this concern, adding that online gaming and apps create new layers of danger. Her message to parents: stay involved, even when it feels overwhelming.
The Centre’s Lifesaving Services
NSAC isn’t just about crisis response—it’s about comprehensive, trauma-informed support:
30 free therapy sessions with a master’s-level, trauma-informed counselor
Group therapy for survivors, including male survivor groups and art-based healing
24/7 crisis line, available day or night
Third-party anonymous reporting, empowering survivors to report assaults without identifying themselves
One of the most powerful tools NSAC offers is the Anonymous Third-Party Report. Survivors can file detailed incident reports that are uploaded to the Federal Violent Offenders Database, helping identify serial predators—an initiative born from the lessons of the Paul Bernardo case.
“This process is 100% valid for whatever reason a survivor chooses,” Tricia explains. “And it can be part of their healing journey.”
Why Community Support Like Empowher Matters
Brianna and Michelle reflect on the impact of the Empowher Niagara Gala, which directly supported NSAC’s mission. Tricia expresses deep gratitude and reminds listeners that sexual violence is the only violent crime in Canada that is not decreasing. In fact, it’s rising.
“One in three women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime,” she states. “We must keep educating, talking, and supporting survivors.”
With fewer than 10 staff members, NSAC leans heavily on community partnerships to do their work—making every dollar raised and every conversation had truly count.
This episode is more than a podcast—it’s a call to action. Whether you're a parent, teacher, business owner, or advocate, you have a role to play in creating a safer, more informed community.
Because silence protects no one.
But education? That protects everyone.
Want to support survivor-centered services, get involved in education initiatives, or help create safer communities across Niagara?
Learn more or reach out directly:
Website: Niagara Sexual Assault Centre | https://www.niagarasexualassaultcentre.com/
Instagram: NSAC | @niagara.sexual.centre
Facebook: Niagara Sexual Assault Centre CARSA
Email: [email protected]
Attend the 2025 Rise Together Gala
- Gala Info & Tickets: https://www.empowherniagara.com/gala
🎙️ Watch the full episode of Make It Count
▶️ YouTube: What Happens When We Talk About The Uncomfortable Stuff?
🎧 Spotify: What Happens When We Talk About The Uncomfortable Stuff?
📲 Follow the show: Make It Count Show.
Support or sponsor future Empowher Niagara events:
Website: Empowher | https://www.empowherniagara.com/
Instagram: EmpowHER Niagara Business Club | @empowherniagara
Facebook: Empowher Niagara Business Club
Connect with Tricia Cosgrove
Email: [email protected]
You may visit Visibility Boosters here I You may visit Niagara Sexual Assault Centre here:
Connect with Brianna Brady
Instagram: Brianna Brady | @bribrady6
Stay Updated with Visibility Boosters
Explore our Website: Digital Marketing | Visibility Boosters | Web Design | Social Media | https://visibilityboosters.com/
Follow Us on Instagram: The Visibility Boosters | @thevisibilityboosters
Join Us on Facebook: The Visibility Boosters
Connect on Twitter: The Visibility Boosters | @visibility_the
Follow our Youtube Channel: Visibility Boosters | https://youtube.com/@visibilityboosters
Follow Us on Spotify: Make It Count Show | https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/visibility-boosters
Connect with Michelle
Instagram: 🌸Michelle Latocha🌸Women's Health and Empowerment Coach| @michelleliftswomen
For inquiries, guest appearances, or sponsorship opportunities, reach out to us at Make It Count Show. We'd love to connect with you
