Laurie Myers -Executive Director and Founder
Email: lmyers@communityvoices.net
My name is Laurie Myers; I’m the mother of three children, and a former rape crisis counselor from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and I’m the President of VOICES. I feel very fortunate to be in the company of the amazing people who make Community VOICES what it is today.
I have always seen the importance of being involved in my community. In 1992, I became a rape crisis counselor for Rape Crisis Services of Greater Lowell, and volunteered on their hotline for five years. It was an experience that changed my life, and one that I will never forget. During the many late night hotline calls, hospital, and police department visits, I accompanied the most amazing people through what was, for many the darkest time of their lives. This was a time that many of them will never forget. These courageous survivors shared their feelings, fears, and hopes after their lives were almost shattered by sexual assault, I admire their strength, and will never forget them, or the valuable things I have learned from them
Several years after leaving Rape Crisis I became involved in advocating for laws to protect our children and communities from repeat sex offenders. I supported Governor Romney’s efforts to post level 3 sex offenders on the Internet. I was also a strong critic of the many court challenges brought by tax payer funded lawyers for sex offenders. In March, 2004 I met Debbie Savoia, and the family of Joanne and Alyssa Presti of Woburn whose daughter and grand daughter were murdered by level 3 sex offender, Michael Bizanowicz. We joined forces, and together we were successful in advocating for the Internet posting of level three sex offenders. After a year of court battles the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of the citizens of Massachusetts and allowed the Sex Offender Registry Board to post the most dangerous sex offenders on their website.
In June of 2004, I contacted Sandy DiBacco after reading about her efforts in a news article. After many conversations with Debbie and Sandy, we decided that there was a need for an organized effort within Massachusetts for the VOICES of survivors, children, parents and our communities to be heard. There was also a need to bring this very important information to all members of the community. It was then we decided to join together to make a difference. Together we have met with and made our concerns known to community leaders, state agencies, parents and law makers and we have been successful in advocating for the Classification of sex offenders before release from prison, extending the statute of limitations on sex crimes againg children, GPS tracking of sex offenders who commit crimes against children, and mandatory minimum sentences (Jessica's Law) for those who commit the most henious crimes against children, and administrative subepnona legislation that would enable law enfocement quicker access to internet records of potential predators. We continue to work toward our goal of safer communities through awareness
In June of 2005 I was asked by Lt. Governor Kerry Healey to serve on the Governor's Commission on Domestic and Sexual Assault and served on the Justice and Accountablility Committee. We were responsible for drafting Sexaul Assault Response Guidelines for police departments.
On September 21, 2006 I had the honor of being invited by Lt. Governor Kerry Healey during the signing of legislation that extended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse and classification of sex offenders before release from prison. We were joined by several victims' families and legislators.
It was a great day for parents and citizens of Massachusetts.
May 14, 2008 I was selceted by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as unsung heroines for Chelmsford. I joined over 200 amazing women who were also selected by the Commission. It was a true honor and one I will never forget.
Sandra DiBacco - Chair of the Board and Founder
Email: sdibacco@communityvoices.net
My name is Sandra DiBacco. I live in Norfolk, Massachusetts, with my husband and two children. I work part-time as a legal assistant for a law firm in Boston.
In March of 2004, Delta Projects, Inc. (under the auspice of the Department of Mental Retardation) purchased a home with our taxpayers’ dollars to be used as a group home to house four mentally retarded men. Two of those men are level two sex offenders. One was convicted of molesting a child under the age of fourteen; the other was convicted of rape and aggravated assault. This group home is two doors away from my home and children. It is located in a secluded, wooded area with 25 children within ½ a mile radius.
This prompted people in my community, as well as myself, to investigate further into the placement of sex offenders in group homes in neighborhoods. What we found out was that there were no guidelines for placing sex offenders in group homes in Massachusetts, and that the laws in this state are very lenient towards sex offenders.
Outraged by this notion, I began working with our local State Senator to get laws changed in the state. I was interviewed for various newspapers and news broadcasts including Channel 4, 38 and 56. Two wonderful women, who have been active in helping rape victims and exploited and missing children for over nine years, contacted me. We are now forming this group to help other people understand the laws in Massachusetts, or should I say lack of laws in Massachusetts regarding the placement of sex offenders in group homes, the placement of sex offenders near schools, licensed daycare centers and playgrounds, legislation regarding the rights of sex offenders versus victims’ rights, we also want to inform people on ways to find out who the sex offenders are in their cities and towns, etc.
I have never before been involved in anything like this, but what I have found since I have been involved is that everybody can make a difference. People need to help each other to protect us and our children from these sex offenders and the judges and lawyers that protect them rather than our children.
I am pleased to say that we have been successful in our campaign, showing that a few people CAN make a difference.
Kris Silva - Vice President
ksilva@communityvoices.net
I am a very proud working mom of four children. My children and my family are the center of my world. However, in 2007, someone very close to me was raped, my entire world was turned upside down. I struggled to find my way through the emotions and confusion of it all.
Sexual assault is still such a taboo subject in our society. Although there are daily new stories of assaults, nobody wants to talk about it or admit that it occurs, but everybody knows someone who has been a victim.
After months of searching for answers and guidance, I happened upon Community VOICES while reading an article that Laurie had written in the Lowell Sun. While the details of the article escape me, I remember how she touched me through her words. Before long, I found myself attending rallies and different events in support stricter sentencing for sex offenders.
When I was asked to join the Board as Secretary in early 2009, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I knew this was the path I was meant to travel. It’s been a long road tremendous learning process, and I’ve met many amazing and inspiring people through being a part of Voices.
Being a part of an organization that is so dedicated and strong has been the best healing process for me. I am committed spending the rest of my life working to protect our children from sexual predators and will use my voice to make a difference.
Pam LaBarre Secretary- Plabarre@communityvoices.net
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light.
Norman B. Rice
Laurie Myers - Founder and Executive Director
Sandy DiBacco- Founder and Chairman of the Board
Kris Silva- Co-Chair/Vice President
Chris Sherwin- Treasurer
Annette & Peter Presti
Child Protection Advocates Parents and Grand Parents of Joanne and Alyssa Presti
Bob Curley
Child Protection Advocate Father of Jeffrey Curley
Bob Barry
Citizen Advocate
Chief John Kelly
Lt. John Carney
North Andover Police Department
Lt. Jonathan M. Carroll
Kerry Murphy Healey Ph.D
Visiting Fellow
Center for Public Leadership
Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Andrew Peck
Assistant Chief of Probation
Worcester Superior Court
Stacie Rumenap
President
Washington D.C.
Gary Bergeron
Co-founder
Charlie Tevnan Esq
Jeff Blanchard
Journalist
Michael Chinman Esq
Former Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney
Christine Woltag, Bob Curley and Lt. Jon Carroll
Meet our Board of Directors
Advisory Board
My name is Pamela Labarre I am a wife and proud mother of three amazing children who inspire me everyday. Similar to Kris’s story I unfortunately knew a child that was raped. This angered me to the core and left me to wonder what I could do.
Then one day in 2009 I came upon an article that Laurie had written in the Lowell Sun. Her passion for keeping our children safe inspired me to contact her. From that day forward I became active in participating in VOICES events about ways to keep our children safe, focusing on facts, not fear and what we can do to make a difference. With VOICES we held several safety events in my home town of Westford to educate families about sexual predators and how to keep our children safe with the focus of facts not fear and what our legal rights were.
It still amazes me that until I knew someone that had been raped I never gave it another thought. I think our society has become desensitized and makes us feel that this can never happen to people that we know - but it DOES. Every day in the news, there are items about children being abused or molested. We need to ensure that our laws give the power back to the victims and not the criminals, and protect our children from offenders. Our children have done nothing wrong except trust that we are looking out for them and letting them be kids.
I am looking forward to the future with VOICES and learning about the many ways I/we can make a difference no matter how big or small. Our kids are our biggest gifts and we must protect them.
Christine Sherwin- Treasurer
csherwin@communityvoices.net
Contact- 617-515-2079
VOICES
