VOICES August Highlights
Dear Families and Friends,
I hope you are enjoying summer!
August is a busy month at VOICES as we finalize plans for our 22nd Annual Remembrance Symposium to be held on September 9 and 10 at the New York Downtown Marriott Hotel. Several additional speakers have been added to the program, so visit our website for the updated agenda. Registration is open!
This month the World Trade Center Survivor Grief Study was launched, and we are proud to work with the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University, and our partners, as co-investigators on the project. VOICES will also be presenting A Victim-Centered Approach: Providing Long-term Support for Those Impacted by Tragedy, at the NY State Office of Victim Services (OVS) conference in Albany, New York.
As the 22nd Anniversary approaches, VOICES continues to offer programs that serve the 9/11 community, including virtual peer-support gatherings for victims’ families, responders and survivors.
With warm regards,
Mary Fetchet & the VOICES Team
Only one month to go before VOICES 22nd Annual Remembrance Symposium! The two-day event features world-renowned subject matter experts who will share their expertise on topics such as national security, emergency response, victim support services, and the myriad of issues that still impact the 9/11 community. Registration is open and we hope you will join us!
As a reminder, the Symposium is held in person and will also be available via live-stream broadcast. If you are interested in attending the September 9 program in person, please complete this form to receive the access code.
Sponsorships and commemorative program ads are still available. The deadline for submission is Monday, August 21.
WTC Survivor Grief Study
The World Trade Center Survivor Grief Study was launched on August 3, 2023. Over the next 2 years it will solicit 1400 survivors who previously participated in surveys conducted by the WTC Registry. Led by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University, the study co-investigators include VOICES, the Columbia Center for Prolonged Grief and the WTC Registry.
OVS Conference
VOICES Founding Director Mary Fetchet and Director of 9/11 Community Projects Stephanie Landau have been invited to present at the NY State Victim Services (OVS) conference Resilience: Reforming Victim Services in an Age of Uncertainty. We are honored to be among the victim service professionals representing public and private sectors throughout NY State.
9/11 Notice Act
The VOICES Community anxiously awaits the signing of the 9/11 Notice Act, unanimously passed by the New York State Assembly and Senate. This legislation stipulates that businesses and institutions must inform individuals who returned to the 9/11 terrorist attack exposure zone between September 2001 and May 2002, about their eligibility to register for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program.
Mindful Moment Meditation
Presented by Meg Rooney
Friday, August 11 - 10:30am EST
Join VOICES for our Mindful Moment series, when together we will pause from the busy nature of our days to breathe, reconnect and begin again - feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. The theme for August is, "Soaking up the Days of Summer". Participation is free and registration is required.
Ongoing Support Groups
VOICES is committed to providing long-term support and access to resources, mental health care, and programs that promote resilience.
Our Community Peer Support Groups provide an opportunity for families, survivors and responders to connect and discuss their shared experiences.
