Be the One

As one of the Executive Directors and Founders of The Hiding Place, I want to share our heart and mission with you. At The Hiding Place, we are dedicated to creating safe spaces for survivors of domestic violence. We believe that every person deserves to live without fear, every family deserves peace, and every survivor deserves dignity and hope.

But let me be clear—what we do is more than offering shelter. Safe spaces are more than four walls and a bed. A safe space is where a woman who has been silenced for years can speak her truth for the very first time. A safe space is where a child who has witnessed abuse can finally sleep without fear. A safe space is where survivors discover that their past does not define them, but their courage does.

We are proud to serve the Upstate, but our reach goes beyond our local community. Over the years, The Hiding Place has served women and families from across South Carolina and from multiple states across the U.S. Abuse has no boundaries. It touches every neighborhood, every income level, every race, every background. And so, our work must also know no boundaries. Survivors come to us carrying stories of pain, but together, we begin to write new stories-stories of healing, strength, and new beginnings.

Now, for me, this mission is deeply personal. I don’t write this message as simply one of the directors of this organization. I write this message as a survivor. I know what it is like to live in fear. I know what it feels like to carry silence like a weight. I know what it is like to look at yourself in the mirror and wonder if freedom is even possible. And I also know what it feels like to take that first breath of safety, to step into a place of healing, and to begin to believe again in a future worth living. That is why I founded The Hiding Place. Because I wanted survivors to have a place where they are seen. Where they are heard. Where they are not judged for what they endured, but celebrated for the strength it takes to survive.

This idea led our team to choosing this year’s campaign, “Be the One”. “Be the One” positions each person as a single moment of courage in a survivor’s story. Survivors don’t need everyone—they need one safe person, one place, one act of compassion that changes everything. And that is why awareness and community understanding is so important.

When I see a community, willing to listen, willing to understand and willing to learn more, I feel empowered—not just as a survivor, but as someone who now gets to stand beside other survivors in their own journeys. When communities join survivors, together, side by side, survivors are reminded that we are not alone. Community is stronger than violence. Love is louder than fear. Every single step we take together is more than just a movement. Every step is a declaration. A declaration that domestic violence has no place in our homes. No place in our schools. No place in our families. No place in our future. Each step together, side by side, says: We see you. We hear you. We believe you. And we will not forget you.

For those who have lost their lives to domestic violence, we stand up for them in remembrance.

For those who are still trapped in silence and fear, we stand up in solidarity.

For those who have survived, who are healing, who are reclaiming their voices—we stand up in celebration of your courage.

And for anyone who may be carrying your own story quietly, unsure if anyone would understand—I want you to know: you are not alone. There is hope. There is help. There are members in the community, ready to walk with you every step of the way.

Awareness is so important but awareness without action is not enough. And so, I encourage you to think about what action you can take today. What can you do to “be the one” for someone who needs just one kind word of encouragement or one small action to change the trajectory of their journey? Maybe it’s being a safe person for someone to confide in. Maybe it’s volunteering your time. Maybe it’s supporting the work of organizations like The Hiding Place. Maybe it’s simply committing to speak up when silence feels easier. Because change begins with ordinary people making extraordinary choices—to care, to speak, to walk, to act, to “be the one”.

Let us always remember: we can carry with us the stories of those we’ve lost. We can lift up the voices of those still healing. And we can shine a light into places that have been far too dark for far too long.

Together, we can create a future where safe spaces are not the exception—they are the norm.

Together, we can ensure that every survivor knows they are not alone. And together, we have the ability to prove that light will always shine brighter than the darkness.

It’s time to “be the one”, the one that stands tall for healing, for hope, and for a world free from domestic violence.

With gratitude,

Breann Griffin, Executive Director and Founder of The Hiding Place