1 – CONTACT Information:
CommunityVoices
7 Pine Hill Ave
Chelmsford Ma. 01824
617-515-2079 FAX same
lmyers@communityvoices.net dsavoia@communityvoices.net sdibacco@communityvoices.net communityvoices@comcast.net
2 – MISSION STATEMENT of ORGANIZATION
Provides advocacy, resources and educational information to community groups and individuals to increase public awareness regarding sexual assault, child sexual assault, Internet safety and missing children
3. About Us:
Laurie Myers -President and Founder
My name is Laurie Myers; I’m the mother of three children, and a former rape crisis counselor from Chelmsford, Massachusetts. I’m the President of VOICES and feel very fortunate to be in the company of Debbie Savoia and Sandy DiBacco.
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 these survivors.
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 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. We have played a significant role in the filing of several bills aimed at better protecting the citizens of Massachusetts, and continue to move toward our goal of safer communities through awareness.
In June of 2005 Debbie Savoia and I were asked by Lt. Governor Kerry Healey to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Assault.
On September 21, 2006 Debbie Savoia and I were 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.
On November 13, 2007 I testified on behalf of Jessica’s Law H1688, mandatory minimum sentences for rape of a child with force and continue to educate parents and citizens about their role in safer communities.
May 14, 2008 Debbie Savoia and I were chosen by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as unsung heroines for Chelmsford and North Andover. We joined over 200 other amazing women who were also selected by the Commission. It was a true honor and one we will never forget
Debbie Savoia – Vice-President and Founder
My name is Debbie Savoia I am a wife and mother of two I live in North Andover Massachusetts, and I’m the Vice-President of VOICES.
On Feb.13, 1995, I was reading my mail at the bus stop waiting for my son when I noticed an anonymous letter from Tacoma Washington. The letter was thanking me for letting a convicted 28 year old sex offender move into my neighborhood with his parents. He had served six months for molesting a neighbor girl and was on probation for eight years. He was not allowed to be near his children but could be near mine. Three hundred letters went out to North Andover residents regarding this individual.
During that time Massachusetts had more laws to protect animals in this state than we had to protecting our children from dangerous sex offenders. I could not just sit around and do nothing, I am a mother and I will do anything to protect my children from any kind of danger. After a year of media interviews, writing letters to the editor and talking to lawmakers I proudly stood behind Governor William Weld on August 5, 1996 as he signed the Sex Offender bill with Community Notification into law. Massachusetts was the last state to get Megan’s Law.
In the last nine years I have been very active, I became a volunteer for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. In 2001, requested and received the first Proclamation from Massachusetts’ Governor, Jane Swift for National Missing Children’s Day in Massachusetts. I have worked with my State Senator Bruce Tarr who filed two bills at my request in 2002 Senate No. 209, classifying offenders before being released from prison, and No. 210 posting level three sex offenders on the Internet. I’ve spoken at hearings at the statehouse on behalf of some bills. I have worked with the families of murdered victims and became friends with them, Maureen Kanka, Bob Curley, John & Magi Bish, and the Presti Family. I was involved in drafting the Joanne & Alyssa Act. I feel honored to know these remarkable people; I wish I could have met them under better circumstances. They are the true heroes of our society.
In March 2004, I attended a hearing before Judge Bonnie McLeod at the Suffolk Superior Court with the Presti Family. This particular hearing was to lift a previous injunction that prohibited the Sex Offender Registry Board from posting level three sex offenders on the SORB website. During that meeting, I met a woman in the hallway named Laurie Myers. Laurie and I talked and exchanged email addresses. Laurie had been a Rape Crises counselor and was also involved in strengthening sex offender laws. Our paths had never crossed until that day; as we talked we knew we were out for the same goals, to make this state a safer place for our children and all the children of this state. We also have a need for victims to have more of a VOICE in our society. As we kept in touch and reading newspaper stories, a story came to our attention regarding woman from Norfolk, Sandy DiBacco. Sandy had been working with her State Senator to fix a loophole relating to the sex offenders in her neighborhood. After getting in touch with Sandy and seeing that she had the same passion Laurie and I did in fighting for this important issue we have joined forces and become VOICES.
We are three women who believe that you do not need to be touched by tragedy to get involved in issues that matter. We can tell you first hand that law makers will listen and do something if you speak out. If members of the community don’t make their concerns known to their legislators, often times they won’t act until a tragedy has already taken place. Every VOICE counts and can make a difference, let’s not wait to be a victim.
At a press conference announcing the Omnibus bill in June of 2005 Lt. Governor Kerry Healey ask Laurie Myers and myself to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Assault. It was an honor to be asked by the Lt. Governor and we where happy to serve. It was a great experience.
After all our hard work on September 21, 2006 Lt. Governor Kerry Healey invited us to stand on the podium with her and many legislators from both parties for the signing of legislation that extended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse and classification of sex offenders before release from prison. (I had been fighting for classification before
released since 2003.) Many victims’ families where their in the audience and felt some justice had been served on behalf of their loved ones. It was a great day for victims.
On November 13, 2007 I testified on behalf of Jessica’s Law H1688, mandatory minimum sentences for rape of a child with force. As usual it was a very emotional day.
In March I received two letters in the mail one congratulating me for being chosen as North Andover Unsung Heroine of 2008 and the other congratulating Laurie Myers for also being chosen as Chelmsfords Unsung Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. I had nominated Laurie and without knowing she had nominated me. It was truly a great honor and very exciting to be able to have been chosen together. It was the first time in thirteen years I had been nominated for anything and won. On May 14, 2008 my daughter, and mother came along with me and Laurie and her mom to the reception honoring all 287 amazing women who contribute so much to this state not for money or fame just because they found an issue they cared about. Thank You to the commission for selecting me.
On June 2, 2008 I was recognized by the North Andover selectmen with a certificate of accomplishment for being selected as North Andover’s Unsung Heroine
Sandra DiBacco – Treasurer and Founder
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.
4. Advisory Board:
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 Begin
Missing Child Advocate and Author of My Child Is Missing.
Christine Woltag
Senior Account Manager, Mercator Advisory Group Director, PR, Wilmington League of Women Voters Co-Founder, Wilmington Green Team Mother of two young boys
Wendy Murphy, Esquire
Victim’s Rights Advocate and Author of And Justice for some
Kerry Murphy Healey Ph.D
Visiting Fellow
Center for Public Leadership
Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Lt. John Carney
North Andover Police Department
Lt. Jonathan M. Carroll
Norfolk Police Department
Andrew Peck
Asst. Chief Probation Officer
Kevin Horton
Retired Detective Lieutenant, Mass State Police/Fugitive Section
5. Intended goal: information & education
6. No
7.Our intended audience is parents,guardians, law enforcement anyone who wants to educate themselves or others on how to protect themsleves or their children from sex offenders. To keep track of what our legislators are doing or not doing to protect our children from sex offenders. We want the public to know what children are missing/endangered runaways in Ma. and to keep a look out for them.
8.Yes
www.communityvoices.net
9. Not sure
