Angela Waters Austin and Rev. Sean 'Mordecai' Holland share episode five of their newer show on Michigan Business Network. 

Transform MI explores the question, “What would MI look like if we were to transform systems, policy, practice, and culture so that everyone wins”? Transform MI will look deep into topics of embodiment, boundaries, harm, creativity, and more with people who are working to reshape our world and MI. This is a podcast of possibilities.

Hear Angela, and Mordecai share their fourth in a series about HOPE Initiative in this 6-segment SoundCloud Podcast shared below.

For Episode 5's six segments Angela and Mordecai have a conversation with Tashmica Torok.

"Only 24% of people in Michigan live in communities with low rates of sexual assault. In this episode of Transform Michigan, hosts Angela Waters Austin and Sean Holland discuss HOPE data on sexual assault in Michigan and the distance to the goal of safety and healing for survivors. Guest Tashmica Torok, founding co-director of The Firecracker Foundation, explains the story behind the data and why survivors are an essential part of building safer communities."

A One Love Global production.

Tashmica “Firecracker” Torok
Founding CoDirector
(she, her, hers)

Tashmica Torok is a nationally recognized survivor activist working to end child sexual abuse. She is a powerhouse fundraiser and movement maker who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless volunteer hours in support of her work.

She is a member of the Just Beginnings Inaugural Cohort, Lansing Area Transformative Justice Collective, and MSU’s SANE Advisory Board. She has trained hundreds of parents, educators, social workers, and other community stakeholders in topics related to child sexual abuse, trauma, militant self-care, and prevention. She is also a published storyteller. Most recently, she is a contributor to Love With Accountability: Digging up the roots of child sexual abuse which is currently available on AK Press.

Tashmica has been awarded the Michigan Jaycees Foundation’s Outstanding Young Michigander Award in 2014, USA Network’s 2015 Characters Unite Award, the 2016 Emerging Leader Award from Sistrum: the Lansing Women’s Chorus, Child Advocate of the Year 2017 by the Lansing Exchange Club, and was the inaugural recipient of the Greater Lansing Inspirational Woman of the Year Award, in 2019.

Her biggest thrill continues to be accomplishing her heart work at The Firecracker Foundation with healing children, teens, and families. As the executive director of The Firecracker Foundation, she incites riots of generosity and advocates for the healing of children and families every day. Tashmica is the kind of friend who always encourages you to do more. She’s a published storyteller and a nearly retired roller derby skater. She’s also the mother of three children, wife to a talented tile installer, and a behind-the-scenes volunteer.

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