“Some say overcomer or thriver. I like those words too. But for me, I choose the word survivor. To engage in the continuous life-long healing process in the aftermath of something traumatic, painful and, at some point, shameful… that’s what being a survivor means to me.”

– Leticia Manzano
HAWC Sexual Assault Services Senior Manager and Survivor

We are still living in a time when the victim is the one who often bears the shame of the assault, instead of the person who perpetrated the violence. My life’s passion is to support survivor’s healing processes and to shift accountability to the person who caused the harm.

When I started working at HAWC 26 years ago, I didn’t know the word survivor. I was assaulted as a child by two different family members and then by a boyfriend in college. I had gotten some counseling as a teenager, and it was helpful. But when I was raped in college, I made the choice many survivors make, I tried to manage the effects like guilt and shame on my own. It was only through working at HAWC I learned the trauma would be lasting. I learned many more coping skills to better help myself.

Like me, most of the survivors who come to HAWC were assaulted by someone they know. Many of these survivors still must regularly interact with their abuser and they live in fear the person could assault them again. The systems theoretically designed to hold abusers accountable too often fail because they are designed with the misguided notion that rapes and assaults are typically committed by strangers. In fact, the opposite is true.

Eight out of ten assaults are committed by someone the person knows. Family members, romantic partners, friends, co-workers, religious leaders, coaches, neighbors – these are the people who commit assaults on the survivors we serve at HAWC. These are people they know and thought they could trust.

The systems also tend to underestimate the impact of the trauma and the way the brain responds during an assault. Far too many of my clients feel guilty about not fighting harder, not stopping the abuse when it was happening. One of the most important things survivors and the community need to know is: to protect ourselves in vulnerable and dangerous situations, humans often freeze. Abusers take advantage of that response.

Believe me when I tell you, freezing is not consenting.

During my tenure at HAWC, I have worked with children, teens, adults, men, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. I have a particular passion for working with immigrant survivors who may not speak English, whose legal status is perhaps in limbo, who are all too often preyed upon without any recourse, and whose culture has often not provided resources for their empowerment. As an immigrant myself, I can personally relate to their experience of helplessness and fear.

I have worked hard to liberate myself from belief systems that diminish my worth and compromise my full humanity. It is such a joyful process to invite those who have been crippled by shame into a new mindset where they can truly begin to see themselves as survivors. It is the greatest privilege of my life to accompany survivors on their journey to healing.

It’s a journey that I have walked, so I know it’s possible.

Possible? Yes! Achievable? Only if survivors can access needed resources and support. That is why, in addition to working with individual survivors, I am very proud to serve on the Office of the Texas Governor’s Sexual Assault Survivors Task Force. This statewide advocacy effort is critical to creating policies and conditions to for survivors to heal and hold perpetrators accountable.

I am so grateful to HAWC for the opportunity to empower survivors and advocate on their behalf. I deeply appreciate the wider community that supports HAWC. The transformation we see in those we serve is made possible by you and your commitment to our movement to end sexual violence.

Thank you and please join me in celebrating HAWC and survivors during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Warmly,
Leticia Manzano

Staff Spotlight: Honoring Leticia for Hispanic Heritage Month

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are proud to spotlight Leticia, an inspiring Latina leader of the Houston Area Women’s Center Team. Leticia embodies strength, courage, and resilience—qualities that shine brightly in our community and offer hope in challenging times.

Currently serving on the Steering Committee of the Harris County Sexual Assault Response Team, Leticia is a fierce advocate for survivors. Her commitment extends to three committees for the Office of the Texas Governor’s Sexual Assault Survivors Task Force, where her expertise and lived experience as a survivor of childhood sexual assault and dating violence inform vital initiatives.

Leticia’s impact reaches far beyond these roles. As a dedicated member of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault and a former co-chair for the Legal Advocacy Network of the Texas Council on Family Violence, she has made significant contributions to the field. Her past work with Latinas on the Rise, where she mentored young women, and her coordination of the Youth Service Providers Network in the Greater Houston Area reflect her passion for uplifting those around her.

In addition to her advocacy, Leticia has provided invaluable parenting classes during her time at DePelchin Children’s Center, further demonstrating her commitment to fostering a supportive environment for families in need.

We are truly honored to know Leticia and get to work with her. Her unwavering dedication and compassionate spirit make her a beacon of light in a world that can often feel dark. Let us celebrate her contributions and the rich cultural heritage she represents this month and every day. Thank you, Leticia, for your incredible work and the inspiration you bring to us all!

Leticia Manzano is the recipient of TAASA’s 2024 Vivian Miles Lifetime Achievement Award. This September, TAASA is also highlighting Leticia as their member spotlight.