We could not be more excited to feature Monique Alvarez Baza. We each have a unique story to tell and Monique's story is that of bravery, faith and love. We have included her write up entitled "Unity Within the Community" that she wrote for a recent Guam Police Dept. conference on resiliency. If there are any Femme Achievers that could tell you a little something about resiliency... its Monique.
We encourage you to read her authentic account of a horrific experience that you may remember back in 2012. We commend her for her strength and for using her experience to be a light in the lives of others who may have experienced similar trauma. In the years since her experience she has taken it upon herself to learn and understand the ways in which we can heal our lives and take back our power as individuals. On her shoulders she has carried her own justifications for her experience as well as the impact she has noticed on her husband and family. One of the ways Monique has found to help others heal is "to just listen, to not say anything, to not judge them." When her world seemed to be at its darkest she made a decision fueled by the love of her family and her community to be a light that others can draw to and from. With the whole ordeal finally coming to a close in July of this year, Monique has shifted her focus from getting her attacker off the streets to drawing those people to her that need to open up about what they have been through. She is committed to being a positive force by being a living example, which as she explains has it's ups and downs.
FEATURED FEMME PROFILE
Fokai Femme Achiever: Monique Alvarez Baza
Mother, Wife, Educator, Veteran, Federal Civil Service Worker, Air Force Reservist, Victim/Survivor Advocate
Three things about Monique:
1. She loves sunsets.
2. Music soothes her soul.
3. She is not defined by her victimization, she is empowered by it.
How could you/do you make a positive contribution to the world?
To be a victim of sexual assault, or any heinous crime, comes with a cost, which most times ends in isolation and identity loss, and the thought of talking or sharing about such violations is considered taboo because victims are made to feel like they should be ashamed of being violated, like their tragedy was their fault. I chose to turn my tragedy of being a kidnapping and sexual assault survivor into something more positive by sharing my story with people in hopes that they can see that I am not defined by my victimization, that they are not alone in their emotions, and that they can overcome their own tragedies.
How could we all make the world a better place?
Remember you are not alone in your struggles, it's okay to ask for help; be open-minded because differences are there to expand the mind and the heart; never waste an opportunity to tell people you love them; always stay humble.
"Raymond Camacho may have taken 2 hours and 45 minutes of my life on that day, but that’s all he was going to get." -Monique
What is your most memorable moment of adversity perseverance?
Going through the court process was the most difficult thing that my family and I had to experience, but it was our mission to see it through until the end. We made sure that we were present for every single court hearing and in doing so, we faced my perpetrator every single time. At first it was uncomfortable, having to be in the same room as him and having to re-live the details of that morning, but it was a necessity. I wanted him to know that his long list of victims was going to end with me. He was finally sentenced on July 31, 2017 and on this day the weight of the last 5 years became much lighter. We can continue to work to end the cycle of violence, we need to break the cultural and social norms that foster them. Remember you are not alone in your struggles, it's okay to ask for help; be open minded-differences are there to expand the mind and the heart; never waste an opportunity to tell people you love them; always stay humble.
What is your favorite quote?
"Be the change you wish to see in the World." - Mahatma Gandhi
Check out Monique's GPD speech here: