Roxanne Stevenson, executive director of Martin House Children Advocacy Center.

By Joycelyne Fadojutimi

According to Roxanne Stevenson, executive director of Martin House Children Advocacy Center, (Martin House CAC), the Center after a decade and half recently rebranded but is still staying true to their mission: “To raise awareness and ensure that every child impacted by abuse is heard, protected, and receives vital services for their continued safety and future well-being.”

The rebranding comes on the heels of changes and growth. “We are always serving children who are victims of abuse and will continue to serve children,” she said. “We will always advocate for children, get justice for them and provide a comprehensive trauma focused care for their total healing.”

The changes Stevenson discussed include social media forms of abuse. Social media may connect friends and families. However, it has also become a platform for perverts  who use it to gain access to innocent children.

Social media platforms have become a hot spot for child abuse such as:

• Cyberbullying
• Emotional abuse
• Grooming
• Sexting
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual exploitation

Stevenson made it clear that it is still child abuse. “Even though there is no physical touch, the trauma is still there.” Moreover, some teens are abusing other teens on social media. Hence it clearly shows that child abuse has actually increased  with different types of modern child abuse. “Cases are changing, and children are victimizing other children,” Stevenson said. “There are children who are being raped and there are cowards out there who rely on secret.”

Stevenson is encouraging everyone to:

• Stand up for kids
• Do not keep quiet
• Do not say, “It is not my business”
• Do not say, “I do not want to get involved”
• Do not look the other away
• Report abuse because it will not go away

“Until we all say, we will stand up for kids, we will report abuse, children will continue to be abused,” she said. “Not reporting child abuse is another silent killer.”

Due to rebranding and growth, Martin House CAC has added qualified staff that enables them to work diligently, providing  a cross-disciplinary treatment that is trauma-focused and provides a holistic approach for the child’s healing.

It is in this vein that Martin House CAC is giving everyone an opportunity to stand up for kids, by purchasing a raffle ticket and get a shot to win a spectacular 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica Roadster appraised for $87,000 – $94,000.

Purchasing a raffle ticket could win you this 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica Roadster valued at $87,000 – $94,000.

Roxanne Stevenson and Rainy says, 

*BUY A RAFFLE TICKET. 

*STAND UP FOR KIDS. 

*CONTIBUTE  CRUCIAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES. 

*EMPOWER VOICES TO END ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 

*RAISE AWARENESS.

*DRIVE IMPACTFUL CHANGE.

*PROVIDE HOPE FOR A SAFER FUTURE.

The raffle prize is a stunning custom burgundy 1965 Shelby Cobra authentic replica roadster, meticulously built by Backdraft Racing. Featuring a manual 5-speed 427 Iconic Cobra engine and a luxurious tan diamond tuck leather interior, this beauty has been driven only 700 miles and is appraised at a remarkable value. Contact Martin House today to learn how to enter to win in 2025!

HOW TO ENTER: Raffle tickets are $100 each. To enter the Raffle, purchase a raffle ticket no later than 11:59 p.m. central time on April 14, 2025. Sale of raffle tickets will commence on July 25, 2024. There is no limit to the number of raffle tickets a person can purchase. Odds of winning depends on the number of raffle tickets sold.