Victims Weekend Retreat March 11-13, 2022

On March 11, 2022, Strength to Strength held its first in-person retreat in over two years. 32 members of Strength to Strength — survivors, bereaved, first responders, and family members joined together for a weekend of reconnecting, sharing stories, and healing in New Jersey. The weekend was very special because it included those from attack in 9/11, Oklahoma City, Boston, Israel, Uganda, Mumbai and London. The weekend was filled with therapeutic and recreational activities and the opportunity for everyone to share what they had been through and focus on today and moving forward. One of the special activities of the weekend, facilitated by Strength to Strength Board Member and Mumbai survivor, Autumn Gilles, was called “Bringing the Pieces Together” where everyone created a mosaic piece through broken pieces of ceramic. Members were able to choose from various mosaic pieces or they could create their own pieces by selecting a 4x6 tile and taking a hammer to create their own design on the larger piece. “We have all been broken by our experiences with terrorism.” shared Autumn at the opening of the program. “We are going to take the broken pieces and create something beautiful. This is the story of all of us — we have gone through something that may have broken us but there is beauty and strength even in the broken.”

The weekend could not have taken place without the countless individuals and companies that donated to make the weekend happen. Special thank you to the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield, NJ and their incredible staff, Rye Deli in Springfield, Elliot at Jerusalem Restaurant in Elizabeth, and all of our donors for making the weekend possible. Everyone in attendance is already looking forward to our next weekend retreat.