Crossposted from Converge Media

June 13, 2025, will be remembered as a landmark day for King County, which hosted its first-ever Summit on Crime Survivors at the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture. The event convened a broad spectrum of individuals—survivors of violent crime, families of victims, elected officials, law enforcement, victim advocates, community organizations, and mental health experts—to confront the profound impact of crime and the urgent need for robust community support. This inaugural summit was not merely a meeting; it was a poignant and transformative experience marked by raw emotion, powerful testimonials, and a unified dedication to fostering real change.

The summit’s agenda centered on several critical themes: victim-centered solutions, accountability, trauma healing and support, resource allocation and funding, justice system improvements, and community engagement. Survivors ardently emphasized the importance of being “heard, believed, and included in decision-making processes that affect their lives. They expressed a strong desire to actively contribute to solutions rather than being passive recipients of aid. Accountability for harm and the need for interventions to prevent future violence were repeatedly stressed. Read more.