Mission Statement
In My Pen Ink, Inc. (IMPI) is organized to elevate, educate, and advocate for
victims and survivors of abuse and to train and mentor young performers who have lacked these critical resources needed for their success.
About In My Pen Ink
Crystal Joy Murray was compelled to start IMPI because she experienced the difficulties of learning and gaining exposure when she started performing more than twenty years ago. She has also lived through the trauma of domestic abuse including physical, financial, mental, and emotional struggles before experiencing freedom and healing. During her many years of helping others through mentoring and activism she understood a larger impact could be made to support both activities by organizing a non-profit center.
Changing the face of Abuse through Performing Arts
The non-profit will help to promote greater awareness, and open additional
avenues of communication regarding abuse, while guiding wounded individuals through affirmation, understanding, and comfort to inspire and free them from the quilt, pain, and shame that abuse often causes. IMPI will teach and work with men, women and children boosting their confidence in both their personal and professional lives. The impact of abuse within any family often has a greater impact on the self-awareness of the children witnessing many of the abusive activities. Performing arts will help relieve
the pain, and often the grief they hold inside and offer the individual a method of expressing themselves. Individuals working cooperatively will write at least one original, creative, and informative play each year and this will be developed, produced and performed by our student groups, allowing for continued growth and exposure. In addition, we will extend to the community an opportunity to learn more about the literary arts offered through IMPI Inc. and teach underprivileged youth in the areas of public
speaking and creative writing.
Abuse Awareness and Advocacy
Because of the proximity of the abusers and the difficulty in reporting sexual abuse, children typically do not speak out until adulthood, leaving many without recourse. Although this is changing in some states with the New Child Victims Act, delayed reporting often extends past the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse crimes and these youth continue to carry the burden of pain and guilt into adulthood, jeopardizing other relationships.
When people are in crisis, it is very difficult to look for assistance, make decisions and take care of yourself and your child(ren.) IMPI will continue to work as an advocate identifying local resources that otherwise may be unseen (like churches and individuals that will serve as support). We will open contact with a service provider and facilitate the process.
During these times of limited budgets, having an out of the box perspective is important. We may be able to match one family with another seeking similar solutions or with one that just received similar help, such as childcare. We work with the entire family with professional counseling and mentorship. We will continue to work and build an army of lawyers, physician assistants, counselors and churches to help the family
according to their need. A lot of abused individuals suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and need on-going support. It is the on-going support that helps victims to be at less risk for continued victimization.
We will work with the NCADV Public Policy Office National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), Public Policy office and collaborate with other national organizations to promote legislation and policies that serve and protect victims and survivors of domestic violence, as we work to change the narrative surrounding domestic violence. This organization is known for their help in creating a society where domestic violence is never tolerated or minimized, in which victims and survivors are respected, and in which service providers have the resources to serve all victims and
survivors. Our members desire the same and will provide additional grassroots support, contacting congressional delegations and making our voices heard at the local level.
All violence is bad, but some more so than others. Because of this we also hope to work with The Cosmetic & Reconstructive Support (CRS) Program™ of NCADV which helps in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery for domestic abuse survivors.
Future Projects
- THE JOSHUA HOUSE: A safe house with support for women and children that have been through domestic tragedy. Unfortunately, many individuals rely on alcohol or drugs to ease their pain and dull their mind to the events within the household, so this too must be addressed.
- Growth leadership summit with speaking topics for men, women & children.
- Youth performance classes
- Safe Injection Sites: Addicts are using and sharing needles even during an opioid epidemic. We are going to research the feasibility of having supervised injection sites with advocates and medical personnel on site to stop the spread of AIDS /HIV in our communities.