This one hits hard. Happy retirement, to our Jesse! Today we celebrate Jesse Rollins as he officially retires from tattooing this month after almost 15yrs, and 8 years of serving with ARI for survivors through Iron Clad Ink, now under new ownership as Til death tattoo. We’re still connected with the shop, so please continue to support them. Jesse wasn’t just an artist. He’s also a first responder and firefighter. And somehow, in the middle of all that, he created what we believe was the first national safe site in the tattoo industry for survivors. He never took a dime from us. Never turned away a survivor. And he took on many of our heavy cases. On a personal note, he even repaired my own scars and tattoos as a survivor. Some of our favorite memories with Jesse include the time we surprised him at the fire station with one of his dream tattoo machines gifted by Bishop Rotary and FK Irons Tattoo Machines and how he always picked up each call/text for us. But even more than that, we will always remember how he treated every survivor with care, gentleness, and dignity. It didn’t matter their background or history—Jesse showed up with the same respect and heart that every good artist should. And he meant it. Never ego, just heart. We’ll miss him deeply. But his legacy lives on, permanently inked on our hearts and on survivors who are walking in their freedom today. Thank you, Jesse. You changed lives, including mine. Happy retirement. You’ve more than earned it (fb)

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but for a survivor, the impact lasts a lifetime. Most don’t report, not because it didn’t happen, but because of fear, shame, gossip, or a system that too often fails them. Some religious leaders will shame them, call them Jezebels, or sweep it under the rug in disbelief . Some worry they won’t be believed. Others fear retaliation. Many have lost faith that justice will ever come or has shown them time and time again they wont Stats say: 🔹1 in 3 women experience sexual violence. 🔹 1 in 6 men experience sexual abuse before 18. 🔹 LGBTQ+ individuals face even higher risks, with nearly half of identify as bisexual and 21% of transgender people reporting assault. These aren’t just numbers….they’re real people, real pain. Survivors don’t need judgment. They need support, check ins, place they can trust to speak, empathy and understanding, safety, and the right to heal on their own terms. If this resonated with you, I see you, I hear you, and there are many who stand beside you genuinely.  (fb)