The cactus is a symbol of endurance...the ability to see beyond what is visible with our naked eyes. Cacti survive with little and even in conditions of scarcity- they can flower. These flowers that emerge can be so many things: our children, our communities and chosen families we are brave enough to shape, still holding hope after a challenging season. We can all find the light and the nurturing we need in order to bloom.

Cactus In Bloom was founded by Ebony Williams, a Los Angeles based therapist, survivor of childhood sexual abuse, and mother of two. While thinking about the points at which sexual abuse carries forward to the next generation and as many survivors of csa experiencing being haunted by how to have the cycle end with them, it was clear to Ebony that even in her own journey, the questions she had didn’t have anywhere to go. There was no one to ask. Many of the circumstances that can recreate cycles didn’t have a disrupter. In fact, many of the points of concern that Ebony noticed in her work as a therapist as well as a parent, were significant gaps in the field of reproductive justice. One key aspect is that much of the prevention work that aims at disrupting csa often leaves out the parent survivors and some of the key moments that contribute to this cycle such as financial insecurity, re-traumatization associated with the pregnancy and birth, lack of support requiring difficult decisions be made, and so much more that creates the circumstances for abuse to continue. In addition, those who are in positions to offer care and support, often don't have the awareness or the tools to do so. As a result, Cactus In Bloom was born.

Cactus In Bloom works to shape a culture that has the tools to actively disrupt the intergenerational cycle of childhood sexual abuse AND fills the gap in care for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and sexual violence who are family planning, perinatal, and parenting.

• We know the power of storytelling to help make active change happen so we seek to learn about the experiences of survivors so we can inform our efforts to increase awareness and care in ways that are relevant and reflective of the lived realities.

• We offer training and consulting services to care providers in the medical and mental health fields, in child care and education, as well as to parents/caregivers and those within a child’s community.

• We provide direct service support to survivors and others who are in their reproductive journeys. Some of our support includes:

  • A mental health focused perinatal and infant care course

  • Parent support circle & Parent support mentors

  • Public awareness and Dialogue based events

  • Resource building for each stage of the journey

• Much of our work in these three areas come together in our forthcoming Cactus In Bloom Podcast where we speak with care providers who are engaging in best practices in the field of reproductive care, mental health, and child wellness. This allows us to build a reference library of tools and practices for providers to improve their care to be not just trauma-reducing but also CSA-informed for care they provide all their patients. In addition, this enables us to create a reference library for parents to gain support from professionals and other survivors providing insight on a range of topics that may impact all parents but also uniquely impact survivors.

In 2024, within the first few months of actively serving our mission, Cactus In Bloom received our first grant from BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective to build out a new Perinatal & Infant Care Course. Over the next four months, we did just that utilizing a universal design model that centered CSA/SV survivors who are Black and LGBTQIA+. Universal design is an approach we use across all our services and programming know that when we design for the most marginalized and under resourced in society, we are creating services that are applicable for everyone.

Let's uplift survivor parents and disrupt the intergenerational cycle of childhood sexual abuse together!