Children’s advocate, bullying prevention expert, and founder of nationally recognized bullying and suicide prevention organization, Jowharah Sanders, has dedicated her life to mentoring youth and families impacted by bullying and suicide.Ms. Sanders is an award-winning educator, motivational speaker, mentor, LGBTQ+ advocate, and trauma survivor who endured bullying, abuse, and suicidal ideation stemming from harassment over race and orientation stigmas. She lived as a victim for many years, until a University of Miami college advisor took notice and counseled her, saying, “Life is about choices. You can choose to live as a victim, or you can choose to be a survivor. No amount of self-pity or self-sabotage will ever change what happened.”It was at that moment that Jowharah truly began living. She dedicated her life to mentoring youth affected by bullying, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, racism, sexual assault, and suicide.To know Jowharah is to understand why youth confide in her as their trusted ally and confidant. Her approach is open and sincere, allowing them to call on her when they need help, even in the most mundane of times. Being available to support young people through their everyday challenges builds a foundation of trust where these same teenagers will call her without hesitation in their darkest moments of crisis. Her patience, empathy, and life experiences have guided her process when dealing with life and death issues. A person with more knowledge might confuse things; a person with less curiosity could miss things, and a person with less experience just wouldn’t “get it” at the level she does. Her message is clear, “You are never alone, even when you feel the most disempowered. You are worthy, and you belong.”In October 2009, Ms. Sanders founded National Voices for Equality Education and Enlightenment (NVEEE), whose mission is to prevent bullying, violence, and suicide among youth, families, and communities through direct service, mentoring, and prevention education.The organization, now in its 13th year of operation, has supported over 35,000 youth, educators, and families throughout the United States, has been recognized by Congress (repeatedly), and has been featured on segments through national media outlets, including “Secret Millionaire” and “NBC’s Education Nation.”