Little did I realize years ago that by choosing to sit on this bench I had started a journey that would make me witness, endure, and face constant devastation and suffering that would ultimately lead to the creation of EFFECT CO. and a passion for helping others in their greatest time of need. 30.029056, -90.095333

I learned the concept of resilience by surviving what I never should have had to survive alone, and by watching people beg for help while the world moved too slowly or looked away completely. EFFECT CO. was built from this understanding, from what I endured, from what I witnessed, and from the pieces no one came to pick up and abandoned. 29.956912, -90.067067

I came to understand the concept of endurance by constantly living through and witnessing trauma and devastation, while volatile forces around me kept demanding more, inflicting pain, and testing whether my will could survive under their torment. What began as survival became the discipline to keep moving forward when quitting was not an option, to protect those depending on me while enduring constant pain and suffering that went unspoken out of fear, to stay anchored in purpose when others tried to diminish it, and to extend compassion and kindness to others who were suffering because I knew what it meant to endure pain with no end in sight. That endurance is instilled into EFFECT CO.’s foundation and provides us the strength to help empower others to share their experiences in order to effect change. 35.609778, -83.795278

I came to understand the power of 10 seconds by constantly living through and witnessing trauma and devastation. When pain was repeatedly inflicted on me with the intention of breaking my resolve, I discovered my strength in the 10 seconds I had already survived... 30.297080, -87.425626

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29.957074, -90.063026

03:14:02, +17° 59′ 16.8″, 48° 11′ 23″, 96° 17′ 28″, 1.010