Meet Helen P. Bradley

We recently connected with Helen P. Bradley and have shared our conversation below.

Helen P. , appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

My heroes are the many crime victims and their families I met during the 27 years I served as director of Savannah’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the District Attorney’s Office. Their courage, resilience, and faith during often the worst times of their lives never ceased to amaze and inspire me.

I remember the mother whose only son was robbed and killed as he carried the bank deposit bag from the convenience store he managed. Despite her gut-wrenching grief, this resolute mother didn’t want her son’s death to be in vain. The mayor asked her to serve on his crime prevention task force. She spoke to young people and others about the effects of violence.

I remember the young woman who was brutally raped and left for dead in downtown Savannah. She became an outspoken victim advocate, helping others on their journey to wholeness after trauma.

I remember one of the first people we helped was a young woman whose husband was killed at a birthday party. She helped us develop our victim assistance program–the first in Georgia– guiding us on what services were needed. She lobbied for state legislation that created Georgia’s first victim compensation program as well as the state’s first victims’ bill of rights.

I’m forever grateful for the lessons these victims taught me. I learned that life is about choices, about how you respond when horrible things happen. It’s about not being hesitant to ask for help; it’s about creating a community of support. I admired these survivors as they stepped out of their comfort zones to speak out in public, lobby political leaders to effect change, seek counseling, and some days just to put one foot in front of the other.

They influenced my journey because I became more passionate and determined than ever to make sure victims’ voices were heard. I had the opportunity to provide training across the nation for advocates, prosecutors, judges, clergy and many others. I educated elected officials about needed laws. Oftentimes with victims at my side, I hoped to make sure victims’ voices were heard.

On a personal level, I learned to seek help and support when I faced a rough patch, rather than pretending everything was okay. Whew! That was a life-changer.

And these victims inspired me to write my debut novel, Breach of Trust, which is about one woman’s journey to speak out against injustice after her powerful boss is accused of sexually harassing a young employee. (Book release date is April 21, 2023, by Moonshine Cove Publishing.)

To read the full Canvas Rebel article, click here.