When Elizabeth Cartwright talks to children who’ve been abused, she connects in a way most people simply could not.
She’s been in their shoes, and she knows all too well the emotions and self doubt that young people experience when they walk through the doors of AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center in Sylva.
“I am actually a child abuse survivor, and I went to a Children’s Advocacy Center in Haywood County when I was a young girl,” Cartwright said. “As a kid, having that safe place to go to – and I still remember the names of people who helped me – it was exactly what I needed at that point in my life. So being able to play that role in another child’s life means a lot to me.”
Now a second-year Nursing student at Southwestern Community College, Cartwright works part time at AWAKE.
She assists with initial physical exams while reassuring children in her care that things are going to get better. Cartwright is on track to graduate from SCC with her associate degree in May, and she is grateful for the experience she’s gaining under the supervision of AWAKE Executive Director Crystal Jones.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a better workplace,” Cartwright said. “I feel so supported here. It’s a tough job to do, but I feel like we all feel the same way. We’re allowed to vent. It’s allowed to bother us. We’re allowed to talk to Crystal. We’re allowed to talk to Paige (Gilliland, AWAKE’s Senior Forensic Interviewer), and we’re allowed to talk to each other. That makes doing this job 10 times easier.”
Cartwright recalled a recent encounter when she was able to draw from her own experience and encourage another family that brighter days are ahead.
“A few weeks ago, we had a family come in, and the mom was just worried that the child wasn’t going to be OK and that the negative impact would be lifelong,” Cartwright recalled. “For me, I want to look at them and say, ‘It will have long-lasting effects, but you can use it in a good way.’ Because I use what happened to me as a drive to become who I am, and to become a voice, and to help other people.”
Another AWAKE employee who trained at SCC is Ashley Cook, a 2022 Human Services Technology graduate who’s now a Victim Advocate, Case Manager and Outreach Coordinator.
As Victim Advocate, Cook is the conduit between the families and AWAKE’s partnering agencies. She is the behind-the-scenes face who is on-call 24/7 for kids and their families to answer questions late at night or when families need to talk through issues with someone who understands.
Like Cartwright, Cook finds fulfillment in helping children through extremely difficult times.
“When families and kids come here, I’m the first person they see,” Cook said. “I take them on a tour of the building and reassure them this is a safe place. After they leave here, I call back and check in with them. We know that trauma doesn’t stop just because it’s been reported.
“I think a lot of people just aren’t aware of what AWAKE really is or that they have this resource available for them,” Cook added. “If kids knew they had a safe place, they’d be more willing to disclose. That’s the most powerful thing about this place to me, and it’s vital.”
Jones, who assumed her current role in 2022, said Cartwright and Cook are vital to AWAKE’s mission.
AWAKE stands for Adults Working and Advocating for Kids’ Empowerment and is focused on advocating for victims of child abuse.
“We’re super-blessed to have Ashley and Elizabeth here,” Jones said. “AWAKE and our whole community are blessed to have them. We hired Ashley about two weeks into her internship. There are just certain qualities she has that you can’t teach, and the biggest ones are her love and compassion for children and the most vulnerable. She is immensely dedicated to the children she serves.
“And Elizabeth is one of the strongest, most courageous individuals I’ve ever met,” Jones added. “The fact she can take her own story and pour so much love into other children is just amazing. When she goes into the medical room, she’s able to take her story and stand firm and stand strong for these children who’ve been through the hardest days of their lives. She’s able to tell them: ‘It seems like it’s tough now, but everything’s going to work out, one way or another.’ She’s living proof that things are going to be OK.”
During a season when almost every organization in the country is desperate to find quality help, Jones said she’s grateful for the role SCC plays in preparing students to enter the workforce.
In the cases of both Cook and Cartwright, that transition to employment occurred before graduation.
“I think it’s immensely important that SCC has such a strong foothold in our community,” Jones said. “I love the idea of planting seeds, not just at AWAKE, but also out in the field. I’m incredibly thankful for the people at Southwestern. They’ve been a great support for AWAKE, and in growing these individuals in all walks of life. SCC’s been instrumental in developing these wonderful employees.”
For more information about AWAKE, visit awakecacenter.org.
To learn more about SCC and the career paths it offers, explore this website, call 828.339.4000 or visit your nearest SCC location.
