Her Time Presents “What Happens in Mama’s House… Breaking the Cycle” at UConn Stamford
Updated: 4 hours ago
On August 12, 2026, Her Time brought approximately 90 women together at the University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus for “What Happens in Mama’s House… Breaking the Cycle,” an all-women’s symposium dedicated to breaking the silence surrounding familial sexual abuse, incest, and familial sex trafficking.
Presented by Her Time, the full-day symposium created a space where survivors could connect with the professionals and organizations working to support them. Mental health providers, social workers, legal professionals, advocates, educators, law enforcement representatives, community leaders, and survivors gathered around a shared goal: creating stronger, more informed systems of care.
Bringing Difficult Conversations Into the Open
The symposium challenged a phrase many people have heard in one form or another: “What happens in Mama’s house stays in Mama’s house.”
Behind that phrase can exist secrecy, fear, shame, family loyalty, isolation, and other pressures that make it difficult for survivors to speak about abuse or seek support.
Breaking the Cycle was created to challenge that silence.
Throughout the day, participants explored the realities of familial abuse and the long-term impact of trauma while learning how survivors, professionals, organizations, and communities can work together more effectively.
The program included keynote presentations, educational sessions, survivor-led discussions, legal and judicial perspectives, breakout sessions, resource sharing, and opportunities to build relationships between organizations serving Connecticut communities.
Survivor Voices and Professional Experience
Keynote speaker Maria Trusa, author, entrepreneur, and survivor advocate, opened the symposium with “Reclaiming One’s Self, Shaping One’s Destiny.” Her message centered on resilience, healing, courage, and the ability to move forward after trauma.
Tammy Sneed, Director of Community Solutions at Altus Solutions, brought decades of experience in child advocacy, juvenile justice, anti-trafficking work, and trauma-informed care to the conversation. Her session focused on connecting survivor experiences with prevention, coordinated systems, and stronger community responses.
Participants also heard from representatives connected with organizations including The Center for Family Justice, The Rowan Center, Love146, and Connecticut’s multidisciplinary response system.
Building a Stronger Network of Support
One of the most important goals of Breaking the Cycle was connection.
Survivors were introduced to resources and organizations available to support them. Professionals had opportunities to strengthen referral relationships and hear directly from individuals with lived experience. Community organizations were able to better understand how their work fits into a larger network of survivor care.
This approach reflects the purpose behind Her Time itself: creating spaces where women can connect openly, access support, and move forward without judgment.
Breaking the Cycle takes that mission further by bringing survivors and professional systems into the same conversation.
The Conversation Continues
The August symposium was not intended to be a one-time event.
Breaking the Cycle is being developed as an ongoing movement focused on education, survivor support, professional collaboration, and meaningful access to resources. Another Connecticut gathering is planned for August 2027, while opportunities to bring the symposium to additional communities, including New York and Boston, are being explored.
For Her Time, the event represents another opportunity to do what has always been at the heart of the work: bring people together, create honest conversations, connect communities with resources, and help people move forward.
