Dear Families and Friends,

 

Summer is officially here, and it’s a busy season filled with purpose at VOICES. On June 8th, we host our annual golf outing at the pristine Quaker Ridge Golf Course - a beloved tradition and an important fundraiser for the organization. We welcome back our longtime participants and are excited to greet those joining us for the first time.

 

Our summer college interns have arrived and are enthusiastically working alongside our staff on a variety of projects. Over the years, we have hosted over 258 interns from 73 colleges and universities. The internship program provides a meaningful opportunity to educate the next generation about September 11th and the long-term support work that continues today.

 

Behind the scenes, our staff is in full swing planning the VOICES 25th Anniversary NYC Symposium, guided by the theme Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future. In collaboration with the Leadership in Counterterrorism Alumni Association, INVICTM, NYPD Shield, and our 9/11 Community Partners – we are creating a meaningful program to commemorate this milestone. The Symposium will span three days and bring together world-renowned experts to share insights, resources, and a vision for the road ahead. A special luncheon for 9/11 Family Members will be held on September 11th follow the Reading of the Names.

 

June is designated as PTSD Awareness Month to increase public understanding of the condition, reduce stigma, and encourage people to seek help. PTSD affects many of those impacted by or responding to tragic events and it remains a central concern for our community. Our Mental Health Matters section explores the topic, offering practical advice and resources for those who may be struggling.

 

This month’s programs include a conversation with 9/11 Responder and Activist John Feal, who will discuss his soon-to-be released book, I Will Follow You Anywhere, detailing his journey in the aftermath of 9/11. We are also launching a Sibling Support Group for those who lost a sibling on 9/11 or in its aftermath.

 

As we mark 25 years of service to the 9/11 community, we remain as committed as ever to our founding mission: providing long-term support and continuity of care for victims' families, first responders, and survivors — and partnering with organizations around the world to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from tragedy.

 

Father's Day is around the corner. We wish all our dads a relaxing day, and hold dear the memory of the fathers who are no longer with us.

 

As always, please contact us if we can be of assistance, at 203-966-3911 or at info@voicescenter.org.

 

With warm regards,

 

 

On May 30, VOICES 9/11 Project Director, Stephanie Landau joined family members, responders, survivors at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to commemorate the 24th Anniversary of the official end of the recovery effort at the World Trade Center site. The annual ceremony serves as a meaningful recognition of the extraordinary dedication, sacrifice, and resilience of all those who participated in the months-long recovery operations.

 

The solemn observance brought together many individuals whose lives were forever changed by 9/11, providing a moment for reflection, remembrance, and connection. As the years pass, commemorations such as this continue to ensure that the courage of those who served at Ground Zero and the memories of those who were lost are never forgotten.

 

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum announced that on the 25th anniversary, it will add a seventh moment of silence, each followed by a bell toll. The six traditional moments mark the times the planes struck the Twin Towers, the Pentagon attack, the Shanksville crash, and the two tower collapses. The new seventh moment honors those who have died from 9/11-related illnesses.

 

This new addition recognizes the lasting impact of the tragedy, as more than 9,000 individuals have now died from illnesses connected to toxic exposure at and around the World Trade Center site. The expanded tribute also serves as an important reminder that the consequences of 9/11 continue today, with cancer cases linked to exposure rising dramatically over the past decade.

 

We are delighted to welcome our 2026 College Interns! This summer, the interns who were born after 9/11 will learn about the tragedy through VOICES work – supporting victims' families, survivors, and responders. As we approach the milestone of the 25th anniversary they will work alongside our dedicated staff and gain invaluable experience in nonprofit operations, outreach, and community engagement.

 

From left to right, Maya Dworkin is a rising senior at Bucknell University, and Elizabeth Hackett and Hadley Tucker are rising juniors at Colgate University. Their energy, creativity, and dedication is a wonderful addition to the team, and we are so pleased to have them on board.

 

 

Are you a sibling of someone who died on September 11th, or due to 9/11-related illness? In response to the evolving needs of the 9/11 community, VOICES is beginning a Sibling Support Group for those who lost a brother or sister. The group will provide a compassionate space for siblings to connect with others who share a unique understanding of grief and loss, while fostering support, healing, and remembrance. The first group is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 30th. Subsequent meetings will be planned based on an agreed upon time.

 

This new initiative expands VOICES support programs for all those affected by 9/11, ensuring that individuals can find connection, understanding, and community at every stage of grief. To register, please complete this form.

 

Last month, Drs. Joan Reibman and Leigh Wilson from the WTC Health Program joined us in conversation. They shared their experience as physicians treating 9/11 survivors, and answered questions from participants.

 

The doctors provided general information on how the program works and what survivors should expect when visiting the survivor clinics. Below, please find the recording of the webinar. Learn more.

 

 

The NASW's 39th Annual Conference was held on May 21st, and VOICES Director Mary Fetchet was honored to participate. Her presentation, A Victim-Centered Approach to Mass Tragedy: From 9/11 to Today, highlighted the critical importance of long-term care, mental health support, and resilience in the aftermath of tragedy. Among those in the audience were David Smith, brother-in-law of Joseph Lenihan who perished on 9/11, and a young woman who at the age of 10, survived the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting.

 

Our friends from the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team also presented on the important topic of Understanding and Providing Effective Mental Health Strategies with our First Responders. It was wonderful to see Bonnie Rumilly, Nicholas Despoelberch and their colleagues from FCTRT who have contributed so much to the field by assisting first responders.

June is PTSD Awareness Month, a time to raise understanding about post-traumatic stress disorder and support those affected. PTSD can impact anyone who has experienced or witnessed trauma, and its effects are often invisible but deeply felt.

 

Seeking help is a sign of strength, and effective treatments and supportive resources are available. By increasing awareness, we can challenge misconceptions and reduce stigma around PTSD. Small acts of compassion make a meaningful difference, helping promote hope, resilience, and recovery for those impacted. Learn more.

Survivors (1st Wednesday, Virtual)

Wednesday, July 1st

12:00pm to 1:30pm EST

 

Survivors (2nd Wednesday, Virtual)

Wednesday, June 10th

12:00pm to 1:30pm EST

 

Survivors (3rd Wednesday, Virtual)

Wednesday, June 17th

12:00pm to 1:30pm EST

 

Sibling (Virtual)

Tuesday, June 30th

12:00pm to 1:30pm EST

Victims' Family Members (Virtual)

Tuesday, June 9th

12:00pm to 1:30pm EST

 

Responders (Virtual)

Tuesday, June 16th

12:00pm to 1:30pm EST

 

Next Generation (Virtual)

Tuesday, July 7th

9:30am to 11:00am

 

Parents Helping Parents (In-Person)

Wednesday, June 17th

9:30am to 11:00am

Are you interested in joining VOICES Support Groups as a new member? Do you have a suggestion for a new Peer Support Group? Click here

Interested in attending? Click here to view VOICES upcoming events.

Recent articles of relevance to the VOICES community:

 

For additional articles of relevance to the VOICES community, click here.

From 9/11 to today, helping families and communities heal after tragedy

Voices Center for Resilience assists communities in preparing for and recovering from tragedy, and provides long-term support and resources that promote mental health care and wellness, for victims' families, responders and survivors.

More Information: VoicesCenter.org
(203) 966-3911 | Support@VoicesCenter.org

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