CUE was born to help fill the void in the world of the missing, to bridge the gap when no help was in sight and to be on the ground to walk the journey with victims left behind dealing with the unknown fate of a missing loved one. My glance back I realize how much we have accomplished in our mission since its creation.
Over the years we have experienced much defeat and many sweet victories, but the most cherished moments are those behind the scene with families of the missing, helping to heal those who are so broken and providing a light for a view ahead, that small glimmer of hope even in the most hopeless situations. The private times that suffering families have no strength to carry on and you stay with them until they can, walk on their own. This is the part of the journey most never see, the bond and role of a true advocate fighting for humanity in a world that is so un humane.
We have built new structure to better aid in victim service, experience the demand of growth with never enough funding in hand and have tested volunteers beyond their dedication point. In every dust storm that may come along we have survived and the achievement is greatly felt by those who took part. CUE is well known for establishing a family effect of volunteerism that is a trusting foundation for those lost in their grief. I look back and recall thousands of people who have helped over the twenty years and dream of those who will join the cause in the future.
When CUE began their were very few if any organizations fighting for awareness of missing adults, most focused on children (imo) because that is where the grant money was and people wanted to be paid; most felt like adults had the right to be missing, so why look for them? There were no laws to help an adult missing person, and the general public thought most adults probably created a situation that caused them to become missing. These were just a few of the issues that I came up against first hand and some still linger today even though we have proven differently. Adults are abducted, murdered, become a victim of intimate partner violence, can be in the wrong place with no fault of their own and yes sometimes do create a circumstance they may could have been avoided; still no one has the right to rip them from those who love them.
People have come and gone, most providing an invaluable talent and resource. In this colorful world some have come to hurt, manipulate and destroy a vision infecting a negative tone that in each venture taking away from the current of positive energy flow; many will have an agenda that takes times to reveal itself, the good things is we have survived that as well. I have learned there are many types of volunteers, the show and shine (they want to be seen but put in no work toward the effort), the, I will do it all (normally cause the cluster everyone else has to fix), and don't forget the spot-lighters (they only show up when everyone else does, so they can say they did).
But, lets not focus on that topic as their are sooooooo many others who find their true calling and experience a deeper understanding of the cause only to provide help in the time when others will fail. These are my heroes when you have witnessed them to "push past the pain" weather it be physical exhaustion or emotional torment. I have met to many people to count in the past, listing hundreds of reasons why they volunteer and give back, their is a shared kindred spirit among volunteerism.
http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/volunteer-online-2/ I truly value each story shared with me and applaud every effort that has been made in support of the CUE organization.
CUE has participated in the force of promotion - support of DNA process reaching back to the early 2000's when CODIS was an unfamiliar word. We stood up for the call and endured all the challenges that took place for what we know now as the "Amber and Silver Alert System", honoring those who lost their lives because no system was in place for them. We have stood by many families across the nation and aided in the creation of laws to better serve future missing adults. CUE answered the call to bring forth a grass roots awareness campaign for cold case of the unidentified, unsolved homicide and those missing, in addition providing free education for victims left behind which has built and produce hundreds of advocates nationwide. These are just a few major accomplishments I reflect on in times of doubt in the cause movement.
More......
Training of volunteers to become professional searchers
State Outreach Coordinator Program - to provide more resources in each state for families left behind
Building of a database to enhance communication among volunteers and supporters
Utilizing more college internships and youth mentoring programs
Adapting to the social media climate and offering ways to support the cause nationwide
Revamping information to better educate the general public concerning missing children and adults
Maintaining a ground floor active presence in communities that experience a missing individual
Today I am encouraged by the sector of youth who are getting involved in the cause, they have such a needed energy for those sometimes worn and are in need of a reminder. We must invest on our youth, they truly are the future (for any cause). As I think about this I look over to see the coloring booklet (Safe and Found) we unveiled this year, which is now going into schools in an effort to educate children on searching and foster more volunteerism; it has already produced some future searchers. Many may not know but "Jane' the life size childlike character has now come to life 9/20/2014 and she will make many friends in other states who will be hitting schools across our country to do the same, we are excited about all the possibilities of this new adventure.
In closing I would like to encourage you, the reader to do more, we all have to do more. You will never know who you will meet along in your path until you do.
My quote: "No matter how high the mountain seems, know that their is a peak and the view once there is clear and such a beautiful sight; yet we must accept that ahead is another mountain to climb".
- Monica Caison
