First Witness Child Advocacy Center

06/22/2026

Here at First Witness, we offer a Cultural and Spiritual Center within our building to serve the best interest of children and families in a way that supports their own healing and makes them feel safe and comfortable. It is our priority to support their safety and mental health needs, while also considering the importance of spiritual and cultural connections for folks when healing.

We have expanded our connections in the community by adding a Spiritual Care Provider, Kathy Nelson (pictured in the 3rd photo), to work with caregivers and a Family Advocate to process emotions through a trauma-informed and spiritual lens, tailored to the caregivers needs.

Learn more about Kathy and our Spiritual Care Program by visiting our website at https://firstwitness.org/what-we-do/cultural-spiritual-center/

06/17/2026

Our forensic interviewers, Megan and Amber are spending the week all the way down in New Orleans, Louisiana at the APSAC Colliquium! Megan will be presenting her presentation titled "Drawn to the Facts: Utilizing Drawings in Forensic Interviews" which discusses how to use drawings during forensic interviews and the research behind how using them can help provide more information to the team during a forensic interview.

We are thrilled to be presenting at such an amazing conference and hoping to make some great connections! 😊

06/10/2026

A HUGE thank you to the folks at Minnesota Power an ALLETE Company for their amazing hard work today for the Head of the Lakes United Way Day of Caring! Our Healing Garden and outdoor space is refreshed and ready for summer thanks to these folks! 😊🌷🤩

06/01/2026

There is still plenty of time to submit your interest to participate in the HeART of Healing Art Exhibit with First Witness! We would love to see your amazing art work!

Your participation can help spread awareness about child abuse in our region, and could help make a powerful difference in our community.

See the link here: https://forms.office.com/r/PqmD7mQBnB for the interest form or scan the QR code for all the details. Interest form is due June 30th and art submissions will be due July 31st.

Please share this post and help spread the word!

05/25/2026

Thank you to the Junior League for awarding First Witness with a Duluth Community Grant! We are thrilled to use this funding to go towards improving some of the rooms in our building to better serve teens and therapists to create more welcoming and comforting spaces. We also hope to support those seeking to use our Cultural & Spiritual Center, and to provide gift cards to support families in need that we serve.

05/21/2026

Marcia Milliken of the Minnesota Children's Alliance has written an op-ed about First Witness in the Duluth News Tribune. Thank you Marcia for your amazing work!

See the link to read the full article: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/local-view-when-a-child-speaks-minnesota-must-be-ready-to-listen?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

05/18/2026

There is still plenty of time to submit! Join us in spreading awareness for our mission of strengthening our community's response to child abuse.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! First Witness Child Advocacy Center is holding "The HeART of Healing" Art Exhibit. In honor of the children we serve, we invite artists to help share our story to honor their trauma, strength, healing, and resilience as we work toward ending child abuse.

WHEN: September 24-26, 2026
WHERE: Zeitgeist Center for Community Arts (222 E Superior St Duluth, MN 55802).

Scan the QR code or see the interest form link for more details: https://forms.office.com/r/PqmD7mQBnB

05/16/2026

Thank you to the Title Team for hosting another fundraiser for us! We are so beyond grateful for your support. We can’t wait for this year’s event!

***SAVE THE DATE*** for our 2nd Annual Fundraiser. We had such a blast last year, and raised over $7,000 for First Witness Child Advocacy Center! More details to come, but for now mark your calendars. 👏🥳

05/01/2026

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! First Witness Child Advocacy Center is holding "The HeART of Healing" Art Exhibit. In honor of the children we serve, we invite artists to help share our story to honor their trauma, strength, healing, and resilience as we work toward ending child abuse.

WHEN: September 24-26, 2026
WHERE: Zeitgeist Center for Community Arts (222 E Superior St Duluth, MN 55802).

Scan the QR code or see the interest form link for more details: https://forms.office.com/r/PqmD7mQBnB

04/30/2026

Protecting children requires the involvement of entire communities.

Across Minnesota, professionals, caregivers, and advocates work together to ensure children who experience abuse receive the support and care they need.

Together, we can help build safer futures for children.