Hope Blossoms Celebration Draws Elected Officials, Advocates, and Survivors for Night of Healing and Action
May 29, 2026
Hope Blossoms Celebration Draws Elected Officials, Advocates, and Survivors for Night of Healing and Action
CALDWELL, N.J., April 30, 2026 — As Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness Month came to a close, Precious Little Ladies Inc. (PLL), based in East Orange, brought community leaders, advocates, and survivors together for its annual Hope Blossoms Celebration, an evening centered on recognition, remembrance, and a shared commitment to protecting children and supporting survivors.
Held at Calandra’s Italian Village in Caldwell on April 30, the event served as both a meaningful close to April’s awareness efforts and a timely reminder during Mental Health Awareness Month that trauma prevention and healing are deeply connected.
Hosted by survivor, advocate, and Precious Little Ladies Inc. founder Aziza Kibibi, the evening reflected the heart of an organization built from lived experience. Kibibi has used her story of incestuous abuse that resulted in four children to push beyond awareness and toward prevention, survivor support, and systemic change, giving the event both emotional weight and urgent relevance.
The evening honored several individuals and organizations whose work reflects service, advocacy, and community impact. East Orange Councilman Bergson Leneus was recognized with the Seed of Change Award. “I stand with Aziza and PLL to eradicate abuse,” said Leneus.
Amber Gonzalez, LPC and author, was honored with the Hope Blossoms in Literature Award. Access Family Services/Sylvia’s Place, led by founder and CEO Annette McDonald, received the Safe Space Award. Elisha Phillips, PLL Ambassador, received the Precious Petal Award.
Among the dignitaries and special guests in attendance were Assemblywoman Carmen Morales, Assemblyman Chigozie U. Onyema, Newark Council President Larry Crump, and Councilman Christopher Awe from East Orange. Morales and Onyema both offered words of encouragement and support, and Morales presented honorees with New Jersey General Assembly resolutions. She also announced herself as a cosponsor of Aziza’s Law (bill A2158, making an act of incest a crime), inspiring a swell of applause from the audience.
The event also welcomed presidents and members from the NAACP Newark branch and the NAACP Oranges and Maplewood branch, as well as representatives from Wynona’s House, further underscoring the broad community investment in child protection and survivor advocacy.
One of the evening’s most moving moments was a candlelight ceremony honoring survivors, creating space for reflection, solidarity, and remembrance. Guests also took part in an audience demonstration led by Kibibi, on the prevalence of child sexual abuse, using wristbands to visibly represent how many survivors may exist within any given community. The exercise turned a difficult statistic into something immediate and impossible to ignore.
Funds raised from the event will support the production of PLL’s #ItsOkToTell Sexual Abuse Prevention Kits, distributed through community centers, daycares, and preschools, helping PLL expand its prevention education efforts and place life-saving information directly in the hands of children, families, and caregivers.
“As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, we have to acknowledge that healing starts with truth, safety, and support,” said Aziza Kibibi, founder of Precious Little Ladies Inc. “We develop programs that didn’t exist when I was a victim, but are essential to creating a world that is safe for everyone. When we create spaces that honor survivors while protecting the next generation, that is where real healing begins.”
According to Kibibi, the Hope Blossoms Celebration was designed not only to raise support for PLL’s mission but also to deepen public understanding, honor community leadership, and keep urgent conversations about prevention and healing in the public eye.
**About Precious Little Ladies Inc.:**
Precious Little Ladies Inc. is a visionary non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the bond between mothers and daughters and empowering families to combat child molestation and gender-based violence. Through education, workshops, media, and awareness-raising campaigns, PLL empowers families to break the cycle of abuse and build a safer, more nurturing environment for children and young women. For more information, visit https://preciouslittleladies.org.
