Jess Michaels, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, emphasizes the importance of early intervention for victims of sexual abuse at the Luminary Awards.

Jess Michaels, a vocal survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, was the keynote speaker at the Luminary Awards, where she discussed the need for early intervention for victims of childhood sexual abuse. She emphasized that, although Epstein's story draws attention, the real issues faced by survivors are often ignored. Michaels was abused by her grandfather at a young age and highlighted that resources like the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center could have changed the trajectory of her life. Veronica Pierce from the center praised Michaels' efforts to promote awareness and early intervention. Additionally, Michaels is developing an app called 'With You Too', which will provide communities with tools to respond to sexual abuse with care and support. This will include a first aid kit for victims of sexual assaults, aiming to address the issue in a concrete way at the local level.