Our Journey Since 2015 — One Faithful Step at a Time
We didn’t start with a grand plan. We started with a purpose.
In 2015, in Austin, Texas, Riders Against Domestic Violence (RADV) began as a simple Facebook awareness page.
There was no nationwide organization, no elaborate website, no chapters across the country, and certainly no roadmap showing us where the next ten years would lead.
There was just a desire to do something meaningful.
We wanted to bring awareness to domestic violence, stand beside survivors, and remind people that nobody should have to face abuse alone.
We believed then, just as we believe today, that sometimes the smallest act of kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.
And that belief became the foundation of RADV.
We Have Made Mistakes Along the Way
We aren’t going to pretend we got everything right.
We didn’t.
Over the years, we’ve tried things that didn’t work. We’ve made decisions we would probably make differently today. We’ve experienced setbacks, frustrations, disappointments, and moments when we weren’t quite sure what our next step should be.
But we’ve learned something important.
You don’t have to get everything right to keep moving in the right direction.
Sometimes the mistakes teach you more than the successes.
We’ve learned to listen more carefully, to understand the challenges survivors face, and to recognize the incredible work being done every day by the people and organizations already serving our communities.
Most importantly, we’ve learned that RADV doesn’t have to be everything to everybody.
We just have to do our part.
We Still Believe in the Power of a Local Community
As RADV grows, there’s something we never want to lose.
Our roots.
We still believe in people coming together, enjoying one another’s company, riding motorcycles, organizing events, laughing, making friendships, and doing something good for their communities.
That’s the heart behind our vision for RADV Riders Club chapters.
We want local chapters made up of riders and support members alike. You don’t have to ride a motorcycle to make a difference. You just have to care about people.
Imagine a Saturday afternoon when a group of friends gets together for a motorcycle ride, a barbecue, a community gathering, or a family-friendly fundraiser.
Everyone has a good time, friendships are made, and at the end of the day, a local domestic violence shelter or community support organization receives some much-needed help.
That’s what we want RADV chapters to represent.
Having fun while doing something meaningful.
We’re not trying to replace the professionals who work tirelessly in shelters, advocacy centers, and community support programs.
We want to support them.
We want to help bring attention to their work, raise awareness about their services, and contribute to their efforts whenever we can.
They are the people on the front lines.
We want to be part of the community standing behind them.
Our Website Has Become More Than We Ever Imagined
When RADV started, Facebook was our way of reaching people.
Today, our website, RADV.org, is becoming something much bigger.
It’s evolving into a place where people can find information, learn to recognize unhealthy and abusive relationships, discover available resources, and begin understanding that there are people and organizations willing to help.
We’re expanding our educational content, developing prevention resources, sharing stories that help people feel less alone, and working to connect visitors with professional services.
We’re also building relationships with supporters and administrators in different parts of the world.
That’s something we never imagined when we started a Facebook page in Austin, Texas.
And there’s still a great deal of work to do.
Not everything is finished. Not every idea has become reality. We’re still learning how to make things better, easier to navigate, and more useful for the people who visit us.
But every improvement matters.
Every article, every resource, every connection, and every person who discovers that help is available represents another step forward.
Growing Without Forgetting Why We Started
We have some big dreams for RADV.
We want to establish Riders Club chapters in communities across the country.
We want to support local organizations through events and fundraising.
We want to continue developing our website into a trusted bridge connecting people with information and professional help.
We’re working toward building a stronger nonprofit foundation that can support our mission for years to come.
And yes, someday we’d love to see RADV chapters gathering in communities everywhere, enjoying the friendships that come with belonging to something bigger than themselves.
But we’re not going to pretend all of that will happen overnight.
We’ve spent enough years learning that worthwhile things take time.
We don’t need to build everything today.
We just need to keep taking the next faithful step.
To Everyone Who Has Been Part of This Journey — Thank You
This is probably the most important part of our story.
RADV wouldn’t be growing without the people who believe in what we’re trying to accomplish.
To our administrators who volunteer their time, share ideas, create awareness, and help us reach people in different communities and countries, thank you.
To the riders and supporters who believe that a motorcycle community can be about more than motorcycles, thank you.
To the advocates, shelters, and community organizations doing the difficult work every single day, thank you for showing us what real dedication looks like.
To everyone who has shared a Facebook post, encouraged us, offered advice, or simply told someone about RADV, thank you.
And to the survivors who have trusted us with their stories, we want you to know something.
We hear you.
Your experiences matter. Your voices matter. And your courage reminds us why this work is important.
We may not always have the answers, but we will keep working to connect people with those who can help.
The Road Ahead
Looking back to 2015, it’s humbling to see how far a simple idea has traveled.
We’ve had successes. We’ve made mistakes. We’ve started over more than once.
And we’re still here.
Still learning.
Still growing.
Still believing that ordinary people, working together, can do extraordinary things for their communities.
Our vision isn’t about becoming the biggest organization.
It’s about becoming an organization that makes a meaningful difference.
One person helped.
One community supported.
One friendship made.
One event that brings people together for a good cause.
One more survivor discovering that they are not alone.
That’s the RADV we believe in.
And as we look toward the future, we’re grateful to God for the doors that have opened, the people who have crossed our path, and the opportunities still ahead.
We don’t know exactly where every road will lead.
But we know why we started.
And we haven’t forgotten.
From a small Facebook page in Austin, Texas, in 2015 to the growing community we are today, our message remains the same.
We Are the Bridge.
And together, we’ll keep building it.
One faithful step at a time.
Riders Against Domestic Violence (RADV)
We Are the Bridge.
Your best miles are ahead.