Deondra and Desirae Brown
Award Winning Classical Artists, Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Creators of The Foundation for Survivors of Abuse
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Deondra and Desirae Brown
Biography
Desirae and Deondra Brown have performed over 500 concerts across the United States and around the world as soloists, duo pianists, and members of the piano chamber group, The 5 Browns.They are exclusive Steinway Artists and have released six albums, three of which were #1 on the Billboard Classical charts.
Having received their training at The Juilliard School in New York City, the sisters have performed in numerous venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium. Desirae and Deondra, as members of The 5 Browns, have garnered extensive media coverage, including appearances on The Tonight Show, Oprah, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, and NPR's Performance Today.
The group has also been featured in the New York Times, Parade, People Magazine, the L.A. Times and Entertainment Weekly.
Desirae and Deondra have formed the non-profit, The Foundation for Survivors of Abuse (FSA), to help create a face for victims of sexual abuse everywhere. They are collaborating with nota-ble lawyer and abuse activist, Marci Hamilton. The sisters have worked closely with lawmakers across the isle to promote the passage of legislation in Utah requiring child sexual abuse pre-vention be taught in elementary schools. They received the Hate Breakers award from New Conscience, Inc. along with awards from The Heritage School of Utah (providers of education in a safe environment for teenagers from troubled homes), The Family Support Center of Utah, and Rape Crisis Center of Utah. Deondra serves as co-chair of the Utah Coalition for Protecting Childhood, alongside Brent Platt of the Division of Child and Family Services and as a member of the "Champions Committee" for Prevent Child Abuse Utah.
Deondra and Desirae, representing The Foundation for Survivors of Abuse, have been featured on CNN TONIGHT with Don Lemon, CNN's Piers Morgan Live, The Today Show and were a top story on People.com. They are also working with The Utah Division of Child and Family Serv-ices and the Utah Attorney General's office as spokespersons for the media campaign, One With Courage Utah, to encourage the reporting of sex abuse crimes. The sisters are involved in a nationwide media campaign highlighting the problem of sexual abuse and promoting victims' rights.
Currently, they are working to pass national legislation with the aid of U.S. Senator Harry Reid.
Deondra and Desirae Brown
Featured Videos
Deondra and Desirae Brown
Featured Keynote Programs
From Victim to Survivor
Working Through the Agony of Abuse to a Place of Self-Discovery
Deondra and Desirae Brown, best-selling classical recording artists and
founders of the Foundation for Survivors of Abuse, will explore the
process of acknowledging the past and finding healing and strength for
survivors of sexual abuse. Many survivors assume that the ability to
rise above the isolation and pain of abuse is something natural or
innate to only a few strong individuals—and beyond the reach of
everyone else, including them. The hopeful reality is that the healing
journey is difficult for all survivors, but impossible for none. The Brown
sisters will draw upon their own experiences and those of other
survivors to describe what they wished they had known earlier, and
what they’ve learned so far in their journey to healing.
A Path Without Limitations
Sexual abuse is a topic that is still considered taboo by many across
this country. This abuse is cloaked in secrecy and will continue to
thrive until individuals are willing to speak out for change. Deondra
and Desirae Brown, best-selling classical recording artists and founders
of the Foundation for Survivors of Abuse, chose to begin working with
state and national legislators to end of the statute of limitations on
sexual abuse. As survivors themselves, the Brown sisters are
dedicated to sharing their experiences to help create a dialogue about,
among others, the impact sexual abuse has on victims, communities,
and states, and the importance of taking a stand for justice by holding
abusers accountable and ensuring there are no statutes of limitation
for victims.
Building Strength Amidst Grief and Pain
As victims of sexual abuse by their father, Deondra and Desirae Brown,
best-selling classical recording artists and founders of the Foundation
for Survivors of Abuse, will discuss the importance of not letting
challenges defeat you and facing the future with optimism and
happiness. The Brown sisters will address how you can find yourself,
your own voice, and lasting strength even in the most difficult of
circumstances.
Finding Courage to Report Sexual Abuse
Lessons Learned from a Life of Classical Music
The courage to come forward and report sexual abuse is rarely innate. One must learn to grow and foster the strength to come forward. Just as Desirae and Deondra Brown, best-selling classical recording artists and founders of the Foundation for Survivors of Abuse, learned to become concert pianists one note at a time, one day at a time, survivors of abuse can learn that courage is not beyond them or built in a moment. Survivors can reframe their thinking, conquer the past and patiently learn to find strength and courage to report and prosecute sexual crimes.