Our Story
Founder & Survivor, I Am The Voice Of Suicide
About Us
I Am the Voice of Suicide is a nonprofit suicide awareness and prevention organization committed to being a voice for those who suffer in silence.
We create safe, inclusive spaces where individuals, families, and communities impacted by suicide, trauma, bullying, domestic violence, substance use, and mental health challenges can find connection, support, education, and hope.
Through creative arts programming, community outreach, advocacy, mentoring, education, and conversations centered on lived experience, we work to break the stigma surrounding suicide and address the struggles that can leave people feeling isolated and unheard.
Our mission goes beyond awareness. We believe healing begins when people know they are seen, their stories matter, and they do not have to suffer alone.
We exist to break silence, build hope, and empower people to find their voice.
Our Founder
Lawrence “Vonzail” Odom is a four-time suicide attempt survivor, U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and founder of I Am the Voice of Suicide, a nonprofit suicide awareness and prevention organization committed to being a voice for those who suffer in silence.
From a young age, Vonzail endured relentless bullying not only at school, but within his home and community. The pain of feeling unsafe, unseen, and undervalued followed him into adulthood and intensified during his military service after 9/11, where he experienced trauma, sexual assault, and the lasting effects of war. Those experiences contributed to years of silence, struggles with identity and faith, and ultimately multiple suicide attempts.
In 2009, after surviving one of his suicide attempts, Vonzail awakened to the voices of his mother and grandmother. It was there that he says he distinctly heard the voice of God speak to him:
“I preserved you to be a voice for those who struggle in silence & to be a voice.”
In that moment, his survival took on a new meaning. What had once been a story of pain began becoming a calling to use his voice so others would not have to suffer in silence.
Nearly a decade later, that calling became painfully personal. In 2017, his cousin, Sgt. Tiara Brown the very person who had once talked him out of ending his own life died by suicide.
Standing at her funeral, Vonzail made a promise: Tiara’s story would not end in silence.
That promise became I Am the Voice of Suicide a movement created to transform pain into purpose, silence into conversation, and tragedy into testimony.
Today, Vonzail uses his lived experience to advocate for survivors, families, veterans, youth, and communities affected by suicide and the circumstances that can contribute to emotional crisis. Through speaking, advocacy, creative programming, community events, and intentional conversations, he reminds people that their stories are not over and their voices matter.
Our Story
Founder & Survivor, I Am the Voice of Suicide
I Am the Voice of Suicide is a suicide awareness foundation and community initiative committed to supporting individuals who suffer in silence. We provide safe, inclusive spaces for healing through creative expression, education, and connection.
Our work centers on reducing stigma, increasing awareness, and creating pathways to healing for individuals, families, and communities impacted by depression, mental illness, and suicidal ideation.
Lawrence “Vonzail” Odom is a four-time suicide attempt survivor, U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the founder of I Am the Voice of Suicide a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking silence, building hope, and bringing awareness to suicide and the many struggles that lead to it.
From a young age, Vonzail endured relentless bullying, not only at school, but in his own home and community. The pain of feeling unsafe, unseen, and undervalued followed him into adulthood and intensified during his military service after 9/11, where he faced trauma, sexual assault, and the lasting effects of war. These experiences led to years of silence, identity confusion, and spiritual disconnection and ultimately, multiple suicide attempts.
In 2008, after surviving one of those attempts, Vonzail woke up to the voices of his mother and grandmother and a revelation that would change his life: “God preserved you to be a voice for those who struggle in silence.” Nearly a decade later, in 2017, that calling became painfully personal when his cousin, Sgt. Tiara Brown the very person who once talked him out of ending his life lost her own to suicide.
Standing at her funeral, Vonzail made a vow that Tiara’s story would not end in silence. Her name would live on through a movement that transforms pain into purpose and tragedy into testimony. That promise became I Am the Voice of Suicide a foundation and lifeline for survivors, families, and communities impacted by suicide, bullying, trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, and other contributing factors.
Today, Vonzail uses his story to remind others that survival is not failure, its purpose. Through advocacy, awareness events, and creative community outreach, he continues to inspire others to find healing, hope, and their voice
.
Our Mission
We envision a world where no one suffers alone where every voice is heard, every life is valued, and no story is defined by its darkest chapter. Through awareness, connection, courage, and compassion, we strive to transform silence into conversation, pain into purpose, and voices into lifelines.
OUR HEART
Behind every person is a story.
And every story deserves to be heard.
Be the voice for those who suffer in silence.
Our Vision
To break the silence surrounding suicide, trauma, addiction, and emotional pain by empowering individuals to find their voice through advocacy, creative arts, mentoring, therapeutic support, education, and community connection. We create spaces where survivors, veterans, families, and communities can be seen, heard, supported, and reminded that hope is possible.
Our Mission
To break the silence surrounding suicide by empowering voices of survival, advocacy, and hope through creative arts programming, mentoring, therapy, and community education for families, friends, and communities.
Our Vision
We envision a world where no one feels alone in their struggle—where hidden cries are heard, lives are valued, and speaking up becomes a bridge to healing. Through awareness, connection, and courage, we aim to turn pain into purpose and voices into lifelines.