January 17, 2025 | By Emilie Jacques
Copper Shores Community Health Foundation is delighted to have Brayden Rachel on the Victim Support team. Rachel began his work as a Victim Advocate in August of 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a deep-seated commitment to caring for and assisting others. His journey has been marked by a genuine dedication to service, making him the perfect fit for this vital position.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Purdue Global, Rachel traveled with his now wife. This journey took them many places, but it was the beauty and charm of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that ultimately captured their hearts. Though his wife is from Ecuador and he is from Louisiana—both accustomed to warmer climates—the Rachels were determined to settle down in the Upper Peninsula.
“We found 40 acres and a house we loved,” said Rachel. “We moved here during the dead of winter; that was our first experience with the Copper Country.”
Like the Copper Country, Rachel knew the Victim Advocate position was perfect for him when he found it. Before becoming a Victim Advocate, Rachel worked as a paramedic, serving others in the immediate wake of emergencies. His lifelong passion for supporting others during their time of need and his enthusiasm for community involvement resonate deeply within the foundation’s mission.
“Brayden is a great fit for his role as an advocate with his gentle nature and strong desire to serve his community,” said Virginia Lambert, Victim Support program director. “We feel confident that he can handle whatever comes his way with his experience in crisis work. We love having him on the team.”
Since August, Rachel has completed multiple training sessions, further improving his skills and learning new techniques that better support victims. Rachel has completed Child Advocacy Centers of MI - Adverse Childhood Experiences Training, New Providers Training and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. He has also attended the Resiliency Through Community Conference, which covers topics including human trafficking, housing and homelessness, substance use treatment, secondary traumatic stress, and missing and murdered Indigenous women and people.
Rachel works with survivors of sexual assault, abuse, neglect and more, guiding them through various legal processes, advocating for them in court and connecting them to fellow local resource providers. He has already proven to be a valuable asset to the team, making a lasting impact on the lives of those he serves.
“I look forward to being able to further engrain myself and my family into the community,” said Rachel. “We are exactly where we are supposed to be. We found our perfect place.”
Learn more about the services offered by Copper Shores Victim Support at coppershores.org/victim-support.
