Natasha Simone Alexenko 1973 - 2024 Natasha Simone Alexenko, a fierce advocate for sexual assault survivors and founder of Natasha's Justice Project, passed away on October 31st, 2024, at the age of 51, after facing a rare and courageous battle with both ALS and MS. In her final act of generosity – one that epitomized her lifetime of helping others – she gave the gift of life to three people through organ donation. Born on Long Island, New York, and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, she returned to New York City in 1993 to study film at the New York Institute of Technology. That same year, she was sexually assaulted. Without her knowing, her rape kit sat untested in the NYC police department. Her kit was finally tested 10 years later. Natasha refused to let her story end there. She vowed she would no longer be a statistic, and worked to change the system to be more responsive to survivors. As a survivor, she became a catalyst for change that would impact thousands of lives, she traveled all over the world to raise awareness. Her case led to one of the nation's first John Doe indictments based on DNA evidence, setting a precedent that would help countless other survivors. From this experience, she forged a path of advocacy that would become her legacy, founding Natasha's Justice Project (NJP) in 2011, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the rape kit backlog across America. Her memoir, "A Survivor's Journey: From Victim to Advocate," also gave voice to the voiceless and hope to those who felt forgotten by the justice system. Through her work, Natasha with partners like the Joyful Heart Foundation and RAINN, helped transform the landscape of sexual assault investigations and inspired reform in rape kit evidence processing nationwide. She turned her personal tragedy into a movement for change, ensuring that other survivors would not have to wait a decade or more for justice.

Natasha was the focus of the HBO documentary, Sex Crimes Unit and has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other national and international publications. She has made guest appearances on broadcast and cable networks. Natasha shared her story at the historic 2015 joint press conference at which Vice President Joe Biden and New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. pledged a combined $80 million to help defray the cost and reduce the backlog of untested rape kits. Natasha also served as a consultant to Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Grants (SAKI). Those who knew Natasha remember her as far more than her advocacy work. She was a brilliant light who filled rooms with laughter. Natasha was a rare combination of warrior and nurturer. Yes, she was a survivor, an advocate, a game-changer, a champion. She was also so smart, funny, dedicated, loved, loving, dynamic, a chance taker. A lover of nature, animals (especially her dogs), gaming, Star Trek, laughing, and her friends and family. A sweet, lovely human who will be so missed beyond measure. She possessed an extraordinary ability to transform pain into purpose, fear into courage, and strangers into friends. Her advocacy never overshadowed her humanity. Natasha's impact on the world will continue to make a difference in many people's lives through her advocacy, her organization, and most importantly through the lives she touched personally. She is survived by her incredibly loving husband Scott Sessa, Mom Nevart Mnatzaganian-Alexenko~ from a line of strong, resilient women, Sister Kathryn Ansley and Nephew Alexander Ansley Hoy.

Please consider a donation to one of the following organizations ALS United Greater New York 42 Broadway Suite 1724 New York, NY 10004 Joyful Heart Foundation 320 7th Avenue #161 Brooklyn, NY 11215