I had a great time collaborating with Gabe Batstone, CEO of contextere, on my latest Forbes column.
Along the way, though, I learned about another part of Gabe’s life. Four years ago, his 8 year old daughter Teagan was murdered by her mother, Gabe’s ex-wife, who had had mental health problems and had attempted suicide. Yet – despite clear evidence of danger – Gabe was forced by the courts to return his daughter to her care.
Subsequently, Gabe and his wife Stephanie founded the Canadian national advocacy organization Teagan’s Voice as a vehicle to promote children’s rights, and particularly to lobby for public policy changes to protect children from violence.
As a dad myself, I can’t – I don’t want to – imagine what Gabe and Stephanie have been through. But I applaud them for taking an experience so unthinkably horrible and devastating, and working to make something positive come from it.
Please donate if you’re able.