Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Anlage.
Hi Crystal, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story began from a place of unimaginable loss. On October 17, 2020, my son Jacquez was murdered, and like so many families affected by homicide, I was suddenly forced into a world I did not understand — grief, trauma, law enforcement systems, unanswered questions, and the painful reality of trying to survive while also seeking justice.
In the beginning, I was simply a mother trying to find my footing after the worst day of my life. But as I walked through that journey, I realized how many other families were also feeling alone, confused, unheard, and unsupported. That realization became part of my purpose.
I became involved with Project: Cold Case, where I now serve as Office Manager and Victim Advocate, supporting families of unsolved homicide victims across the country. Through that work, I have learned the importance of advocacy, education, family support, and helping survivors understand that they are not alone.
I also founded the Jacksonville Survivors Foundation, a survivor-led nonprofit created to support families affected by homicide in Jacksonville and surrounding communities. Our work focuses on advocacy, peer support, healing-centered events, resources, and building a community of survivors who can stand with one another.
I never imagined this would be my path, and I would give anything for my reason to be different. But today, I use my pain, my experience, and my love for Jacquez to help other families navigate life after homicide. My journey has taken me from surviving my own loss to becoming a voice, advocate, and source of support for others walking a similar road.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not been a smooth road. This path began with the murder of my son, Jacquez, so there was nothing easy about how I got here. In the beginning, I was trying to survive grief while also trying to understand systems I had never expected to navigate — law enforcement, victim services, court processes, media, and the emotional weight of unanswered questions.
One of the biggest struggles was feeling alone and not knowing where to turn. After a homicide, families are often overwhelmed with information in some areas and completely left without guidance in others. I experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to grieve while also trying to advocate, ask questions, stay informed, and keep your loved one’s name alive.
There were also personal struggles — learning how to carry grief, trauma, anger, and love all at the same time. I had to learn how to function in the world again while accepting that my life would never go back to what it was before.
Professionally, I had to grow into this work. I pursued training, learned from other advocates, listened to families, and allowed my own experience to shape the way I serve.
Building Jacksonville Survivors Foundation also came with challenges — learning nonprofit operations, fundraising, partnerships, programming, and how to create something meaningful while still healing myself.
But every struggle has reinforced why this work matters. The hard parts taught me that families need more than sympathy. They need guidance, support, advocacy, community, and people who truly understand. That is what keeps me going.
We’ve been impressed with Jacksonville Survivors Foundation, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Jacksonville Survivors Foundation is a survivor-led nonprofit organization created to support families affected by homicide. We serve survivors in Jacksonville and surrounding communities by providing advocacy, peer support, resources, healing-centered events, and a safe community where families do not have to walk this journey alone.
What people should know about JSF is that we were born from lived experience. This is not just work we care about — it is work we understand personally. After the murder of my son, Jacquez, I saw how many families were left trying to navigate grief, trauma, systems, and unanswered questions without enough support. Jacksonville Survivors Foundation was created to help fill that gap.
We specialize in supporting families after homicide through survivor-centered advocacy. That can look like helping families understand what questions to ask, connecting them to resources, offering emotional support, creating spaces for remembrance, and building programs that help families feel seen, heard, and supported. We are also known for healing-focused events such as survivor tea parties, remembrance gatherings, children’s activities, and community support opportunities that allow families to honor their loved ones while connecting with others who understand.
What sets us apart is that we are truly “Survivors FOR Survivors.” We lead with lived experience,
compassion, honesty, and a deep understanding of what families go through after a homicide. We do not try to fix grief or rush people through their pain. We walk beside them, provide support, and remind them that their loved one’s life mattered.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that JSF has become a place of connection, remembrance, and empowerment. Our brand is bold, survivor-centered, and rooted in love. It reflects both the pain families carry and the strength they continue to show. I want people to know that Jacksonville Survivors Foundation is more than an organization — it is a community.
Our goal is to make sure no family affected by homicide feels forgotten, dismissed, or alone. Whether through advocacy, peer support, healing programs, or community events, JSF exists to help survivors find support, reclaim their voice, and learn how to live again while continuing to honor the people they love.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success differently than I
once did. Today, success is not only measured by numbers, recognition, or growth. For me, success is measured by impact.
Success is when a family affected by homicide feels seen, heard, and supported. It is when a survivor realizes they are not alone. It is when a parent, sibling, spouse, child, or loved one finds the courage to attend an event, ask for help, share their loved one’s name, or take one small step forward after tragedy.
Success is also creating something meaningful out of pain without allowing the pain to be the only part of the story. Jacksonville Survivors Foundation exists because of loss, but it continues because of love, community, and purpose.
I also define success by whether we are staying true to our mission. If we are serving families with compassion, protecting the dignity of their loved ones, creating safe spaces, and helping survivors feel empowered rather than forgotten, then we are succeeding.
For me personally, success is honoring Jacquez in a way that helps other families. It is knowing that his life continues to have impact through the work we do. That is the kind of success that matters most to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jacksonvillesurvivorsfoundation.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxsurvivorsfoundation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LDY69auL8/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jaxsurvivorsfoundation
