Speakers: Alexandria Webb, Orange County Rape Crisis Center (OCRCC); Ray Wasilewski
This session will focus on the transformative power of community advocacy. It will explore how strengthening community ties, when bolstered by resources such as funding, training, and certification through pre-existing collectives like rape crisis centers, can directly build trust, collective power, and disrupt cycles of violence. We will highlight how equipping existing community advocates with enhanced resources and training not only reduces cyclical patterns of abuse but ensures community members are connected to the wide array of resources that nonprofit structures can provide. This approach demonstrates a pathway to increased funding opportunities and amplifies the power of storytelling in survivor experiences.