NSVRC offers the Visionary Voice Awards, in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month each April, to recognize the creativity and hard work of individuals around the country who have demonstrated outstanding work to end sexual violence. Each year, state, territory, and tribal coalitions select an outstanding individual to nominate for the awards. Nominees may be partners from a local community or other outstanding individuals that have worked to end sexual violence.
Ipu Lefiti
Nominated by: American Samoa Alliance against Domestic & Sexual Violence
My beginning as a Pacific Islander on my father’s farm is the foundation upon which my experience as an independent Victims Advocate stands. After serving in the United States Army for 20 years as a Medical Specialist, I returned to American Samoa to work as a Surgical Technician at the LBJ Community Medical Center for another 20 years. My military experience did not prepare me for the raw exposure of sexual assaults, child abuse, and domestic violence at work. Compounding the intensity of this work were the lethargic local attitudes, systemic coverups, and the ignorance or sense of silence due to a belief held by first responders that these were expected punishments. This all inspired my spirit and calling as a Victims Advocate (an unnamed role at the time), and led to me putting myself in a high-risk position by challenging my AIGA (communal family) to try to break down the cultural norms, language, faith, law, and governmental bureaucracy that were contributing to a victim’s suffering. It was a lonely and rugged uphill battle to bring down these slippery walls of resistance, power and ignorance. With almost every door shut in my face for assistance to safely bring in a survivor seeking justice, it was my faith that brought us through it all.
I am blessed to be entrusted as a trail-blazer. I have witnessed alarming socially turbulent behaviors where culture, faith, laws and trust in a growing government and religious hierarchies have been and are still being challenged by lack of clarity and enforcement. I look forward to seeing a person in American Samoa willing to look beyond the struggles and barriers of a Victims Advocate. To visually see how you can help, and readily take up the baton to carry on the work.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Task Force of Colorado
Nominated by: Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
In a few short years, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Task Force of Colorado has drawn significant attention to the issue of missing and murdered indigenous relatives in Colorado and challenged oppressive systems to respond to the crisis. They developed legislation, formed a broad coalition of grassroots and mainstream anti-violence organizations that advocate for indigenous rights, environmental justice, and women’s rights., This coalition held strong under the threat of the Governor’s veto and passed a monumental bill to improve the response to MMIR cases with widespread bi-partisan support. Through their leadership and determination, Colorado now has a government office, a new alert system, law enforcement training, and new policies and procedures to address and prevent further violence against Native and Indigenous people in our state. Members of the MMIR Task Force in Colorado include: Kelsey Lansing, Diné; Gina Lopez, Nuuche; Monycka Snowbird, Anishinaabe; Raven Payment, Anishinaabe and Kanien'kehá:ka; Christine Sage, Nuuche; Dannielle Seewalker, Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta; Daisy Bluestar, Nuuche.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Nominated by: Day One (Rhode Island)
Senator Whitehouse has long been committed to being a champion for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault as well as a supporter of Day One in Rhode Island since the Violence Against Women Act first passed in the mid 90’s. Aside from the progress and many successes of his advocacy in Washington for victims of sexual assault, the Senator also helped us in Rhode Island with the launch of the Children’s Advocacy Center in Newport County and has been influential in securing funding and resources to improve treatment and care received at Day One. He also extended an invitation to Peg Langhammer, Day One’s Executive Director, to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about sexual assault on college campuses.
Senator Whitehouse has readily been available to provide his ongoing support and has attended many of Day One’s major events and milestones over the years. The Senator’s commitment to strengthening the laws and increasing the focus on sexual assault prevention and services has been resolute and unwavering. We are grateful for the endorsements and leadership that Senator Whitehouse has consistently provided on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. So much has been accomplished in the past 50 years and with his continued support and the help from the entire Rhode Island Community, we will continue to strengthen our efforts to prevent and end sexual violence.
Krystal Rich
Nominated by: Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Since assuming her role as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Children’s Alliance (CCA) in 2014, Krystal Rich has used her advocacy skills and deep knowledge of systems-based interventions to improve access and services available to child survivors and their families throughout the process of working with a child advocacy center or multidisciplinary team. Rich is deeply committed to supporting children who have experienced sexual violence and ensuring that they, and their families, have access to all the healing, justice, and support they need. Prior to joining CCA, Rich worked as a sexual assault crisis advocate supporting children and adults at one of the alliance’s member centers. This led her to identify the value of statewide response systems and policies to support children and families who have experienced violence. Under her leadership, CCA committed to assessing current practices to improve systems responses to child abuse; standardizing, collecting, and sharing more data about victims and their needs; and strengthening programmatic evaluations to ensure children and families are getting the services they deserve. Rich is focused on working collaboratively with partners around the state to enhance the response to child abuse and also working on efforts to prevent abuse before it occurs. Outside of her work at CCA, Rich is an adjunct professor with the UCONN School of Social Work teaching the next generation of leaders both foundational and policy practice courses.
Claudia Melton
Nominated by: Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence
Claudia Melton is a fiercely passionate advocate, holding significant experience in the field of sexual violence due to her various advocacy roles for over a decade. She worked at Survivors of Abuse in Recovery and is currently a social worker with the Department of Justice in the Special Victims' Unit. She works tirelessly to help bring support and comfort to victims of sexual violence that have experienced horrific tragedies. In her role as a Department of Justice social worker, she carries a caseload average of over 170 active investigations and criminal prosecutions. Melton listens without judgment while reminding victims of the strength they possess. Although working in the criminal justice system doesn’t often allow space for nuance and trauma-informed care, Melton leads with the heart and breaks down barriers for victims to be able to stand tall. She connects with each survivor, makes sure they feel heard and supported, and works relentlessly to remind all parties involved that they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Melton’s dedication and passion for victims of sexual violence knows no bounds.
JoEllen Revell
Nominated by: Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
For the last 10 years, JoEllen Revell has continually worked to improve services for sexual assault survivors. She has successfully led various initiatives to identify gaps and develop cultural and linguistic-specific services for the various communities and populations living in and around Orlando. In her recent work to ensure sexual assault services are truly accessible to and inclusive of survivors living with disabilities, she established a disabilities advisory committee and had the Victim Service Center of Central Florida evaluated by Disabilities Independence Group (DIG), which consequently improved the facilities and protocols.
Her list of accomplishments also includes forming partnerships with local jails and correctional facilities as part of the PREA implementation, initiating services for incarcerated female survivors of sexual violence, beginning MOU agreements with other rape crisis centers to ensure service deliveries during hurricanes, and securing a partnership grant to service LGBTQ survivors of sexual assault. She has Chaired the Orange County, Seminole County, and Osceola County Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs); served on the Statewide SART Advisory Committee, the FCASV Board of Directors, the Central Florida Victim Services Network, the Orange County Fatality Review Team, and the Kissimmee Youth Academy Advisory Council. In addition to her accomplishments as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she has earned a certificate as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional by the International Association of Trauma Professionals.
Marissa Castellanos
Nominated by: Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.
Marissa Castellanos has been an active community partner with Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. (KASAP) and KYs Rape Crisis Center for many years. Most importantly, she has been an advocate and change-maker for survivors of human trafficking. She started work in 2008 as the first person to focus 100% on trafficking in Kentucky. She partnered with several rape crisis centers to fund and develop local trauma-informed response teams for trafficking survivors. Castellanos has been a tireless representative on local and statewide task forces, has partnered with the KY Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Community Based Services to garner federal grants to address trafficking. She also advocated for the successful passage of the Human Trafficking Victims Rights Act. Castellanos hosted the first national conference on labor trafficking and is on the national advisory committee on sex trafficking of children. She co-wrote the Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking. Castellanos also launched the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative Advisory Board in 2019 to provide meaningful engagement of survivors in the work. Castellanos’ work has provided immeasurable benefit to those that she and her team have directly served. However, Castellanos’ legacy reaches well beyond that as her influence through advocacy, collaboration, and example has inspired a dedication among all agencies and individuals who’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with her.
Katie Boleware
Nominated by: Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault
The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA) proudly presents the Visionary Voice Award to Katie Boleware, LMSW/LGSW. Katie's positive impact on survivors in Louisiana continues even after her move out of the state. Boleware served as LaFASA's Crisis Chat Intervention Program Coordinator and created an essential text/chat helpline from the ground up. The statewide crisis chat/text helpline provides survivors and their loved ones with an accessible method to contact an advocate and receive support. Setting up and maintaining this program involved intensive research on best practices; the development of a statewide resource list; the creation of a training program for advocates; and extensive volunteer recruitment, training, and management. During Boleware's tenure at LaFASA, there were 1240 hours of Helpline training and 2372 hours of Helpline coverage donated by advocates under her supervision. Boleware now serves as Youth and Young Adult Trauma Therapist at the DC Rape Crisis Center. While we miss her (and her dog Ollie) in the office, Boleware's passion, dedication, and advocacy are reflected in LaFASA programs to this day.
Disability Rights Maine
Nominated by: Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) is Maine’s designated Protection and Advocacy agency, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization authorized and mandated to protect and advocate for the rights of Maine people with disabilities. DRM’s mission is to advance justice and equality by enforcing rights and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities in Maine.
DRM is part of a nationwide network of disability rights organizations that provide legal representation and advocacy services. There are 57 such designated agencies covering every state, the District of Columbia, each U.S. territory and the Native American P&A, which covers the Four Corners area.
DRM staff have decades of experience representing people who have been discriminated against based upon their disability. DRM attorneys and advocates represent individuals at informal meetings, in administrative proceedings, and in court on a variety of matters. These range from rights violations, to disability discrimination, to abuse and neglect. DRM also trains hundreds of individuals each year and engages in systemic advocacy and public policy reform, with and for people with disabilities, to improve services, promote rights, and advance autonomy. DRM also provides expert information and referral services for individuals with needs outside the scope of DRM services.
Most recently, DRM is thrilled to have been awarded a grant from the Office of Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice. This new program will allow DRM to work closely with the sexual assault and sexual violence prevention and response network across the State of Maine to elevate the voices of people with disabilities who are or who have been victims of sexual violence.
Senator Stephanie Chang
Nominated by: Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Senator Stephanie Chang, the first Asian American woman to be elected to the Michigan Legislature, has been a tireless advocate for her community and survivors. Currently in her second term in the Michigan Senate, she is the chair of the Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee and the Senate Democrats’ Policy and Steering Committee. Senator Chang has also been honored by the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board for her efforts to ensure the provision of material on sexual assault and sexual harassment in schools as well as her service and commitment to the Sexual Assault Tracking Commission. Additionally, Senator Chang has sponsored bipartisan legislation to prevent sexual assault by fixing loopholes in Michigan law that enabled convicted Olympic Gymnastics Coach Larry Nassar and other perpetrators for decades. The bill package, sponsored by Senator Chang and a bipartisan group of Senators, aims to protect survivors, increase accountability, and prevent sexual assault. The bills originated in 2018 and were informed by hundreds of pages of documents, many weeks of committee hearings, and consultation with survivors, experts, community organizations, advocacy groups, educators, parents, and more to guarantee an approach to the issue of sexual assault from every angle. This all served to seal cracks in the law that may allow future predators to escape justice. Her achievements have shown that Senator Chang is a steadfast voice for survivors in the legislative chambers.
Tania Araya
Nominated by: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Tania Araya is the Director of Programs at TurnAround, Inc, the comprehensive sexual assault/rape crisis center for Baltimore City and Baltimore County. In this role, she ensures survivors get the care they need to heal from the trauma they have experienced. She has been working in the field of prevention and response to sexual assault and intimate partner violence for over 30 years. Prior to her work at TurnAround, Inc., she served as the manager of the Family Violence Response Program at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. Here she focused on serving patients who experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking while improving healthcare organizations’ and professionals’ understanding and treatment of abuse. During her time at Mercy Medical Center, Araya regularly participated in the Baltimore City Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), and her participation in that SART has continued as part of her current work at TurnAround, Inc. She also serves on the Baltimore County SART within her role as the Director of Programs at TurnAround, Inc. As a participant of both SART teams, Araya works to ensure sexual assault survivors in Baltimore City and Baltimore County have access to Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFEs) and other resources related to medical care following a sexual assault.
Diana Mancera
Nominated by: The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Jane Doe Inc. (JDI)
Diana Mancera is a leading advocate, preventionist, and racial justice activist in Massachusetts and across the country. Born and raised in Mexico City, Diana moved by herself to the United States at just seventeen-years-old. On behalf of her mother and herself, she has followed her passion to empower those who were abused and neglected by others. Her journey from Mexico to Massachusetts continues to be a realization of that promise. Starting as a sexual and domestic violence advocate, then as a Director at a local rape crisis center, and finally after seven years serving as the Director of Membership and Programs at Jane Doe Inc. (the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence), Mancera started as the CEO of New Hope, Inc. in February 2023.
Whether in school, at work, or in her community, Mancera always seeks ways to address the needs of survivors of sexual and domestic violence living at the intersections of oppressions. For her master’s thesis, she developed and implemented a culinary program to reduce recidivism rates of incarcerated women. At the YWCA North Shore Rape Crisis Center, Diana built relationships with community-based and culturally specific organizations to help break down barriers for those needing services and seeking training. Diana’s commitment to social and racial justice has guided her work at the coalition where she has been a driving force of JDI's priority to uplift sexual assault advocates and survivors by integrating sexual assault into programming on trauma, housing, economic justice, technology safety, and men’s and boy’s engagement. An active member of the Massachusetts Women of Color Network, Mancera has also served as President of Latinos Unidos en Massachusetts and hosts Las Net@X, a podcast she created that features hard discussions among LatinX families such as racism, colorism, homophobia, machismo, domestic violence, etc.
Diana's leadership, her precise sense of justice and truth, her valued mentorship of young women of color, creativity, and compassion are a beacon of hope and vision in our collective efforts to end sexual harm and promote safety, respect, and liberty.
Kenosha Davenport
Nominated by: Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Kenosha Davenport has dedicated 18+ years to the movements to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Davenport is a bold and courageous movement leader. She has been a persistent advocate for issues such as organizational sustainability, service improvement for victims/survivors, equitable compensation for advocates, and racial justice. Davenport is a skilled presenter, mentor, and educator committed to justice and healing for victims/survivors as well as advancing the work of rape crisis centers across the United States. She believes in a strong work ethic and is deeply dedicated to serving others.
Joan Masters
Nominated by: Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Joan Masters is the Project Director for Missouri Partners in Prevention, a coalition of 24 public and private colleges/universities dedicated to creating healthy and safe college campuses. Joan provides oversight to Partners in Prevention projects such as the Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors and the annual Meeting of the Minds conference. Masters has been working alongside the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MOCADSV) for nearly a decade. Her commitment to collaboration has resulted in a variety of research projects, co-training and networking opportunities, and prevention program development between Partners in Prevention and MOCADSV. Along with her team’s efforts, Masters’ work with MOCADSV has served as a statewide model for local sexual violence advocates and campus health educators to collaborate in meaningful ways. By strengthening the capacity for localized coalition-building between campuses and domestic and sexual violence organizations, communities are empowered to practice strategic collaboration for preventing gender-based violence on campus and in the surrounding community. Because of Masters’ leadership, there is better research and understanding on how to prevent gender-based violence in Missouri’s campus communities. Outside of work, Maters enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering with youth sports in her community, gardening, and cooking.
Candias (Candi) Jones
Nominated by: Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
Candi Jones uses her voice to support the healing of others. She shares her perspective as a survivor of sexual trauma and domestic violence to offer guidance around how to prevent sexual violence and promote healing for survivors. Jones continuously elevates the voices of Black and Brown communities to create effective and culturally specific strategies that support statewide anti-violence work. Jones created Coaching with Candi, LLC, to support survivors of trauma, offer personalized life coaching, and guide organizations on how to engage the communities they serve. A skilled keynote speaker and leader, she brings her real, lived experiences into every space, using storytelling to promote change.
In addition to her coaching practice, Jones serves as the Executive President of Human Resources at Community Health Development Partners, an organization focused on providing equitable access to healthcare and wellness services. In this position, Jones offers HR leadership and develops racial equity initiatives.
Jones offers grace to everyone she meets. She promotes accountability by calling in those who have caused harm, especially to Black and Brown survivors, and inspires them to do better. Jones strives to improve how society proactively responds victims of rape, sexual violence, and domestic violence. We are honored to nominate her for this award.
Rachelle Pellissier
Nominated by: Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
As the Executive Director of Crisis Support Services of Nevada, Pellissier oversees the programs of Suicide Prevention as well as Sexual Assault Supportive Services (SASS), two deeply intertwined programs. Her job entails the budget, grant writing, staffing, and general support of the SASS program. As Executive Director, she is driven to grow this primarily volunteer-run program. Pellissier makes sure the best services possible are offered.
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Nominated by: New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
As a U.S. Senator and former New Hampshire Governor, Senator Jeanne Shaheen has been a champion on the state and national level for survivors of sexual and domestic violence for decades. Her years of unwavering advocacy and leadership have transformed victim services, and she has fought tirelessly to secure funding to ensure direct assistance and programs are available to every survivor. Throughout her time in office, Senator Shaheen has strongly supported the work of our 12 community-based crisis centers and fought to ensure that they have essential resources available to adequately support their communities. For the sixth year in a row, Senator Shaheen secured the highest funding level ever for the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs for FY23, totaling $700 million for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). This 22-percent funding increase supports sexual assault prevention programs, rape kit processing, domestic violence helplines, and women’s shelters. Senator Shaheen also helped introduce the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization, which expands efforts to combat these crimes, including a new grant program that will provide trauma-informed training to police officers who respond to cases of sexual violence. Additionally, she secured $1.9 billion for the Crime Victims Fund, which has a direct impact on New Hampshire’s ability to respond to instances of sexual assault. Senator Shaheen has exhibited an endless passion and dedication to sustaining vital funding, served as a steady and powerful voice on these issues, and continuously searched for new and innovative ways to improve survivors’ lives.
Alexandria Ruden, Esq
Nominated by: Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Alexandria Ruden is a Senior Attorney at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and has personally helped more than 5,000 survivors of domestic violence, interpersonal violence, and sexual violence throughout her 40 years of practicing law. She began her legal career at the Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland in 1980. In 1984, she joined Legal Aid, where she began the firm’s domestic violence practice. At Legal Aid, Ruden helps survivors of domestic violence obtain and improve their safety through representation in Civil Protection Orders (CPO), divorces, and child custody cases.
A renowned local, state, and national leader, Ruden’s career achievements have made a difference at the systemic level by influencing laws, policies, procedures, and entire systems that have impacted countless lives. She envisioned, helped design, and implemented the Domestic Violence Department at the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. Through this Department, survivors have the support of domestic violence advocates located in court who help them prepare the CPO petition, guide them through the CPO court process, and assist the survivor in safety planning. Her service on statewide boards and committees has also resulted in increased and improved services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
It is impossible to succinctly list all of Ms. Ruden’s accomplishments – but mention must be made of her work mentoring attorneys, law students, and advocates in the community, being an advocate and lead contributor to OAESV's Legal services department. She has been instrumental with the passing of the strangulation law in Ohio. She is a resource to various legislators who request insight into the statutory schema on domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Finally, she has participated in and led substantive training sessions on various topics for judges, magistrates, law enforcement, attorneys, guardians ad litem, staff, and others.
Katrina Brown
Nominated by: Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Katrina Brown built the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at Vanderbilt and is expanding it outside of Nashville/Davidson County to reach victims so that they do not have to travel hours for a rape kit after their traumatic experience and likely long police encounter. She is a member of the Davidson County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Human Trafficking Task Force, and Sexual Assault Task Force.
Andrea Ritchie
Nominated by: New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Through research, writing, legal services, and organizing, Andrea J. Ritchie has dedicated the past two decades to challenging abusive and discriminatory policing against women, girls, and LGBT+ people of color. She has supported launching Interrupting Criminalization: Research in Action, an initiative housed at Barnard Center for Research on Women (BCRW), to develop an overarching strategy for documenting and developing comprehensive responses to police sexual violence, creating accountable communities, criminalization of reproductive autonomy in the current political climate, diversion programs, and ending police violence against Black women, girls, trans and gender nonconforming people.
Taller Salud
Nominated by: Puerto Rico Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Taller Salud has been providing services to survivors of sexual assault since 2002. In 2016, the Tu Paz Cuenta program was launched as a culturally-specific alternative for adult survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual violence, in the northeastern region of Puerto Rico. The Tu Paz Cuenta model provides psycho-social support through individual therapy and case management services, support groups, legal services, transitional housing, community outreach, and a 24/7 hotline. In 2021, Tu Paz Cuenta, along with its partners, created a guide/protocol to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking for community and faith-based leaders. That same year, the Northeast Action Table to End GBV was launched. The table is comprised of a group of victim service providers and community leaders from the seven municipalities of the region working to strengthen the coordinated response. Since the decree of the State of Emergency for Gender Violence in Puerto Rico in 2021, Salud has been part of the committee on sexual violence to establish strategies for reducing the backlog of unprocessed SafeKits in Puerto Rico. In 2022, Tu Paz Cuenta impacted more than 3,500 community members, service providers, and municipal personnel through training, outreach and community activities. The 24/7 hotline assisted 300 people that same year. The program also developed educational materials and community campaigns to raise awareness about GBV as a public health problem impacting our communities at all levels, and calls upon community members to become active in eradicating it.
Laura Segura
Nominated by: ValorUS (California)
Laura Segura became Monarch Services’ Executive Director in 2006. During her time at Monarch, Segura championed equity and fearlessly challenged traditional ideas about what justice looks like for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. While Segura was a strong advocate for survivors of violence, she was also an advocate for individuals who perpetrated acts of violence, because she recognized that violence is cyclical. She believed that individuals who cause harm have usually been harmed themselves and no one should be reduced to the worst acts they’ve committed. She felt that the best way to serve survivors and work toward a community free from violence and abuse was to serve families holistically through trauma-informed care to every client who walked through Monarch’s doors.
Segura’s community activism extended beyond her role at Monarch Services, as she was passionate about helping all marginalized communities – not only survivors of violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura spearheaded a taskforce dedicated to equity and protecting our community’s most vulnerable residents from COVID’s devastating health and economic impacts.
Because of her grand vision and immense passion, she inspired those around her to open their minds and hearts to innovative and progressive paths toward healing and justice.
Laura passed away in June 2022, and the mark her leadership left will always be appreciated. She was a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend, an athlete, an activist, a leader, and a true champion for the Santa Cruz County community. Her strength and passion for equity will surely have a lasting impact on our community.
Denise George, Esq
Nominated by: Virgin Islands Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council
Attorney Denise George worked well with victim advocate agencies to ensure justice for victims. She created and hosted a talk show to educate the community about all the different types of victimizations and how the Department of Justice works to help those victims. Her show Justice Matters aired weekly on one of the local radio stations.
She was instrumental in helping us re-establish the St. Croix Child Abuse multi-disciplinary team. She recognized the importance of having all agencies working together in the best interest of our children. One of her greatest accomplishments was winning the lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein Estate. This win brought millions of dollars to the territory, and it sent a clear message to the world that the Virgin Islands will not be a safe haven for sex trafficking anymore, regardless of how powerful they may be.
Katie Spriggs
Nominated by: West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services
Katie Spriggs began her work in the anti-violence movement 10 years ago as a rural advocate in West Virginia with the dual rape/domestic violence shelter, the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC). She has steadily assumed leadership roles, taking on the position of Executive Director of EPEC in 2017, and currently serves as the Chair of the boards of both the sexual assault coalition and the domestic violence coalition. Katie has led efforts in the state to address sex trafficking by initiating services, mentoring advocates, training allied professionals, and serving on the steering committee for the West Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force as well as co-chairing its training committee. Her demonstrated commitment to advocating for and advancing services for underserved and marginalized populations has included co-facilitating a statewide ‘advocates aspiring for equity’ team and promoting diversity and inclusion. Spriggs’ boundless energy and unparalleled commitment to this work have served as an inspiration to her colleagues. At a time when the pandemic made service provision challenging, she served as a role model for navigating ways to adapt programs and services and supported others through difficult transitions. Her sense of humor, passion, and determination combine to make her an invaluable asset and ally in this field.
