Every day there are thousands of domestic violence incidents in the United States, yet many do not see or understand the range of people domestic violence affects. This includes the survivors, victims, lawmakers, policy implementers, researchers, service providers, and advocates. Some of these individuals remain invisible to policymakers and researchers due to their race, ethnicity, […]
Enjoy free time to relax and network with attendees between sessions. Reiki sessions will be available in Room #450. Be sure to sign up in advance to secure your slot - a sign up sheet will be available in person at the check in table. Reiki is a holistic healing technique for stress reduction and […]
How can we, as trainers, facilitators, and educators, offer professional development and education to advocates in the field of gender-based violence while avoiding desensitization to the content we present? Additionally, how can we remain aware of the emotional impact and triggers our participants may experience while learning? This session will explore how trauma impacts learning […]
This workshop, facilitated by Love & Protect members, will reimagine what advocacy can look like when it centers self-determination and shared power. Using an abolition feminist framework, we will ground the discussion in the intersecting patterns and strategies of power and control within domestic violence and prison violence.Our understanding of these intersections emerged from our […]
Apna Ghar is a leader in survivor language access and cultural humility. In this interactive session, Apna Ghar staff will lead participants in a resource sharing activity so that everyone leaves with tools and strategies to address these questions: -Which immigrant refugee or migrant (IMR) communities are we struggling most to serve? -Which languages do […]
Domestic violence is cyclical, deeply rooted in political and social systems, and worsened by chronic disinvestment in marginalized communities. This disinvestment creates conditions that perpetuate violence, manifesting in various forms such as community, family, and school violence. The objective of this session is to identify and analyze the underlying factors driving these cycles of violence […]
Enjoy lunch, live music, and free time to relax and network with attendees between sessions. Reiki sessions will also be available in room #450 – be sure to sign up in advance to secure your time slot. A sign up sheet will be available in person at the check in table. Reiki is a holistic […]
Asking for help is one of the hardest things to do for a professional helper, especially when you’re not sure how to go about it! In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to avoid occupational burnout and reduce compassion fatigue by mindfully exploring how to tactfully ask and accept help (without the side of […]
Reproductive autonomy is a fundamental human right, yet survivors of domestic violence often face significant barriers to making informed choices about their bodies, pregnancies, and futures. This workshop will introduce participants to the Reproductive Justice framework, explore the connections between domestic violence and abortion access, and provide actionable strategies for supporting survivors navigating reproductive coercion […]
This presentation will take participants to a journey of challenges, reflections, and achievements about KAN-WIN’s community advocacy at the grassroots level on gender-based violence prevention and healing in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. The presentation will demonstrate our “Unbroken Thread:” Chinatown Story Circle series is a culturally-resonant, community-based approach in healing as our story-telling sessions created a […]
This presentation educates domestic violence professionals on the potential benefits of incorporating trauma-informed massage into a survivor’s healing journey. Attendees will gain an understanding of how trauma manifests in the body and how trauma-informed massage can address its physical and emotional effects. The course highlights the principles of trauma-informed care, the importance of safety and […]
This session will generate an understanding of the difference between culture and religion and how this leads to stigmas and cultural barriers for a domestic violence survivor and how advocates can work with the client without biases. Using the agency’s lived-in experience, the facilitator and audience will be breaking down a scenario. This exercise will […]
Stalking is a violent, predatory crime that is problematic on college campuses and most likely to occur with persons 25 and under (“Stalking Fact Sheet”). Although initially linked to celebrity pursuers, stalking is currently associated with partner abuse, dating relationships, and even acquaintances. Students who are stalked live in fear, believe the stalking may never […]
Utilizing vision boards and painting as part of the healing process offers a creative and empowering approach to recovery. The objective is to help survivors visualize a positive future, process their emotions, and rebuild self-esteem. This method combines the therapeutic benefits of art with goal-setting techniques to foster hope and resilience. These activities encourage self-reflection, […]
Presenters will share the findings of the Intersecting Barriers: Challenges to Economic Empowerment for Domestic Violence Survivors report, which led to the pilot project. Presenters will acquaint the audience with what career exploration programs are, how they are used, and how Women Employed worked with DV partners to modify the Career Foundations curriculum for this […]
This panel discussion will explore the intersection of domestic violence, criminalization, and mass incarceration. By centering the voices of formerly incarcerated survivors, this panel will examine how systemic bias, trauma, and punitive justice measures perpetuate cycles of abuse and incarceration. Panelists will share personal stories and insights, highlighting factors that shape survivors' experiences within the […]
Enjoy free time to relax and network with attendees between sessions. Reiki sessions will be available in Room #450. Be sure to sign up in advance to secure your slot - a sign up sheet will be available in person at the check in table. Reiki is a holistic healing technique for stress reduction and […]
For many survivors, gender-based violence is a factor that leads to their arrest and incarceration. Survivors often must address past abuse by themselves, as well as find ways to be safe as they prepare for life in the community. Join survivors who are currently incarcerated at Fox Valley Adult Transition Center as they describe their […]
Join us for an empowering session of storytelling. Five storytellers, volunteers drawn from The Network member organizations and conference participants, will share GBV stories of survival and resilience. Their personal stories will help illuminate the dynamics of GBV and the process of healing. Join us to bear witness to these storytellers’ courage and determination. The […]
Sabrina Hampton is the Capacity-Building Manager for The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. She is also a training coordinator, youth advocate, community organizer, and birth doula. With over twenty-four years of experience, Sabrina addresses issues related to anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ rights, trauma-informed care, transformative justice, domestic violence support, and crisis intervention. She has applied her skills […]
Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) describes the use of technology and digital spaces as a means to control, stalk, harass, and coerce other people. TFA has dramatically increased in the last decade as it continues to evolve alongside technological advancements and the growing dependence on social media and digital platforms to stay connected and informed. Technology is […]
Enjoy free time to relax and network with attendees between sessions. Reiki sessions will be available in Room #450. Be sure to sign up in advance to secure your slot - a sign up sheet will be available in person at the check in table. Reiki is a holistic healing technique for stress reduction and […]
The Inner-City Muslim Action Network’s (IMAN) work and vision are driven by Islam's emphasis on mercy, compassion, service, and justice as transformative forces for positive social change. This presentation will tell the story of how our cache of multidisciplinary programs seeks to address domestic violence, interpersonal violence and community violence through the lens of spirituality, […]
How can we motivate attitude and behavior change in people who have caused harm? How can we create peer advocates against teen dating violence from youth who haven’t started dating yet? Learn about the programmatic parallels of Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP) and youth Prevention. Identify common myths and facts about the unique audiences served […]
This training on intimate partner violence (IPV) and clinical considerations is designed for clinicians and support staff who want to enhance their ability to work one-on-one with survivors in clinical settings. The objective is to provide a deeper understanding of IPV’s impact on mental health and to offer effective therapeutic strategies, particularly through Dialectical Behavior […]
In this interactive presentation, I will share insights from my experience as a psychotherapist working primarily with sex workers and survivors of complex trauma. Criminalization and stigma makes addressing intimate partner violence much more nuanced amongst the sex work population. I will provide clinical case studies from my work as a psychotherapist, insights from qualitative […]
Enjoy free time to relax and network with attendees between sessions. Reiki sessions will be available in Room #450. Be sure to sign up in advance to secure your slot - a sign up sheet will be available in person at the check in table. Reiki is a holistic healing technique for stress reduction and […]
This presentation addresses the critical issue of domestic violence during pregnancy and postpartum, equipping healthcare providers, social workers, mental health professionals, and advocates with the tools to support survivors. Participants will explore key terms, statistics, and dynamics of domestic violence in the perinatal period, including the often-overlooked role of financial abuse. The session will emphasize […]
We have data that tells us a story about the intersections of substance use, domestic violence, maternal health inequities, and community violence—but are we listening? About half of pregnancies are unintended, and 1 in 6 women who have been abused experience it for the first time while pregnant. Substance use is intertwined with these issues, […]
At the core of many workplace challenges and conflicts is the breakdown of communication. When employees are expending energy to reactively address these conflicts, time and resources are taken away from the core mission of serving survivors. This workshop positions ethical communication as a responsibility of all individuals working in domestic violence programs. It specifically […]
Working with domestic violence survivors can be triggering and often leaves you feeling overwhelmed, tired, angry, or helpless. Domestic violence is a sensitive topic that affects millions of people directly and indirectly. The goal of our presentation is to educate the attendees on domestic violence, vicarious trauma, and ways to help both survivors and professionals […]
This workshop will provide an overview of the We Deserve Better Project. First, we will explore the key findings from a national assessment detailing the experiences of 265 anti-violence advocates. Then, participants will discuss recommendations and collectively develop diverse strategies to improve working conditions. We center this session on three outcomes: increasing awareness of anti-violence […]
This presentation will outline the current housing programs offered by Center on Halsted, and how housing LGBTQIA+ specific individuals brings unique needs. Additionally, LGBTQIA+ youth are twice as likely to experience housing issues when compared to those who are not members of the queer community (Chapin Hall, 2018). This entails subjective and unique challenges that […]
To truly combat violence—not just individually, but collectively and across society—we must foster a wraparound system of care grounded in deep safety, trust, and cultural belonging. This requires learning how to cultivate safety within ourselves first, so we can extend it to others in meaningful, sustainable ways. Safety and well-being start with leading from empathy—first […]
From facilitating prevention education workshops with sports teams and fraternities to advocating for stronger survivor protections at the institutional, state, and national level, young advocates are integral players in the fight for representative and comprehensive prevention and response. This panel discussion with pioneering young activists highlights the work being done in three states to change […]
Enjoy free time to relax and network with attendees between sessions. Reiki sessions will be available in Room #450. Be sure to sign up in advance to secure your slot - a sign up sheet will be available in person at the check in table. Reiki is a holistic healing technique for stress reduction and […]
Breaking the Silence: Indigenous Voices in the Illinois Anti-Violence Movement will feature a powerful panel of Indigenous advocates and preventionists who are leading the charge in addressing violence in their […]
Radical Self-Love as Revolutionary Practice In this session, Shiree Teng will guide us in exploring **radical self-love as a revolutionary practice** essential for freedom and liberation. We will examine why […]
Ochin Pakhi ("Unknown Bird" in Bengali) is a Chicago-based Bengali folk band that performs ecstatic songs and dances from India and Bangladesh. They create original arrangements of traditional Bengali songs, […]
