UCLA students your openness, compassion, courageousness, and desire to create safe spaces for difficult conversations affirms my purpose as we walk this movement forward together! Sexual Assault Awareness at UCLA with Alpha Chi Omega Sponsored by: Timberline Knolls, Center For Discovery, Damsels in Defense, & West Coast Recovery Centers
Mine Until Prepares to Launch
In less than one week my memoir, Mine Until will become available across the country. It was with many mixed emotions that I participated in the final read through as it went off to the design team close to two months ago. As I flipped through the pages of what is my life, I was…
In Honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month – When Is It Rape?
Presented by Jessica Yaffa, Author, Speaker, and Survivor Over 80% of sexual assault survivors report knowing their perpetrator. Even more, thousands of young men and women also express feelings of confusion surrounding the existence of rape within the context of relationship. Jessica will share her experiences around her own misconceptions about her being raped, while…
Ringing in the New Year
As we approach the New Year many of us tend to spend time reflecting on the previous months. I’m reminded of the many years I spent reviewing all of the ways in which I had failed, what I wish I could have changed, the guilt I felt surrounding my circumstances, and the deficiency I had…
Oranges Make Orange Juice
I was inspired to write this post after meeting with a colleague where we discussed the dynamic surrounding survivors of domestic violence blaming themselves for the violent outbursts displayed by their partner. I began to express my own experiences around self-blame, of which I’ve had many, when he stopped me. My colleague then shared a…
Redefining Justice
I’ve had countless conversations with women around this idea that the only form of justice suitable for an abusive partner results from the action taken by the criminal justice system. I’d like to challenge each of us to begin to think differently about this. I’m all too familiar with the feelings associated with not feeling…
No More Shame
As I prepare for the upcoming conference at SDSU this coming Saturday I spend some time reflecting on my journey, and which pieces of it I’ll choose to share with the young adults I’ll be speaking to, with the intention of creating opportunities for conversation and learning. In doing so I’m reminded of the many…
Ending Domestic Violence is Everyone’s Responsibility
As I participated in a conversation earlier today with a few new friends it became evident that while there is some awareness around domestic violence as an epidemic, there is little education surrounding what we as a society at large can do to actively make a difference. In sharing my story with these new found…
Myths Surrounding Domestic Violence
Whenever I begin a presentation or workshop I spend some time discussing the myths and stereotypes that exist surrounding domestic violence… Who does this happen to? What ethnic groups/religions/socio economic classes are most likely to be victimized? What are the backgrounds of those that find themselves in abusive relationships? Unfortunately, the answers to each of…
Emotional Abuse
Good afternoon friends, I have spent a significant amount of time recently responding to emails and Facebook comments surrounding emotional abuse. As a result, I’ve felt compelled to write a short blog about what constitutes emotional abuse, as well as our rights in relationship. Emotional abuse (or verbal abuse) can look very different from relationship…
