VALOR Conversations

VALOR Media
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Sexual violence is not inevitable, or a logical outcome- it is preventable. Each one of us has the power to take small, yet impactful steps to address and change our behavior in order to impact our communities and society at large. These conditions can stem from inequities in our communities and behaviors that we are taught. Although these behaviors may not be clear at first, we can begin to understand their impact, question them, and ultimately change. Join the team at ValorUS in conversation with leaders, change agents, and advocates at Rape Crisis Centers in California who are advancing the issue of sexual violence in our communities and reminding us that collectively, we can work towards building a safer and more inclusive future for us all.

  1. 2 days ago

    From Night Shift Janitors to Movement Leaders: ¡Ya Basta! with Alejandra Valles

    In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Leah Aldridge and long-time friend and colleague Alejandra Valles explore activism, organizing, and the question, “What would a world without violence look like?”   Alejandra, CEO of the Ya Basta! Center and former union leader at SEIU-USWW, has dedicated 26 years to advocating for people that society relies on but too often marginalizes - janitors, service workers, laborers, farmworkers, immigrants, and sexual assault survivors. Through her stories on the power of California’s Superwomen janitors who stood together and declared, “Basta! Enough!”, Alejandra shows how a small group of determined people can spark change on a national scale.  Alejandra’s stories illuminate how change makers come from all walks of life, and that we all have the potential to create homes, workplaces, and communities that are free from violence.

    From Night Shift Janitors to Movement Leaders: ¡Ya Basta! with Alejandra Valles

  2. 2 days ago

    De la Fe a la Acción: Construyendo un Futuro sin Violencia con el Pastor Ben Ortega

    En este episodio de Conversaciones de VALOR, Rocío Molina conversa con el Pastor Benjamín Ortega sobre la prevención de la violencia, nuestros jóvenes y la fe, partiendo de una pregunta que nos invita a reflexionar: ¿Cómo sería un mundo sin violencia? Pastor Ben ha dedicado más de 20 años a servir a su comunidad y acompañar a jóvenes y familias desde la fe. En esta conversación comparte lo que ha aprendido sobre la importancia de estar presentes para nuestros jóvenes, rodearlos de personas que aporten a sus vidas y tener esas conversaciones que muchas veces no sabemos cómo comenzar. También hablamos de cómo podemos hacer las cosas diferentes a lo que aprendimos, del papel que pueden tener las comunidades de fe en la prevención de la violencia y de cómo la fe y la comunidad pueden ayudarnos a encontrar esperanza y seguir adelante. Una conversación muy personal que nos recuerda que no tenemos que hacerlo solos ni solas, que siempre podemos crecer y que cada uno de nosotros puede poner su granito de arena para construir un mundo sin violencia. -------------- Faith in Action: Building a World Without Violence In this episode of Conversaciones de VALOR, host Rocío Molina sits down with Pastor Benjamín Ortega for a heartfelt conversation about violence prevention, young people, and the role of faith in creating a world free from violence. At the heart of their conversation is a powerful question: What would a world without violence look like? For more than 20 years, Pastor Ben has supported young people and families through faith and community service. He shares the importance of being present for our youth, surrounding them with positive influences, and having meaningful conversations, even when they are difficult. Together, they reflect on breaking harmful patterns, the role of faith and families in preventing violence, and how these connections can inspire hope and positive change. This heartfelt conversation reminds us that we are not alone, that we can always learn and grow, and that each of us can do our part, no matter how small, to help build a world free from violence.

    De la Fe a la Acción: Construyendo un Futuro sin Violencia con el Pastor Ben Ortega

  3. 2 days ago

    Homegirls Leading Change: Advocacy and Community Transformation with Maria Elena

    Maria Elena Greeman-Lynde joins Leah Aldridge in this episode of VALOR Conversations to explore the question, “What would a world without violence look like?”  As the founder of Homegirlz de Corazon in San Diego, California, Maria Elena has transformed her experiences with gang life and unhealthy relationships into a mission to support homegirls and young people in her community live authentically without violence. She believes that showing them that they can live authentically as themselves can help them work against the idea of violence equalling safety.  Through her work and the creation of A Homegirl’s Guide to Self-Love, Maria Elena empowers others to embrace their identities, envision new possibilities, and shape their own future. Her story is a powerful reminder that each of us has the ability to create meaningful change and help build a world without violence.

    Homegirls Leading Change: Advocacy and Community Transformation with Maria Elena

  4. 2 days ago

    From Iowa to India: Youth Leadership to Prevent Violence with Alan Heisterkamp

    In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Dr. Alan Heisterkamp sits down with Leah Aldridge to discuss his esteemed career implementing programs, researching, and leading sexual assault and violence prevetion as they explore the question, “What would a world without violence look like?”  Alan has spent his career advancing led sexual assault and violence prevention at every level, from serving as a high school principle to directing The University of Northern Iowa’s Patricia A. Thompson Center on Violence Prevention and collaborating with schools and governments from around the world, including Sweden, Scotland, and India.  Alan and Leah explore how fostering cultures and communities rooted in care, respect, and inclusion can drive meaningful change, and how students can play a leading role in making it happen.

    From Iowa to India: Youth Leadership to Prevent Violence with Alan Heisterkamp

  5. 26 Feb

    Billie Weiss and the Legacy of People-Powered Violence Prevention, Part 2

    In this two-part, in-person VALOR Conversation, Leah Aldridge is joined by David S. Lee, VALOR’s Deputy Director, as they sit down with their mentor, Billie Weiss. Billie’s work has been foundational to the field of violence prevention, as she was one of the first to connect research on the rate of violence in 1980’s Los Angeles to sexual assault and traumatic harm.  Billie, Leah, and David discuss the history of public health and the work that went into unifying the many different people who had a similar goal of preventing violence and supporting survivors of harm. Their conversation highlights Billie’s legacy and how far the movements to prevent sexual assault and violence have come since the late 1980s.  As David and Leah remember the impact Billie had on them and their understanding of violence prevention, Billie shares her hopes that all of their legacies continue prevention work until there’s a future where violence is unimaginable. Check out a special conversation between Ashleigh Klein-Jimenez and David S. Lee on Billie’s ongoing violence prevention legacy on PreventConnect → Prevention Then & Now: Reflections from Long-Time Practitioners with David S. Lee on Billie Weiss/

  6. 26 Feb

    Billie Weiss and the Legacy of People-Powered Violence Prevention, Part 1

    In this two-part, in-person VALOR Conversation, Leah Aldridge is joined by David S. Lee, VALOR’s Deputy Director, as they sit down with their mentor, Billie Weiss. Billie’s work has been foundational to the field of violence prevention, as she was one of the first to connect research on the rate of violence in 1980’s Los Angeles to sexual assault and traumatic harm.  Billie, Leah, and David discuss the history of public health and the work that went into unifying the many different people who had a similar goal of preventing violence and supporting survivors of harm. Their conversation highlights Billie’s legacy and how far the movements to prevent sexual assault and violence have come since the late 1980s.  As David and Leah remember the impact Billie had on them and their understanding of violence prevention, Billie shares her hopes that all of their legacies continue prevention work until there’s a future where violence is unimaginable. Check out a special conversation between Ashleigh Klein-Jimenez and David S. Lee on Billie’s ongoing violence prevention legacy on PreventConnect → Prevention Then & Now: Reflections from Long-Time Practitioners with David S. Lee on Billie Weiss/

  7. 26 Feb

    Leading by Following: Rewriting the Policy Advocacy Game

    In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Leah Aldridge sits down with her colleague Grace Glaser to discuss the work behind how survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other violent crimes, facing a devastating cut of 44.7% in federal funding, harnessed their collective power and successfully advocated for the inclusion of $87 million in California’s state budget in 2024.  Grace shares how she centers and uplifts the voices of survivors while advocating for policy change at the state and national levels as VALOR’s previous Senior Public Relations and Policy Manager. Their conversation highlights the importance of centering survivors' voices and following their lead in advocating for policy change, as well as the challenges and emotional toll of the work that goes into powering grassroots activism.  Grace is continuing to advocate for survivors of violence at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence as their External Affairs Analyst.

  8. 26 Feb

    Justice According to Whom? Lisalyn Jacobs and Linking Healing with Policy Change

    In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Lisalyn Jacobs joins Leah Aldridge to share her journey from unexpectedly finding herself in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence, breaking down economic and restorative justice, and becoming one of the architects of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization in 2021.  Lisalyn, Founder and CEO of Just Solutions, has spent her career pushing towards survivor-centered policy by expanding the definition of justice by listening to survivors and advocating on behalf of their definitions of justice. Lisalyn’s and Leah’s conversation brings deep insight into the behind-the-scenes steps that legislation and policy go through to make the work to prevent sexual violence, support healing after harm, and finding justice more accessible for survivors across the nation.

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About

Sexual violence is not inevitable, or a logical outcome- it is preventable. Each one of us has the power to take small, yet impactful steps to address and change our behavior in order to impact our communities and society at large. These conditions can stem from inequities in our communities and behaviors that we are taught. Although these behaviors may not be clear at first, we can begin to understand their impact, question them, and ultimately change. Join the team at ValorUS in conversation with leaders, change agents, and advocates at Rape Crisis Centers in California who are advancing the issue of sexual violence in our communities and reminding us that collectively, we can work towards building a safer and more inclusive future for us all.

Information

  • Creator
    VALOR Media
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright VALOR Media
  • Show Website
    VALOR Conversations