Joining us this month are Elle Roberts and Rebecca Berry from the Domestic Violence Network to share their learnings on restorative justice and working with survivors, communities, and people who cause harm. They discuss the ways intergenerational and historical trauma affect both the survivor and the person who causes harm and how these intersecting experiences of violence impacts their relationships. We dive deeper into the roots of restorative justice and how wisdom in indigenous communities has influenced our current frameworks and approaches. Tune in to learn more on how to have survivor-led healing through restorative justice.

Making the Case: Restorative Justice (Infographic resource)

https://promising.futureswithoutviolence.org/making-the-case-restorative-justice/

What's the boyfriend loophole, and what does Congress have to do with it? And with so much already being said about gun violence in the U.S., what's the value of raising awareness?

In this episode, Tiffany Garner from Futures Without Violence answers these questions and more, with a focus on the impacts of gun violence on children and teens, talking to young people about gun violence, and the measures that can help to keep kids safe. This episode also explores how the issue of gun violence is inextricably connected to the safety of adult survivors of domestic violence and their children. Tune in to learn about current policy and legislative efforts around gun violence and how organizations can contribute to prevention.

When domestic violence is one of the most critical health issues that LGBTQ+ communities face, we all have a responsibility to make sure that our queer and trans community members who have experienced DV feel undoubtedly cared for and seen in services, legal representation, policy, and other supports and protections.

Amanda Gould from the Los Angeles LGBT Center's National LGBTQ Institute on IPV joins us for our special Pride 2024 episode connecting LGBTQ+ liberation and anti-DV work, discussing the historical exclusion of LGBTQ+ people, and focusing on the current gaps in DV services and resources for queer and trans survivors. Tune in to learn more about the most pressing issues – including impacts of anti-LGBT legislation, rhetoric, and violence – and steps professionals and allies can take to practice meaningful inclusion and provide culturally responsive support. For training and more resources, visit the Institute's website, LGBTQIPV.org.

In this episode, guests Lonna Davis and Karen Tronsgard-Scott share their insights and experiences in operationalizing and humanizing Tema Okun’s work on dismantling racism and white supremacy culture. Lonna and Karen discuss their personal journeys as white women discovering the impact of their own views, values and principles and continuously pivoting as they strive to be authentic allies to organizations, individuals and communities of color. Tune in to hear their stories and explore possibilities for transformation in your own work environments, relationships, and lives.

Joyce McMillan of JMACforFamilies joins us to put into perspective the history and harms of the child welfare system in the U.S. – particularly the targeting of Black children and families and the impacts on survivors of domestic violence (DV). Tune in for a candid discussion about abolition vs. reform and mandated supporting, and learn immediate steps you or your organization can take to improve safety for children and families.

This is one of our most moving episodes yet – we invite you to tune in, even if you aren't a parent!

Rodney and Denys McFadden share their journey of loving, learning, and storytelling while parenting neurodiverse kids – Journee, who has autism, and her brother, Carter. A book that arose from the family's curiosity, nurturing, and unconditional love, My Sister Has Superpowers is our children's reading spotlight for the month of April.

If you've ever wondered how to connect with, serve and create safe spaces for LGBT+ teens, you do not want to miss this conversation! In this episode, curated specifically for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Andrew Sta. Ana discusses primary prevention and interventions for LGBT adolescent survivors of dating violence. Andrew also explains why culturally responsive services are so critical and what best practices and policies may look like when serving is a priority.

This episode includes practical ideas and suggestions regarding next steps for providers and organizations who are interested in this very needed work.

In this mini-episode, William West from the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) shares guidance on how to authentically engage young people on their terms. He discusses learnings from an internal assessment to continue creating meaningful connections and including youth in the work of violence prevention. Rather than defaulting to transactional, extractive, or tokenizing approaches to engagement, William stresses the importance of intentional conversation and deep listening to elevate youth voices. Learn next steps you can take to pivot in this direction!