Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance

Join us on February 2nd for our annual Legislative Advocacy Day! Policy leaders want to hear from you about issues that are important to advocates and survivors, and could help to create a Virginia where all people are safe and cared for!

To celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’ve put together a multi-pronged project centered on stories—collecting them, sharing them, and keeping them. We hope you’ll explore these offerings and find something that inspires you.

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Your gifts to the Action Alliance reflect your values... a commitment to bravery, respect, and equity. Leaving an estate gift to the Action Alliance is one way to ensure your values last beyond your lifetime.

In the background, nighttime sky filled stars above mountain tops. In the foreground, the words imagine a radically hopeful future and take action to make it happen.

The future we dream of begins with just one conversation. Learn more with the Building Thriving Communities Toolkit.

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You have a right to be safe, no matter who you are. If you have been hurt and want to talk about your legal options, contact the Virginia Statewide Hotline.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, survivors face unique challenges. We've put together resources for advocates and survivors.

The Action Alliance is Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and domestic violence. We seek a radically hopeful future and work to promote healthy relationships, create thriving communities, and build a more equitable world by centering racial justice, reproductive justice, and economic justice. Join us.

Image of people walking holding signs, one of which reads "End Rape Culture".

Building Consent Communities

In our efforts to prevent sexual and intimate partner violence, it’s so important we not only take a stand against violence, but also envision healthy and joyful alternatives. This is why building consent communities is a key part of our work. We most often define consent as a clear and enthusiastic “yes,” which is an active, voluntary, and verbal agreement that happens as a process and a conversation. Yet consent is not just about individual actions or behaviors, but rather exists within all relationship dynamics, cultural beliefs, and larger societal systems. Building a consent culture requires we normalize and encourage the everyday use of consent in all interactions.

Group of about 20 people standing on grass behind a banner with the same bright yellow shirts with #M4BW. The banner has an image of Angela Davis and her quote, "You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time."

Advancing Racial, Reproductive, Gender, and Economic Justices

Ending gender-based violence requires us to see and dismantle the same forces that support the existence of white supremacy. At the same time, this work calls us to envision and move towards equity and liberation, while breaking out of silos.

hands working together on an art collage.

Forging Peaceful Families

The Building Healthy Futures Fund was created to establish a statewide revenue source for local Sexual & Domestic Violence Agencies to implement evidence-informed prevention programming to disrupt the interpersonal and social conditions (root causes) that give rise to sexual and intimate partner violence.

African-American female college student in white shirt holding red flag that reads "He said if I really loved him I'd have sex with him"

Promoting Healthy Campuses

The Red Flag Campaign is the first statewide public awareness campaign to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on Virginia’s college campuses.

Advancing Policy

Photo of Action Alliance staff outside the front of their office.

The Action Alliance is committed to ensuring that public policies address the needs of victims and promote a comprehensive approach to responding to and preventing sexual and intimate partner violence.

News

December 16, 2021

Changing the Game: Meet the New Youth Action Council Members

In July and August 2021, the Action Alliance hosted its second Honeycomb Retreat, a free arts and creative expression-based retreat for young advocates, activists, and movement builders ages 18-24.… read more

November 9, 2021

40 Years of Action: Act. Honor. Hope. Virtual Gala

Each year, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance hosts Act. Honor. Hope., an event to recognize individuals and groups who have gone above and beyond to turn… read more

October 12, 2021

#Every1KnowsSome1 National Campaign to Raise Awareness about Domestic Violence

Each October, advocates, survivors, and supporters recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) so people know that they’re not alone, support is available, and intimate partner violence is preventable.… read more

September 2, 2021

Meet Arianna Sessoms, Prevention Technical Assistance & Training Manager!

Arianna, what’s your story? I grew up in Stafford, Virginia but have lived in different cities, states, and countries throughout my life. I got my B.A. from James Madison University,… read more

July 26, 2021

The Honeycomb Retreat: Centering the Voices of Youth Survivors, Advocates, and Activists

In this past year, we have been able to witness the inherent power that young people possess. It was young people who led and organized marches to honor and demand… read more

July 14, 2021

Welcome 2021 Summer Interns!

The Action Alliance has the help of several interns this summer. They will support survivors through the Project for Empowerment of Survivors, assist in updating resources for advocates and survivors,… read more

Find Support Near You

Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Agencies

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Abuse Alternatives

Action in Community through Service (ACTS)

Alexandria Domestic Violence Program and Sexual Assault Center

Ashiyanaa (formerly ASHA for Women)

Avalon Center

Ayuda

Bedford County DSS- Domestic Violence Services

Bethany House of Northern Virginia

Boat People SOS

Carol Adams Foundation

Center for Sexual Assault Survivors (The Center)

Chesterfield County Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center

Choices of Page County

Clinch Valley Community Action Agency

Collins Center

Doorways for Women and Families

Eastern Shore Coalition against Domestic Violence

Empowerhouse

Ethiopian Community Development Council

Family Crisis Support Services

Fairfax County Office for Women, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Violence Services

Family Resource Center

Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit

Fauquier County Department of Social Services Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Advocacy Program (FCDVSAAP)

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence

FAITH (Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help)

Franklin County Family Resource Center

Genieve Shelter

Goochland Cares

Hampton Roads Community Action Program

Hanover Safe Place

Haven of the Dan River Region

The Haven

Help and Emergency Response (HER)

Hope House of Scott County

James House

Greater Washington Jewish Coalition against Domestic Abuse

Just Neighbors

Korean Community Services Center of Greater Washington

Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center

Laurel Center

LGBT Life Center

Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice/Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS)

New Directions Center

Partners for Stronger Communities (formerly Bristol Crisis Center)

People, Incorporated

Phoenix Project

Powhatan County DSS- Domestic Violence Services

Project EMPOWER

Project Hope at Thrive Virginia

Project Horizon

Rappahannock Council against Sexual Assault (RCASA)

Response, Inc.

Sacred Heart Center

Safe Harbor

Safehome Systems

Salvation Army Turning Point

Samaritan House

Services to Abused Families (SAFE)

Sexual Assault and Response Awareness (SARA Roanoke)

Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA Charlottesville)

Shelter for Help in Emergency

Shelter House

Southside Center for Violence Prevention

Southside Survivor Response Center

Tahirih Justice Center

Total Action for Progress

Transitions Family Violence Services

Tri-County Community Action Agency

UVA Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center

Virginia Anti-Violence Project

Women’s Center at Virginia Tech

Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley

YWCA South Hampton Roads

YWCA Central Virginia

YWCA Richmond

Build Skills

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