Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance

We've joined a nationwide coalition challenging the federal administration’s attempt to hold Violence Against Women grants hostage

Join the Action Alliance in partnership with national, state, and local leaders in the sexual and domestic violence field for this exciting training and technical assistance initiative

Become part of a powerful movement to end sexual and domestic violence here in Virginia.

After 40+ years as a leader and rabble rouser in Virginia’s movement to end sexual and intimate partner violence, our beloved Ruth Micklem (and Addie too!) is retiring.

What if accountability wasn't scary? Over the past few years, the Action Alliance and others in the movement have been contemplating how and to what extent our actions match our vision, particularly around responses to the spectrum of harm, including physical violence: Will our current responses get us closer to equity and liberation?

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 peaceful future.

Join Us

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.

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.

White text on purple background that says Transforming Relationships: A Violence Prevention Toolkit for Educators. Under the text are pink and white speech bubbles.

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.

Advance 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

June 23, 2025

Farewell and Happy Retirement, Ruth Micklem!

One of my earliest encounters with Ruth Micklem happened when I was 25 years old. I didn’t know then that I was in the company of a legend in the… read more

June 16, 2025

Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Joins Nationwide Coalition Challenging Federal Administration’s Attempt to Hold Violence Against Women Grants

New Grant Certification Requirements Threaten Support for VictimsThe Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance joins a nationwide group of 17 state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions today… read more