Economic Justice Summit

A fundamental principle of sexual and domestic violence advocacy is the idea that survivors are experts in their own lives and that they have the power to make decisions regarding pathways towards their personal safety, healing, and freedom. But far too often survivors are forced to stay in abusive relationships because they can’t afford to leave. They may rely on an abusive partner for access to housing, transportation, childcare, or healthcare…..they may have had their credit destroyed, their savings drained, or been subject to an eviction or bankruptcy….or they may be unable to pay legal fees associated with separation, child custody, and other civil and criminal matters. But every survivor deserves access to freedom, dignity, and abundance.

Join the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance at Hampton University on June 27th for a one-day Summit exploring the foundations of economic justice as survivor justice. This is an opportunity to reflect and hear from national leaders and experts in the field, to learn from the experiences of survivors and advocates right here in Virginia, and to investigate best practices, tools, and strategies for incorporating an economic justice lens into your work as a sexual and domestic violence advocate or preventionist.

Scholarships: Travel scholarships ($225 per person) are available to SDVA members! The scholarship application deadline has been extended to June 19, 2024 by 11:59 P.M. Scholarship recipients will be notified by June 21, 2024. Visit https://bit.ly/EJscholarship24 to apply.

Schedule:

Speakers:

Kim Flournoy DiJoseph, Facilitator and Summit Weaver, Hot Mess Work

M.S.W. of the intuitive practice, Hot Mess Work, has been described as a “punk rock, modern-day Chinese medicine woman” who “sees the clearest in the dark.” She has 30+ years of experience with those impacted by trauma at nearly every point on the continuum: clinician, court advocate, founding director of children’s services at Richmond’s Safe Harbor, and organizational consultant. As an associate professor in teaching at VCU School of Social Work, Kim designed courses in vicarious trauma, grief/loss, trauma across the lifespan, and child-centered play therapy.

Following the murder of her mother in 2012, Kim carries the role of co-victim of homicide and teaches from a unique dual perspective on traumatic grief, the criminal legal system, and the healing process. Recent workshops were with the National Crime Victim Law Institute and Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work. 

In addition to shadow work readings, Kim facilitates intuitive and ancestrally-guided meditations with individuals and organizations like Everytown and the National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges. She is co-facilitator for VSDVAA’s  V.O.I.C.E.S. Project (a survivor-sourced leadership council), adjunct faculty at VCU, and advocate wellness consultant for the Virginia Victim Assistance Network. She is a 2020 recipient of an Unsung Hero Award from the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. Kim is a Chinese-American mother, healer, partner, teacher, innerwork activist, and former punk and personal chef who lives in Richmond, VA. She is especially grateful for time in the kitchen and the ocean.

D Fox, Deputy Director Housing Policy and Practice, National Network to End Domestic Violence

D Fox has worked in the domestic and sexual violence movement for over 20 years with a focus on fundraising, organizational development, nonprofit administration, and domestic violence population-specific housing and economic justice programming. Most recently, she shared community leadership in the systems planning and implementation process for the DV system in Portland, Oregon, working with all 13 domestic violence victim service providers to create a coordinated assessment for survivors to access housing, shelter, and eviction prevention and shelter diversion programs. She has worked extensively on housing and economic justice issues, envisioning Oregon’s first economic empowerment program at Bradley Angle and then creating the statewide Economic Justice program at the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. She co-founded the statewide asset building initiative with the Individual Development Account (IDA) program, Savings for Survivors, and founded Oregon’s first statewide Aspiring White Allies Committee in 2011, to address programmatic inequities that exist for communities of color accessing domestic and sexual violence services. In her role as Multnomah County’s Domestic Violence Coordination Office Program Specialist, she oversaw all of the domestic violence housing and economic justice and general victim service provider funding contracts for the county totaling over $5 million. Working in two jurisdictions, both at Multnomah County and most recently, in the District of Columbia at the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV), she represented the domestic violence housing system in a variety of jurisdictional meetings with community-wide efforts to address and end homelessness in the Continuums of Care. At DCCADV, she launched the Osnium WS development project to create a database District-wide reporting tool and organized the Domestic Violence Housing Continuum to coordinate their shelter and housing efforts. She received her Bachelor of Social Work from Indiana University and Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas with high honors.

Robin Pereira, Positively Safe Specialist, National Network to End Domestic Violence

Robin Pereira has a longtime passion for ending gender-based violence and expanding access to reproductive healthcare. Her dedication to these missions shines through in her role as Specialist for the Positively Safe project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). Positively Safe addresses the intersection of HIV and domestic violence. As Specialist, she provides technical assistance, hosts webinars for both domestic violence and HIV advocates, creates tools for NNEDV’s DV and HIV toolkit and curriculum, and presents at local, national and international conferences. Prior to working on Positively Safe, Rob supported the NNEDV Transitional Housing team as coordinator. She graduated from Hofstra University on Long Island with a degree in Journalism and Women’s Studies and a minor in Sociology. Robin is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

V.O.I.C.E.S. Leadership Council

Jae De La Mora, V.O.I.C.E.S. Leadership Council

Jae De La Mora (she/they) lives in beautiful rural southwest Virginia. She is a freelance interpreter, deeply involved in community activism, and a passionate advocate. Jae’s journey has been marked by diverse experiences, including domestic violence, navigating the legal system both falsely accused as a perpetrator and as someone who found justice in a neighboring town. She has encountered instances of racism and misogyny, but her proficiency in multiple languages empowers her to bridge divides and aid others in conquering their own obstacles. Jae has found her voice and resolved never to let it be silenced again. This determination inspires her to teach her children that life isn’t about avoiding pain or mistakes, but rather about learning from them, healing and extending a hand to those in need. Surviving domestic violence, understanding the intricacies of the legal system, law enforcement and social services as an advocate and survivor offer her a unique perspective to better serve the community and push statewide work forward. Jae’s message is straightforward: You’re not alone, help is within reach, and the journey, though challenging, is undeniably worthwhile.

Kai Banks, V.O.I.C.E.S. Leadership Council

Kai is a passionate, positive, and fierce woman. She is a servant leader, solutions-oriented, and resourceful. As a domestic violence survivor, mother of three boys, community advocate, speaker, actor, and author, Kai has become an overcomer of challenges and an inspiration to others. 

Kai wrote a book with 7 other survivors entitled, “Releasing the Shackles: Surviving Abuse,” which is a powerful testament to her resilience and strength. Kai is a member of V.O.I.C.E.S. where she advocates for survivors around custody, child support, and other issues that arise for victims experiencing domestic violence.

She returned home to Richmond a decade ago fleeing her abusive relationship for an opportunity to heal and create a new beginning. She was determined to finish her degree, purchase a home, and heal her family. Since being able to accomplish those things, she works tirelessly in the community to help others. Kai recognizes how important and impactful service is and how it has transformed her life. Kai is an AmeriCorps alum serving under the Strengthening Families initiative, a member of the Richmond Food Justice Alliance, and the Youth Innovation Director for a grassroots non-profit (Storefront for Community Design). Her personal and professional endeavors are focused on developing young adults and facilitating conversations around community issues, striving to create meaningful change in her community and the lives of others. 

Monica Holmes, V.O.I.C.E.S. Leadership Council

​Monica is a poet from Richmond, Virginia. She is a personal chef and mother of 4 sons. Monica uses poetry as a way to advocate for herself and others. Poetry has become a form of healing. She focuses on mental health and especially domestic violence. Once a victim, a survivor – to now fully living in her purpose of overcoming multiple abusive relationships. Poetry has become a means to spread awareness on the multiple facets of domestic violence and the importance of healing. 

BIPOC Leadership Cohort

From left to right: Kelcee Jones, Tiffany Moore, and Tammie Mobley. Not pictured: Natasha Smith, Victoria Reeves, and Paulina Ramirez.

The BIPOC Leadership Cohort was created to acknowledge the existing leadership that is deep within the movement to end sexual and intimate partner violence. With funding from the Allstate Foundation, this group of leaders/advocates came together to focus their energy on diving into the intersections of being BIPOC advocates, serving survivors, and economic justice. Through the facilitation of Tammie Mobley, this cohort can be leading voices for economic justice and the movement in Virginia for years to come.

Registration: $60 for Action Alliance Members, $75 for Non-Action Alliance Members

Register Here!