The Action Alliance’s 2023 Annual Report was released this autumn. While gathering the stories to highlight in it, I was struck by the creativity and commitment that shines through in the work of the Action Alliance staff, members, and Governing Body. I’ve written more than my share of annual reports for the coalition over the years, and the breadth and depth of the work the coalition accomplishes never ceases to astound me.
If you’re a member or supporter, yet didn’t get a chance to read it, I hope you will take a few minutes to appreciate the incredible work that all of you helped us move forward last year, including:
- A spring conference that welcomed more than 100 advocates and preventionists where they could find connection with peers, deepen their learning and practice, and find space for wellness and breathing.
- The launch of a new discussion guide on harm, healing, and accountability for Virginia’s sexual and domestic violence agencies to foster generative conversations about approaches to harm that do not replicate violence.
- The revival of our internationally lauded Red Flag Campaign, which helps college campuses promote healthy relationship norms within their communities.
- The successful completion of Restoryation, a beautifully innovative needs assessment that uses storytelling to process trauma among advocates and foster collective healing.
- Our first in-person Act Honor Hope event since 2019 where we honored Senator Janet Howell and Delegate Rob Bell, two longstanding and fierce advocates for survivors.
- A hard-won success in the inaugural year of our Put Victims First VA campaign, where we partnered with the Virginia Victim Assistance Network and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia to establish sustainable funding for victim services throughout Virginia.
- The completion of a Lessons Learned document that summarized and closed out our Underserved Populations Learning Collaborative, which saw participation of 40 of Virginia’s sexual and domestic violence agencies over 5 years.
- The continuation of Project Connect and our Campus Echo virtual learning community that support sexual violence preventionists in uprooting the conditions that drive violence.
- The development and release of a 10-year sustainability plan for Virginia’s 70+ sexual and domestic violence agencies that responds to ongoing statewide funding challenges by setting concrete recommendations for collective stewardship.
- And the provision of support and information to more than 10,000 survivors through our Statewide Hotline, and in addition, legal assistance to 776 survivors through our legal services project.
Thank you for being an integral part of our mission. Thank you for your support, which will always be the driving force behind our success. Thank you for standing with us to create a future where wholeness and thriving can be a reality for all of us.
Kate McCord is the Associate Director of the Action Alliance and has worked in the movement for more than 30 years.
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