We are joined by Amanda Gould with the Los Angeles LGBT Center for part two on working with LGBTQ+ survivors – and more specifically, diving into the experiences of Black transgender survivors. Amanda shares that Black trans women have the highest rates of IPV and simultaneously have many barriers to accessing services. Amanda reminds us that trans people are often turned away from services and shelters and may also be mistreated during intakes and screening, contributing to experiences of trauma.

We also explore the current legislative climate of anti-LGBT policies across the U.S. and how they affect DV service provision. Amanda shares ways organizations and providers can be more responsive to trans survivors, as well as strategies for better serving the LGBT community. Join us in learning what can be done to advance access to safety and healing for trans survivors in our communities.

In this must-listen conversation with Jennifer Haddad Bell, we lift up the experiences of survivors facing reproductive coercion and the critical role of prevention and early intervention in reproductive health. Gain valuable insights from Jennifer about her work in high schools and on campuses, and her advocacy for comprehensive sexual health education for young individuals. This episode includes actionable guidance for healthcare providers in supporting survivors and invites listeners to challenge their perspectives on reproductive health. Tune in to empower yourself with knowledge on how to educate young people and support survivors meaningfully.

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.