What does it really take to communicate about hard things in a way that actually connects? In this episode, Laurie, OAESV's Resource & Engagement Manager, takes you inside her experience at Create Good, a conference for nonprofit communicators, and unpacks what it means for those of us working in sexual violence response and prevention.

From burnout and “doing more with less,” to storytelling that centers dignity (not pity), to navigating AI, social media shifts, and internal expectations, this episode is a frank reflection on the future of nonprofit communications and how we show up in it. If you’ve ever wondered if communications work really matters in nonprofit spaces, this conversation will remind you: it does.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by the Rape Crisis Trust Fund, administered by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

Can AI ever be trauma-informed? Never in a million years did we think we'd ask that question. Artificial intelligence is already shaping the lives of survivors and the work of advocates. In this episode of Teal Talk, Laurie sits down with Chad Sniffen, Director of Digital Experience and Safety at me too. International, to explore the impact of AI on the anti-violence movement.

This conversation is both practical and philosophical, offering advocates guidance on drafting policies, protecting survivor data, and navigating a rapidly evolving digital landscape. AI isn’t going away. The question is: how do we engage with it responsibly?

Two of many trauma-informed ChatBots referenced by Chad are Ruth and Aimee Says.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by the Rape Crisis Trust Fund, administered by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

As we head into colder months and a busy holiday season, many advocates tell us the same thing: even when there’s time to relax, actually relaxing feels impossible. In this episode, we’re joined by Hope and Cassandra of Abide Yoga, two yoga and mindfulness instructors. Together, we talk about why our bodies stay alert, how rest can look different for each of us, and simple grounding practices that meet you where you are. This conversation offers realistic, accessible support for anyone navigating trauma work and needing a moment to breathe.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by Rape Crisis Funding awarded by the Ohio Governor’s office, administered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The opinions, findings, conclusion, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Governor or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! This June, we celebrate the courage and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, and stand beside them in the fight against violence, hatred, and bigotry. On this episode, we speak to Gulnar Feerasta, Senior Director of Programs at one of the nation's oldest LGBTQ+ community centers and among the most prominent organizations in the state. We discuss the Center's programming, partnerships, and collaborations, and why supporting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is a vital step toward eradicting violence of all kinds.

Gulnar is one of our keynote speakers at OAESV's 2023 Annual Conference, Forging New Pathways, from June 20th to 22nd. There are 15 workshops to choose from, a panel, and many opportunities to network. You can register online at oaesv.org/conference until June 11th.

To learn more about the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, visit www.lgbtcleveland.org.

Follow OAESV on Facebook and Instagram @oaesv and on Twitter @OhioAllianceESV. Sign up for our mailing list, or read a transcript of this episode. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435. This podcast was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GG-00917-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, to the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Many survivors turn to faith or spirituality first after experiencing trauma, but those spaces can be both sources of comfort and harm.

In this episode of Teal Talk, we’re joined by Brenda Glass, Founder and CEO of the Brenda Multi-Purpose Trauma Center, to explore survivor-centered spiritual care. Brenda shares how belief systems shape healing, how trauma can disrupt spiritual connection, and what it looks like to support survivors without imposing faith or reinforcing shame.

This conversation is especially relevant for advocates working alongside survivors who are navigating spirituality, belief, and meaning after sexual violence, and for anyone interested in holistic, trauma-informed healing.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by the Rape Crisis Trust Fund, administered by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

Olivia Montgomery talks with Camille Crary, OAESV's Director of Legal Services & Policy, about what legislative advocacy looks like for survivors, what it's like working across partisan lines, and what OAESV has accomplished in this realm of advocacy so far.

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Teal Talk! Organizations across Ohio are facing unprecedented cuts to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) fund, threatening the availability and quality of services for victims of crime across our communities. These cuts directly impact essential services such as rape crisis support, advocacy at prosecutors' offices, and shelter for survivors of domestic violence.

To address these challenges and advocate for immediate action, we hosted a live broadcast featuring coalition leaders from victim-services organizations across the state. This broadcast happened April 24th on Facebook and Youtube, and provided a platform for our statewide leaders to discuss the potentially devastating impact of VOCA cuts on our communities. Moderated by our very own President and CEO Rosa Beltré, this crucial discussion was to raise awareness about the urgency of this issue and urge lawmakers to prioritize funding for victim-services organizations. Rosa was joined by Doug Stephens, Executive Director at OhioCASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates); Elyse McConnell, Executive Director, Ohio Victim Witness Association; Catherine Harper Lee, Founder and Executive Director, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center; Henry County Prosecutor, Gwen Howe-Gebers, of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association; Danielle Vandegriff, CEO and Executive Director, Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers; and Mary O’Doherty, Executive Director, Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @OhioAllianceESV. Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or read a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by Rape Crisis Funding awarded by the Ohio Governor’s office, administered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The opinions, findings, conclusion, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Governor or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Calm, pleasure and satisfaction are what most people experience after eating. But for people with eating disorders, food brings anxiety, disturbance and noise. In today's episode, host Laurie Hamame sits down with Sarah Bergen, Regional Medical Director of Ohio for The Emily Program eating disorder recovery center, to explore the intersection of sexual violence and eating disorders. This episode provides a powerful discussion on the complexities of eating disorders, especially how they intersect with sexual violence, PTSD, and trauma. The key takeaway is that EDs are serious mental health conditions that require proper support and treatment—but recovery is possible.

Learn about the National Eating Disorders Association and NEDA Week here. Learn about The Emily Program here. Watch Laura Hill's TED Talk, Eating Disorders from the Inside Out, here.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or read a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by Rape Crisis Funding awarded by the Ohio Governor’s office, administered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The opinions, findings, conclusion, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Governor or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.