Root For Each Other: A Branches Podcast

Join our Rapid Rehousing Case Manager, Ally Layman, as she talks about the upcoming United for Love event with one of the featured speakers, Dr. Sydnee McElroy. The first of its kind, the United for Love event will focus on promoting health and safety resources for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies. 

Branches teams up on this episode with Dana Fleitman from the national organization, Stalking Prevention Awareness and Resource Center (SPARC) to discuss the importance of acknowledging the crime of stalking as its own victimization with its own red flags and potentially dangerous indicators.  Sometimes overlooked or misrepresented, stalking is a serious issue that affects victims every day of their lives. 

Join us as we discuss why it's more important than ever to understand the crime of stalking for exactly  what it is! 

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Branches advocates, Courtney Newsome, Youth Services Coordinator and Sara sat down with The Center--Youth Opportunity and Development Hub to discuss the intersections between teen dating violence and youth homelessness as well as green flags to look for to help make sure your relationships stay safe and healthy!  

In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Month,  Branches advocates talk with survivor and She Who Dares founder, Angie Conn about the common misconceptions and types of victimization involved in human trafficking.  

Angie is an educator, leader, advocate, yogi and thriver. She works as an independent consultant for SheWhoDares Consulting, LLC., which she founded in 2018, to empower other survivors to dare to step out and overcome their trauma.  

Angie knows it’s an honor to be present in sacred space with other survivors. Her vision is to continue creating sacred spaces so that survivors of sexual trauma can fully thrive. In 2021 she received her 200 R-YT certification and is working on a specialty certification becoming a Yoga Therapist, aiding others in their journey of healing complex trauma and shifting into post-traumatic growth. 

She collaborates and contracts with several agencies, nonprofits, and organizations across the country working on presentations, projects, and curriculums to better the mental wellness and physical health of survivors of trafficking, exploitation, and sexual trauma. 

In 2018, she was Awarded the ‘Special Courage Award’ by the United States Attorney (Southern District) of West Virginia for being a ‘champion’ for victims and survivors of human trafficking in her home state and nationally.

In this very special episode of Root for Each Other, we talk with Angie Conn, founder of She Who Dares and survivor of Human Trafficking about all the misconceptions that can occur when we think of human trafficking.  These misconceptions are especially harmful when they allow us to overlook human  trafficking when it occurs in rural or local areas.  

Angie Conn is an educator, leader, advocate, yogi and thriver. She works as an independent consultant for SheWhoDares Consulting, LLC., which she founded in 2018, to empower other survivors to dare to step out and overcome their trauma.  

Angie knows it’s an honor to be present in sacred space with other survivors. Her vision is to continue creating sacred spaces so that survivors of sexual trauma can fully thrive. In 2021 she received her 200 R-YT certification and is working on a specialty certification becoming a Yoga Therapist, aiding others in their journey of healing complex trauma and shifting into post-traumatic growth. 

She collaborates and contracts with several agencies, nonprofits, and organizations across the country working on presentations, projects, and curriculums to better the mental wellness and physical health of survivors of trafficking, exploitation, and sexual trauma. 

In 2018, she was Awarded the ‘Special Courage Award’ by the United States Attorney (Southern District) of West Virginia for being a ‘champion’ for victims and survivors of human trafficking in her home state and nationally.

In this brand new Root for Each Other series, join advocate and social worker, Sarah Cunningham for episodes dedicated to self-compassion and healthy healing.  In this episode, Sarah discusses how we can turn common New Year's resolutions into meaningful goals that best serve our individual needs.   

In this episode, domestic violence advocates talk about volunteers and donors that have made a huge difference in the lives of domestic violence victims. If you've ever wondered what you could do to help, this episode talks about our favorite volunteerism ideas, as well as things we often need in the shelter that you might not think of! 

In another "Read for Each Other" installment of the podcast, Sara and Shannon talk with our editor, Josh, about Branches' most recent staff book club selection, What Happened to You?  by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey. It's a book about the effects of trauma on the human brain and how a collective mindfulness of trauma could solve chronic social issues, so obviously we're excited to dig in! Join us as we mix in a non-advocate perspective on the book and how awareness of the universal trauma experience is helpful for everyone, not just victim advocates. 

Join us for this episode when we take a look at what we mean when we say trauma-informed advocacy and how that relates to running and participating in a support group;.  If you've ever considered what it would be like to join a a support group but hesitated--this is a great episode for you!  Sarah talks us through what they look like, why they're effective, and most importantly, how they help survivors heal from domestic violence related trauma.   

We're here for the fourth and final installment in the Lorena series. Join us for the conclusion of our podcast series following 'Lorena' as we try to make sense of what this case meant to individual survivors and the movement to end domestic violence. 

WARNING: This documentary and the podcast conversation address scenes of assault and sensitive topics that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Please watch and listen only in accordance with your comfort level and be mindful to take care of yourself. Our work to end domestic violence requires healthy conversation, but we understand participation in that conversation is not always healthy for everyone. Your healing comes first!