VALOR Conversations

In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Sarah and Abby sit down with Leah Aldridge to discuss harm reduction: what it is, how it can be practiced to increase opportunities for prevention, and the power it has to uplift survivors of sexual violence and harm. 

Friends for many years, Abby and Sarah have drawn from growing up in the punk subculture with a DIY ethos and experiences working to end sexual violence to connect support for survivors and harm reduction advocacy. Their conversation illuminates how harnessing uncommon practices can increase access to services for non-traditional survivors, prevent further harm, and support stronger, healthier communities.

Welcome back to VALOR Conversations!
This season, hosts Leah Aldridge, Marsela Rojas-Salas, Grace Glaser, and Rocio Molina sit down with advocates as they share how their experiences shaped their advocacy and work in the gender-based violence movement.

In this episode, Amika Mota, the Executive Director of Sister Warriors and formerly incarcerated survivor joins VALOR Conversations to talk about how she became an “accidental activist.” She shares how her experiences as a teen mom, midwife, and within the carceral system pushed her to reimagine justice. Amika’s story compels us to imagine the work we can do alongside her to create a future where mass incarceration and societal barriers do not exist.

In this episode, Jasmine Wali, a policy, advocacy, and research consultant and organizer with Survived and Punished California, joins us to discuss the criminalization of poverty. Jasmine’s story highlights transformations for social workers to become advocates who support, not report, children and families in need.

Primera Parte / Episode 1

En nuestros primeros episodios de Conversaciones de VALOR (VALOR Conversations) en español y dividido en dos partes, Anabela Aguirre y Verónica M. Lagunas comparten sus historias transformadoras de ser conserjes inmigrantes en el turno de noche que experimentan entornos de trabajo hostiles para construir una comunidad unida y poderosa como co-fundadoras del Centro ¡Ya Basta! 

En el episodio se habla de cómo Anabela y Verónica comenzaron su labor de abogacía y su explosivo especial de primera línea, “Violación en el Turno de Noche.” El episodio 2 continúa la historia de abogacia de Anabela y Verónica después de “Violación en el Turno de Noche” y comparten el activismo directo en el que participaron y las leyes que aprobaron para crear entornos más seguros para inmigrantes, conserjes y trabajadores del turno de noche.
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In our first-ever Spanish language and two-part VALOR Conversations episodes, Anabela Aguirre and Veronica M. Lagunas sit down with VALOR Conversations to share their transformational stories of being night-shift, immigrant janitors experiencing hostile work environments to building a tight-knit and powerful community as co-founders of the ¡Ya Basta! Center.

Episode 1 discusses how Anabela and Veronica came into advocacy and their explosive frontline special, “Rape on the Night Shift.” Episode 2 continues Anabela’s and Veronica’s advocacy story after “Rape on the Night Shift” and they share the direct activism they participated in and laws they passed to create safer environments for immigrants, janitors, and night-shift workers.

Segunda Parte / Episode 2

En nuestros primeros episodios de Conversaciones de VALOR (VALOR Conversations) en español y dividido en dos partes, Anabela Aguirre y Verónica M. Lagunas comparten sus historias transformadoras de ser conserjes inmigrantes en el turno de noche que experimentan entornos de trabajo hostiles para construir una comunidad unida y poderosa como co-fundadoras del Centro ¡Ya Basta! 

En el episodio se habla de cómo Anabela y Verónica comenzaron su labor de abogacía y su explosivo especial de primera línea, “Violación en el Turno de Noche.” El episodio 2 continúa la historia de abogacia de Anabela y Verónica después de “Violación en el Turno de Noche” y comparten el activismo directo en el que participaron y las leyes que aprobaron para crear entornos más seguros para inmigrantes, conserjes y trabajadores del turno de noche.

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In our first-ever Spanish language and two-part VALOR Conversations episodes, Anabela Aguirre and Veronica M. Lagunas sit down with VALOR Conversations to share their transformational stories of being night-shift, immigrant janitors experiencing hostile work environments to building a tight-knit and powerful community as co-founders of the ¡Ya Basta! Center.

Episode 1 discusses how Anabela and Veronica came into advocacy and their explosive frontline special, “Rape on the Night Shift.” Episode 2 continues Anabela’s and Veronica’s advocacy story after “Rape on the Night Shift” and they share the direct activism they participated in and laws they passed to create safer environments for immigrants, janitors, and night-shift workers.

In this episode, Leigh LaChapelle joins VALOR Conversations once again to discuss how they transformed their lived experiences as a queer youth in South Carolina into activism as the Associate Director of Survivor Advocacy at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Los Angeles. Leigh touches on the importance of showing up and caring in an unjust world as a key aspect of their work.

In this episode, Ponny White, who started in this movement as a community youth engagement specialist and activist storyteller, discusses how she is transforming reproductive freedom advocacy through narrative-based storytelling. As a Senior Prevention Coordinator at the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, Ponny highlights the impact of youth activism as we strive to create a more inclusive world. 

We hope you enjoyed Season 5 of VALOR Conversations!

Welcome back to another great season of VALOR conversations! This season, our host, Leah Aldridge, sits down with advocates from across the globe as they share their stories about their important work in the gender-based violence movement.

In this episode, Leah sits down with friend and colleague, Coach V, discussing how she founded Open Door Abuse Awareness and Prevention (ODAAP). ODAAP is a Philadelphia-based, youth violence prevention program. Coach V shared about her evolution into becoming a violence prevention advocate and her plans to continue to grow her reach and positive impact on youth athletes.

Please note this episode describes domestic violence and homicide. Please listen at your discretion.

Did you find this episode, helpful, interesting, or insightful? Leave a comment below and tune in for another episode of VALOR Conversations.

In this episode, Marlee Liss, survivor and Canadian-based restorative justice advocate, shared with Leah about her journey in engaging in a restorative justice healing circle after recognizing she did not want to go through the criminal legal process. A strong advocate for restorative justice, Marlee makes the case for why we should be implementing restorative practices into everyday aspects of our lives. 

Check out additional resources on Marlee's website!

Did you find this episode, helpful, interesting, or insightful? Leave a comment below and tune in for another episode of VALOR Conversations.