VALOR Conversations

In this episode, Leah has a moving conversation with Paul Bancroft, Executive Director of Sierra Community House, a rape crisis center in Tahoe and Truckee, California. Paul highlights his work in this movement when he started as a young violence prevention educator and eventually worked up to become Executive Director. As his time as an Executive Director, Paul shared how his advocacy unknowingly supported hundreds of survivors who experienced sexual violence caused by a healthcare professional and the work Paul did across state lines to prevent future violence.

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In this episode, VALOR’s Senior Legal Advisor, Rocio Molina, sits down with Leah to discuss her evolution of supporting immigrant and undocumented survivors, the challenges she has faced in the field, and how her childhood influenced the work she does now. 

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Audio clips credit to @fernandacortesx and NBC News.

In this episode, Leah chats with Patima Komolamit, Executive Director of the Center for the Pacific Asian Family in Los Angeles, California. Patima shares how her journey as an advocate started out in her early 20s when she entered youth detention centers to educate incarcerated youth about violence prevention, and how it transitioned into engaging in healing services and violence prevention in AAPI communities. 

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Welcome back to season 3 of VALOR Conversations! This season, dive into conversation with us as we explore rape culture in the media and how that influences our work to prevent and end sexual violence.

In this episode, VALOR Conversations host, Leah Aldridge, “travels” all the way to Sydney, Australia to have a conversation with Augusta Supple, theater director and producer. Augusta and Leah discuss looking at theater and art through a communal lens and reflect on cultural shifts they’ve seen over the years. Augusta defies the the historic role women have, or have not, played in the theater, and how they are challenging their roles today.

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In this episode, Fatima Shabbazz, President and CEO of Fatima Speaks, and the Policy Advocacy team lead for Decrim Sexwork ACLU, joins us to discuss sexual violence in detention centers. Fatima shares her experience as a trans woman while she was incarcerated, and the work she is doing now to advance the rights of incarcerated trans folks and survivors of sexual violence.

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*Please note this episode contains profanity that listeners might find disturbing.

In this episode, we are so excited to welcome, Leigh LaChapelle, Associate Director of Survivors Advocacy, at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST). Leigh and VALOR Conversations host, Leah, talk about the history of the anti-trafficking movement and how it has been portrayed in movies and television. Leigh provides some insights into their policy and advocacy work to support survivors of human and labor trafficking.

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In this episode of VALOR Conversations, student activists, Taylor and Kyla, join our guest podcast host to discuss the evolution of media both on- and off-screen. They reflect on their journeys to become MFA students and share their hopes for the direction the film industry is headed towards.

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In this episode, VALOR Conversations host, Leah Aldridge, sits down with Dr. Samantha Majic, Associate Professor of political science at John Jay College - CUNY. Dr. Majic shares about the lack of progress in policy updates to protect sex workers and therefore, public acceptance, explains the whoriarchy and disparities within sex work, and highlights at the end of the day, sex work is just work.

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In this episode, Tonjie Reese, founder of eleven24, and Timiza Wash, Chief Equity and Transformational Change Officer at WEAVE, join Leah to talk about their work as youth educators. Have you ever thought about how the infamous WAP by Cardi B can be used as an educational tool? Well, they have! Tune in to this episode to learn more about the evolution of youth-based sexual violence prevention education.

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