When Hispanic survivors of intimate partner violence seek help, they face a gauntlet of unique cultural barriers that can make safety seem impossible. From family members who prioritize appearances over protection to faith leaders who frame abuse as a spiritual test, the path to safety is fraught with roadblocks that extend far beyond language differences alone.

Teresa Gallegos, Director of Outreach and Accessibility at the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, brings profound insights to these challenges. Drawing from her experience as a nationally credentialed advocate, immigrant, and sibling survivor, Teresa walks us through powerful scenarios that illustrate how these cultural dynamics play out in real life. She explains why simply translating existing materials into Spanish misses the mark and how her groundbreaking "Juntos le ayudamos" (Together We Will Help Them) campaign took a fundamentally different approach.

Instead of targeting survivors directly, this innovative campaign focused on "comadres" and "compadres" – the trusted allies who serve as crucial lifelines when survivors finally decide to share their stories. Teresa reveals how her team crafted culturally-specific radio spots, billboards, WhatsApp messages, and even old-school tear-off flyers that resonated with Hispanic communities across Kansas. Most powerfully, she shares how seeing these Spanish-language resources gives survivors a profound sense of validation: "You matter enough for someone to do this."

Whether you're a service provider looking to better reach Hispanic communities or someone who might one day be that trusted "comadre" for a survivor, this conversation offers concrete strategies and commitment statements that can make all the difference. Join us to learn how small actions – from exploring your local grocery store's community board to implementing language access policies – can create pathways to safety for Hispanic survivors in your community.