Why Advocate Credentialing Matters (Even When It’s Optional) with Elyse McConnell of OVWA

In this episode of Teal Talk, Laurie sits down with Edward Cervantes, Senior Program Officer at Just Detention International, to explore the realities of sexual violence in jails and prisons and how rape crisis advocates can help support incarcerated survivors.Together, they unpack the barriers survivors face when reporting abuse and how rape crisis centers can build relationships with correctional facilities to expand access to support. Edward also breaks down the role of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), shares what community and healing can look like inside correctional settings, and challenges the assumption that sexual violence is an inevitable part of incarceration.The conversation offers an important reminder for advocates: the skills you already have can make a difference for survivors inside, too. People are sentenced to time, not sexual assault—and preventing violence requires all of us to pay attention, challenge harmful narratives, and push for change.Listen in for practical insights, a fresh perspective on survivor advocacy, and a call to expand who and where our movement reaches.Edward can be reached at (213) 384-1400 ext. 114 or [email protected]. Learn more about Just Detention International at www.justdetention.org.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.

The Cornell 7 case has sparked outrage, difficult conversations, and renewed questions about what happens when colleges and universities fail survivors of sexual violence.In this episode of Teal Talk, we take a closer look at the Cornell 7 case and the broader questions it raises about institutional accountability, campus sexual violence, and what meaningful support for survivors should look like. We’re also joined by a member of our Survivor Empowerment & Advisory Council who shares his perspective on institutional failure and what people can do when they feel discouraged, angry, or overwhelmed by cases like this.Outrage can be a starting point, but it can't be the end point.If the Cornell 7 case left you asking, “What can I actually do about this?” then this conversation is for you.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.

What does it look like to support survivors of sexual violence who are serving, or have served, in the military? In this episode of Teal Talk, Laurie sits down with Dr. Garcia-Soto to talk about the unique experiences of military survivors and the ways military culture, systems, and expectations can shape how someone experiences and responds to sexual violence.Whether you work directly with survivors, serve military-connected communities, or simply want to better understand the realities of sexual violence in the military, this episode offers practical insight and a deeper look at how we can better support those who have served.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.

When people think about sexual violence, older adults are often left out of the conversation. But sexual violence doesn't have an age limit, and neither does the need for support, dignity, and autonomy.In this episode of Teal Talk, Laurie sits down with advocate and educator CeCe Norwood to explore the realities of elder abuse and sexual violence in later life. Together, they discuss why these experiences are so often overlooked; how ageism can prevent older survivors from being believed; and what advocates, caregivers, family members, and communities can do to create safer, more supportive environments.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.

After 36 conversations with advocates, researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and movement leaders, we decided to switch things up. Instead of welcoming another guest, our host Laurie is taking a step back to reflect on the ideas that have stayed with her the most. While every Teal Talk episode has explored a different topic, many of the same themes kept resurfacing.In this solo episode, Laurie shares what surprised her, what challenged her, and what she's learned about hope, collaboration, leadership, survivor-centered advocacy, and sustaining ourselves in this work. Think of it as a conversation to connect the dots between the stories we've shared over the past five seasons.Whether you've listened since episode 1 or you're just discovering Teal Talk, we hope this conversation reminds you why this work matters and why none of us do it alone.

In advocacy work, leadership development can feel impossible when organizations are stretched thin, burnout is high, and everyone is focused on simply making it through the day. But what happens when we only plan for survival and not sustainability? In this episode, Laurie sits down with Dr. Christi Scott Bartman to talk about succession planning, leadership development, and what it takes to sustain people in mission-driven work. Together, they explore how advocacy organizations can create pathways for growth, preserve institutional knowledge, and invest in staff without operating from fear or scarcity.Resources mentioned:Financial Sustainability ToolkitWellness Toolkit with “Hope in the Workplace” (starting at page 40.)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.

What does it really mean to strengthen advocates and why does it matter for survivors? In this episode, we sit down with Elyse McConnell, Executive Director of the Ohio Victim Witness Association (OVWA) to talk about the systems, standards, and support shaping victim advocacy across Ohio. We also break down the Ohio Advocate Network (OAN)—what it is, who it’s for, and how the credentialing process works.If this episode was helpful, share it with a colleague or someone new to the field. And if you’re thinking about taking the next step in your advocacy work, consider exploring OAN and what credentialing could look like for you.Resources & linksLearn more about OVWA: https://ovwa.orgExplore the Ohio Advocate Network (OAN): https://ovwa.org/oanFollow OVWA on social media: @Ohio Victim Witness AssociationInterested in training? Check out:OAESV Training InstituteODVN Domestic Violence Advocacy FundamentalsSummit County Victim Assistance AcademyFollow 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.

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.

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.