RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work

In this episode, Steph is joined by D, Joy, and Juli, members of the We Deserve Better Project Mutual Aid Group. Together, they explore what mutual aid really means, how it differs from charity, and why building relationships rooted in trust, reciprocity, and collective care is essential for sustaining anti-violence work. From personal experiences to practical lessons, they reflect on how mutual a...

In this episode, Steph sits down with Mariam from RAFT and Jackie from The SOAR Collective to explore what helps anti-violence organizations not just survive, but thrive. Drawing on findings from the What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence Organizations project, the three discuss small actions organizations can take to create a big impact. They dig into the practices, leadership approaches...

In this episode, Steph sits down with Rita to explore her decades-long journey in the anti-violence movement—from her early days as a young survivor facilitating peer support groups to becoming a leader shaping healing-centered work. Rita reflects on what sustained her over the years, the challenges and harms embedded within the field, and how she ultimately recognized it was time to step away. To...

In Episode 9, Jackie flips the script and interviews Steph about her journey through—and out of—the anti-violence field. Steph reflects on what drew her to the work, the realities of workplace harm within mission-driven organizations, and the moment she knew it was time to leave. Together, they explore the emotional and physical toll of staying, the mix of grief and relief that comes with stepping...

As the original solution for protecting workers’ rights in exploitative workplaces, unions are starting to make their way into anti-violence organizations across the nation. In Episode 8, Steph is joined by Lorraine, a survivor and direct-service advocate who has played a role in three successful unionizing campaigns. Steph and Lorraine explore the benefit of advocates coming together for collecti...

With so many anti-violence workers experiencing abuse and navigating toxic work environments, it can be hard to envision a brighter future. But there are pockets of change and hope all around us! This month, Steph connects with Emil to chat about their experiences in the anti-violence field—both positive and negative—and the concrete factors that shape those environments. We know perfection doesn’...

There’s a lot of talk about the power of setting healthy boundaries, but what does that really mean… and why can it be so hard to do? In Episode 6, Steph unpacks this hot topic with Lauren R. Taylor, a powerhouse in the movement to end gender based violence and co-author of the book Get Empowered: A Practical Guide to Thrive, Heal, and Embrace Your Confidence in a Sexist World . From the internal...

In Episode 5, Steph is joined by Megan Schoetter, the Assistant Professor of Professional and Technical Writing at West Chester University and an anti-violence volunteer advocate. They explore how reading and writing practices for advocates can be used as a tool to prevent and combat compassion fatigue, especially when implemented organizationally and on agency time. Whether the phrase “reading an...

In Episode 4, Steph is joined by Kayla DeCant, the Project Director of Prevention & Outreach at Lewis University, working to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and substance use/misuse on campus. They chat about the many challenges organizations face in funding the work, Kayla’s creative strategies for keeping programs afloat in these tumultuous times, and how she stays aligned to the mi...

In Episode 3, Steph is joined by Jess H, former anti-violence worker, current mental health therapist, and author of the blog post A Point of View: On Promoting Self-Care as a Tactic of Worker Exploitation . Steph and Jess put agencies’ push for self-care under the microscope, and explore how this individualistic solution to an organizational issue can turn into another means of worker exploitatio...

In Episode 2, Steph is joined by Hoiyan, a former anti-violence advocate, survivor, and current social work graduate student. Steph and Hoiyan unpack the challenges within the field, including burnout, toxic nonprofit cultures, and working in a hostile political climate. From comic books to grassroots resistance, they explore bold ways to reimagine a movement that too often recreates the harm it s...

Welcome to RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work , our new podcast by the We Deserve Better Project . It’s a small space where we’re going to unpack the big issues currently impacting the anti-violence field, and collectively dream up a new future. New episodes will air on the first Monday of the month. In our pilot episode, our host, Steph Klotz, is joined by one of the co-founders of the We Deserve Be...

Welcome to RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work , the new podcast brought to you by the We Deserve Better Project . Subscribe now! First episode out August 4th! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com