Hosted by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a national movement of more than 10,000 survivors, Survivors Speak will be the largest convening of crime survivors in the U.S.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (PRWEB) April 06, 2018
Almost 700 crime survivors from across California and the country will join national, state and community leaders in Sacramento on April 9-10 for “Survivors Speak: Healing Through Action.” Hosted by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a national movement of more than 10,000 survivors, the event will be the largest convening of crime survivors in the U.S.
Survivors Speak will open on Monday, April 9 with a morning plenary session featuring national leaders of a growing and diverse crime survivors movement including Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, and Parkland survivor Samantha Fuentes representing March for Our Lives. The speakers will focus on how to transform trauma into organizing power.
Events on Tuesday, April 10 will include a conversation on access to victims’ services and funding featuring the voices of survivors and decision makers, in addition to a march to the California State Capitol. Following the march will be a Healing Festival featuring keynote speakers, entertainment, powerful testimonies from crime survivors, and a healing resource fair.
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a growing national movement with five chapters across California and developing chapters in eight states across the country, recognizes that survivors deserve a safety and justice system that works for everyone — a system that prioritizes prevention, accountability and recovery from harm. For the past five years, crime survivors have been a guiding force for justice reform in California and across the country. Key to their success is the common sense economics of prioritizing crime prevention and recovery over punishment and prison.
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice was instrumental in helping pass key legislation in California, such as Proposition 47 and Proposition 57, measures putting the State at the forefront of justice reform. To date, Proposition 47 has has saved the State $103 million, funding that has been reallocated to community-based crime prevention programs. The network also advocated for the reinvestment of government dollars from punitive and ineffective measures and incarceration to recovery services, such as Trauma Recovery Centers. There are now 15 trauma recovery centers providing comprehensive services to survivors of violent crime with more on the way.
Now the movement has gone nationwide, bringing together crime survivors of all stripes to drive extraordinary action for social change under unifying themes, including a call for healing and trauma recovery, and investments into prevention, treatment and community empowerment.
WHAT: Survivors Speak 2018: Healing Through Action
TIME AND LOCATION:
Monday, April 9:
A Dialogue with Survivor Leaders from Across the Country: How survivors are turning pain into power and organizing to transform the nation.
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel Ballroom, 1230 J St, Sacramento
Speakers will include:
-Tarana Burke, Founder, #MeToo Movement
-Samantha Fuentes, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Senior, Parkland shooting survivor
-Robert Rooks, Vice President and Co-Founder, Alliance for Safety and Justice; Associate Director, Californians for Safety and Justice; Co-Founder, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
-Aswad Thomas, Chapter Development and Membership Director, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
-sujatha baliga, vice president and director, Restorative Justice Project
Opening Dinner and Reception: Crime Survivors from across California and the nation will gather to celebrate five years of accomplishments with a gala reception featuring remarks from elected officials, a survivors’ panel and dinner.
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel Ballroom
Speakers will include:
-Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena)
-Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego)
-Survivors of crime
Tuesday, April 10
Conversation on Victims’ Services: Decision makers committed to this movement will share their ideas and vision for extending victims’ services to more survivors in California.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel Ballroom
Participants will include:
-Leigh Bills, Division Chief of Victim Services, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
-Julie Nauman, Executive Officer, California Victim Compensation Board
-Katie Howard, Executive Director, Board of State and Community Corrections
-Nolice Edwards, Chief of Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
-Undersecretary Ralph Diaz, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Operations
Survivors Speak March: Survivors will march through the streets of downtown Sacramento to the Capitol on Tuesday.
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Starting point - Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel
Healing Festival: The march will culminate in a Healing Festival at the California State Capitol, with remarks from policy and movement leaders, entertainment, and a Healing Resource Fair.
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: California State Capitol
Speakers will include:
-Aqeela Sherrills, Community Activist and Co-Founder, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
-Xander Schultz, Founding Partner, One Tribe Ventures
-Mayor of Stockton Michael Tubbs
-Assemblymember Phil Ting
-Survivors of crime
-Victim service providers and trauma recovery experts
-Community and faith leaders
Media interested in attending should RSVP to Layla Crater at layla(at)change-llc(dot)com by Monday, April 9.
About Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice:
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is a flagship project of the Alliance for Safety and Justice, a national organization that aims to win new safety priorities in states across the country. ASJ partners with leaders and advocates to advance state reform through networking, coalition building, research, education and advocacy. Online at cssj.org and on Twitter @CSSJustice.