Teachable Moments: Domestic Violence in the News
No one should be a victim of domestic violence, but to thousands of people - especially women - it is a sad and sobering reality. In 2005 the CDC estimated that approximately two million injuries per year were caused by domestic violence. Splashed across the headlines are constant reminders of how prevalent these incidents are, even among celebrities - including Chris Brown in February of 2009, Charlie Sheen in December of 2009, and Mel Gibson in early 2011.
APB offers many speakers who are activists against domestic violence. Sharing personal experiences and offering a firm call to action, they enlighten students, hoping to affect change in both their mindsets and actions.
Victor Rivas Rivers
Rivers endured horrific child abuse and witnessed domestic violence at the hands of his father which he chronicles in his New York Times bestseller, A Private Family Matter. An actor, athlete, and advocate, he is the national spokesperson for the National Network to End Domestic Violence. He believes we can help break the cycle of abuse by reaching out and educating young women and men.
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Janine Latus
Her New York Times bestseller, If I Am Missing or Dead, is a heart-wrenching journey of discovery as she traces the roots of her own - and her sister's - victimization with unflinching candor. At once a confession, a call to break the cycle of abuse, and a deeply felt love letter to her sister, If I Am Missing or Dead is an unforgettable read, and Latus is an unforgettable speaker.
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Kevin Powell
Activist, public servant, and author of The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life, Powell has always taken a stand against domestic violence. He advocates that we must redefine manhood and that violence against women and girls is not going to end until men and boys become active participants in the fight against such behavior.
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Pearl Cleage
Award-winning playwright and author of Mad at Miles and What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, Cleage is a anti-violence activist who speaks out in her work - and her personal life against racism, sexism and injustice. A survivor of abuse, she takes it personally, advocating that the more we get people talking, the more minds we can change and the more lives we can save.
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Alvin Poussaint
Harvard psychiatrist, Cosby Show consultant, and internationally recognized authority on the American family, Dr. Poussaint is a strong proponent of non-violent parenting and an expert on educating families on violence prevention. He has united with Bill Cosby to lay out a vision for strengthening communities and families in Come on People: On the Path from Victims to Victors.
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Liz Seccuro
Victims' rights activist Seccuro is one of the first rape victims to share her story with the country when she brought one of her rapists to justice in 2006, 22 years after the incident. She tells her inspirational journey of survival, justice, and coming to terms with her experience in the upcoming book Crash into Me: A Survivor's Search for Justice
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Geoffrey Canada
Profiled on 60 Minutes, Canada has achieved great success as President and CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone, an agency that fuses community building with academic achievement to improve the futures of inner city youth. He has a passionate concern for children and a selfless determination to make their lives safer and more successful.
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Robin Givens
Actress Robin Givens endured months of abuse at the hands of her former husband, boxing legend Mike Tyson. Now, as spokeswoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Givens speaks out about her ordeal, educating men, women, and the African American community about domestic violence.
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Judge Marilyn Milian
Judge Milian is the first Latina Judge to host a nationally syndicated television court show, The People's Court. A strong voice against domestic violence, she offers compassion for victims combined with a fierce commitment to preventing abuse and bringing abusers to justice.
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Free
Radio host and previous BET personality, Free not only serves as an Ambassador of hip-hop culture, but as an activist who has spoken out against domestic violence. A survivor of abuse, she has founded the Free4Life Foundation to focus on teen violence prevention and financial literacy education.
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Judge Glenda Hatchett
Nationally recognized as an expert on juvenile and social issues including child abuse and domestic violence, Judge Hatchett speaks with authority on saving the generations of today and the future. With compassion and credibility, she affirms that her brand of justice matters for all.
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Brenda Combs
A symbol of inspiration and perseverance, Combs has gone from "homeless to hero" overcoming the darkest depths of addiction and domestic abuse to become an educator, teaching other women and children about survival. She inspires others by sharing her own riveting story of overcoming tremendous obstacles.
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Our newly-updated Domestic Violence Speakers Brochure features keynote speakers who have witnessed firsthand how individuals, families, and communities can be destroyed by domestic violence and child abuse. The happy ending is that these domestic violence speakers and speakers on child abuse have risen above their sad circumstances, becoming productive and successful members of society who now speak out against the injustices they endured. Sharing their personal experiences and offering a firm call to action, they enlighten audiences and effect change in both their mindsets and actions.