Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence

Jenne Lozano is not only a self-proclaimed Title IX nerd, but they are also the campus advocate at Voices of Hope Lincoln. In this role, Jenne supports students, faculty, and staff at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Southeast Community College, Doane University, Union Adventist University, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "It is an honor when survivors trust me with their stories," Jenne shared. "Even after years of advocacy work, I'm still amazed at the strength I am allowed to bear witness to.” "College students have the somewhat unique experience of being away from home for the first time, often in a town or state that's completely new to them," Jenne explained. "It can be awesome and exciting, but it can also be really scary. When abuse is thrown into the mix, having someone who can walk with them through their healing journey is so important." In addition to supporting survivors, Jenne also works to prevent violence from occurring in the first place. "I love being able to talk to students about healthy relationships and talk to them about what might be going wrong while empowering them to be positive bystanders," they explained. Over the summer, Jenne worked with Nebraska Weslyan's Title IX Office and members of Weslyan's Gender-Based Violence Prevention Team to develop Title IX and non-discrimination policies. Jenne helped ensure the policies would create a culture of consent and safety for all students, including nonbinary students. "It was such a humbling experience to be tasked with writing something that was going to directly impact everyone on campus in such a profound way." That's right! On top of advocating for survivors, Jenne is also working to prevent violence not just in classrooms but across an entire campus! What an inspiration!

"My passion has always been to serve my community." Wathina Porter is an enrolled member of the Diné Nation and is also from the Omaha & Muscogee Creek Nation. She works at the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Domestic Violence Program, which serves Native American clients who have experienced sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse, dating violence, domestic violence, and trauma. "As a domestic violence court advocate, I get to establish connections within the justice system, attend Tribal Court Hearings, provide court and legal advocacy, and provide outreach to state, county and district court systems." Wathina provides direct assistance with protection orders and tribal court petitions. She also manages cases, provides community resource referrals, supports traditional and cultural healing practices/medicine, and supports education and awareness efforts. "Wathina is a compassionate, kind, and knowledgeable advocate," said Maddie Walker, our human trafficking program coordinator. "She also participates on the Survivor Advisory Council, where she provides her expertise to improve our response to power-based violence" "I'm a survivor of domestic violence and as authentic as I can be," Wathina explained. "What I know, I share with my relatives. I'm able to connect with them on a personal level. I do my best to advocate and help them feel safe and supported and will go above and beyond for them." When asked what brings her joy in her work, Wathina responded: "I get the honor to witness our relative's growth, strength, and resiliency, supporting them through their healing journey." Thank you, Wathina, for choosing to live out your passion and serve your community!

We love getting together! We recently visited Hastings for our annual staff retreat. We stopped for coffee at the Frahm Bar, explored downtown Hastings including Bryant Books and Music and Small Town Famous, had our minds blown watching a glass blowing demonstration at Hastings College, and enjoyed lunch at Blue Fork Kitchen. Thank you to the Hastings community for welcoming us!

We are so happy to hear that nearly 75% of voters in Nebraska approved paid sick leave! Securing paid sick leave for all Nebraskans is a win in our books! Paid sick leave helps create a supportive workplace for survivors and allows them the flexibility needed to care for themselves without fear of missed wages or job loss. And because poverty and financial stress are associated with an increased risk of violence, paid sick leave can actually help prevent violence from occurring in the first place. Now, that is a BIG WIN!

Dear Survivors, Advocates, and Allies, Thank you for turning out to vote and for helping educate others on how some ballot measures impact survivors. On Election Day, we secured access to paid sick leave for all Nebraskans. As you know, this is a win for our community, and we deserve to celebrate! Other ballot measures did not go the way we hoped. As we all grapple with the implications of these and other Election Day results, please take care of yourself. Know that we are committed to ending intimate partner and sexual violence, and this work takes time. For now, we will rest and take care of ourselves. Then we will continue our work to foster healthy communities where survivors can thrive. As we prepare for the upcoming legislative session, we urge you to stay engaged with the local legislative process. Please sign up for our public policy alerts to stay informed on relevant bills and for opportunities to get involved. Sign up at https://lnkd.in/guPPZv99 .

Surely, you know that today is ELECTION DAY. If you haven't already, GO VOTE! Please keep survivors in mind as you cast your ballot today. ? VOTE AGAINST 434 - This amendment fails to recognize the urgent needs of survivors and instead makes it harder for them to get the help they need. ?? VOTE FOR 436 - Providing paid sick leave to employees helps create a supportive workplace for survivors, and by supporting economic stability, paid sick leave can also prevent intimate partner violence. ?? VOTE FOR 439 - This amendment gives survivors more time to access legal abortion care, ensuring they can make safe, informed decisions without risking further harm. Visit NebraskaCoalition.org for info on casting your ballot today and to learn more about how these ballot measures impact survivors.

You have the power to support an estimated 1.4 million Nebraskans who experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Learn how at https://lnkd.in/guSUM2kB.

Thank you to Survivors' Agenda for sending us merch to help us spread the word that today is NATIONAL SURVIVORS VOTE DAY! Survivors of sexual and domestic violence are experts for how to keep our communities safe and families thriving. Nebraska needs what survivors have to offer. This election season, Survivors Agenda is organizing survivors as a force for change. You can help by taking the #SurvivorsAgenda pledge! Take the pledge TODAY at SurvivorsVote.org.

You can help create a safer, more supportive environment for survivors all across the state, including the estimated 1.4 million Nebraskans who experience some form of intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime and the more than 50,000 Nebraskans who have faced unwanted pregnancy due to rape. ? VOTE AGAINST 434 This amendment fails to recognize the urgent needs of survivors and instead makes it harder for them to get the help they need. ?? VOTE FOR 436 Providing paid sick leave to employees helps create a supportive workplace for survivors, and by supporting economic stability, paid sick leave can also prevent intimate partner violence. ?? VOTE FOR 439 This amendment gives survivors more time to access legal abortion care, ensuring they can make safe, informed decisions without risking further harm. Learn more about how these ballot measures impact survivors at https://lnkd.in/guSUM2kB.

Veronica Holguin is one of Nebraska's leaders in violence prevention. "I'm passionate about creating positive change and helping to build safer communities for everyone," she said. As the Prevention Coordinator at The S.A.F.E Center in Kearney, Veronica oversees the agency's prevention programs, ensuring they are implemented effectively. Her role involves educating community members about healthy relationships through presentations, events, social media outreach, and collaborating with other local organizations. "I'm especially proud of our new prevention training program, Safe Bars," she said. Safe Bars is a nation-wide program designed to help alcohol-serving spaces create safe, welcoming, and respectful environments for their patrons and staff. With a team of nine trainers, Veronica lead the efforts in launching the Kearney chapter in 2023. So far, two local businesses have completed the training and are certified Safe Bars, with more to come! "Seeing Safe Bars come to life after 4+ years of development has been a rewarding journey, and I’m excited about its continued growth," she shared. In implementing the program in Kearney, Veronica actually led the way in establishing the first and only Safe Bars chapter in Nebraska! Way to go, Veronica! Thank you for your leadership in creating positive change and building safer communities for everyone!