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In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Leah Aldridge and long-time friend and colleague Alejandra Valles explore activism, organizing, and the question, “What would a world without violence look like?”   Alejandra, CEO of the Ya Basta! Center and former union leader at SEIU-USWW, has dedicated 26 years to advocating for people that society relies on but too often marginalizes - janitors, service workers, laborers, farmworkers, immigrants, and sexual assault survivors. Through her stories on the power of California’s Superwomen janitors who stood together and declared, “Basta! Enough!”, Alejandra shows how a small group of determined people can spark change on a national scale.  Alejandra’s stories illuminate how change makers come from all walks of life, and that we all have the potential to create homes, workplaces, and communities that are free from violence.

En este episodio de Conversaciones de VALOR, Rocío Molina conversa con el Pastor Benjamín Ortega sobre la prevención de la violencia, nuestros jóvenes y la fe, partiendo de una pregunta que nos invita a reflexionar: ¿Cómo sería un mundo sin violencia? Pastor Ben ha dedicado más de 20 años a servir a su comunidad y acompañar a jóvenes y familias desde la fe. En esta conversación comparte lo que ha aprendido sobre la importancia de estar presentes para nuestros jóvenes, rodearlos de personas que aporten a sus vidas y tener esas conversaciones que muchas veces no sabemos cómo comenzar. También hablamos de cómo podemos hacer las cosas diferentes a lo que aprendimos, del papel que pueden tener las comunidades de fe en la prevención de la violencia y de cómo la fe y la comunidad pueden ayudarnos a encontrar esperanza y seguir adelante. Una conversación muy personal que nos recuerda que no tenemos que hacerlo solos ni solas, que siempre podemos crecer y que cada uno de nosotros puede poner su granito de arena para construir un mundo sin violencia. -------------- Faith in Action: Building a World Without Violence In this episode of Conversaciones de VALOR, host Rocío Molina sits down with Pastor Benjamín Ortega for a heartfelt conversation about violence prevention, young people, and the role of faith in creating a world free from violence. At the heart of their conversation is a powerful question: What would a world without violence look like? For more than 20 years, Pastor Ben has supported young people and families through faith and community service. He shares the importance of being present for our youth, surrounding them with positive influences, and having meaningful conversations, even when they are difficult. Together, they reflect on breaking harmful patterns, the role of faith and families in preventing violence, and how these connections can inspire hope and positive change. This heartfelt conversation reminds us that we are not alone, that we can always learn and grow, and that each of us can do our part, no matter how small, to help build a world free from violence.

Maria Elena Greeman-Lynde joins Leah Aldridge in this episode of VALOR Conversations to explore the question, “What would a world without violence look like?”  As the founder of Homegirlz de Corazon in San Diego, California, Maria Elena has transformed her experiences with gang life and unhealthy relationships into a mission to support homegirls and young people in her community live authentically without violence. She believes that showing them that they can live authentically as themselves can help them work against the idea of violence equalling safety.  Through her work and the creation of A Homegirl’s Guide to Self-Love, Maria Elena empowers others to embrace their identities, envision new possibilities, and shape their own future. Her story is a powerful reminder that each of us has the ability to create meaningful change and help build a world without violence.

In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Dr. Alan Heisterkamp sits down with Leah Aldridge to discuss his esteemed career implementing programs, researching, and leading sexual assault and violence prevetion as they explore the question, “What would a world without violence look like?”  Alan has spent his career advancing led sexual assault and violence prevention at every level, from serving as a high school principle to directing The University of Northern Iowa’s Patricia A. Thompson Center on Violence Prevention and collaborating with schools and governments from around the world, including Sweden, Scotland, and India.  Alan and Leah explore how fostering cultures and communities rooted in care, respect, and inclusion can drive meaningful change, and how students can play a leading role in making it happen.

In this two-part, in-person VALOR Conversation, Leah Aldridge is joined by David S. Lee, VALOR’s Deputy Director, as they sit down with their mentor, Billie Weiss. Billie’s work has been foundational to the field of violence prevention, as she was one of the first to connect research on the rate of violence in 1980’s Los Angeles to sexual assault and traumatic harm.  Billie, Leah, and David discuss the history of public health and the work that went into unifying the many different people who had a similar goal of preventing violence and supporting survivors of harm. Their conversation highlights Billie’s legacy and how far the movements to prevent sexual assault and violence have come since the late 1980s.  As David and Leah remember the impact Billie had on them and their understanding of violence prevention, Billie shares her hopes that all of their legacies continue prevention work until there’s a future where violence is unimaginable. Check out a special conversation between Ashleigh Klein-Jimenez and David S. Lee on Billie’s ongoing violence prevention legacy on PreventConnect → Prevention Then & Now: Reflections from Long-Time Practitioners with David S. Lee on Billie Weiss/

In this two-part, in-person VALOR Conversation, Leah Aldridge is joined by David S. Lee, VALOR’s Deputy Director, as they sit down with their mentor, Billie Weiss. Billie’s work has been foundational to the field of violence prevention, as she was one of the first to connect research on the rate of violence in 1980’s Los Angeles to sexual assault and traumatic harm.  Billie, Leah, and David discuss the history of public health and the work that went into unifying the many different people who had a similar goal of preventing violence and supporting survivors of harm. Their conversation highlights Billie’s legacy and how far the movements to prevent sexual assault and violence have come since the late 1980s.  As David and Leah remember the impact Billie had on them and their understanding of violence prevention, Billie shares her hopes that all of their legacies continue prevention work until there’s a future where violence is unimaginable. Check out a special conversation between Ashleigh Klein-Jimenez and David S. Lee on Billie’s ongoing violence prevention legacy on PreventConnect → Prevention Then & Now: Reflections from Long-Time Practitioners with David S. Lee on Billie Weiss/

In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Leah Aldridge sits down with her colleague Grace Glaser to discuss the work behind how survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other violent crimes, facing a devastating cut of 44.7% in federal funding, harnessed their collective power and successfully advocated for the inclusion of $87 million in California’s state budget in 2024.  Grace shares how she centers and uplifts the voices of survivors while advocating for policy change at the state and national levels as VALOR’s previous Senior Public Relations and Policy Manager. Their conversation highlights the importance of centering survivors' voices and following their lead in advocating for policy change, as well as the challenges and emotional toll of the work that goes into powering grassroots activism.  Grace is continuing to advocate for survivors of violence at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence as their External Affairs Analyst.

In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Lisalyn Jacobs joins Leah Aldridge to share her journey from unexpectedly finding herself in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence, breaking down economic and restorative justice, and becoming one of the architects of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization in 2021.  Lisalyn, Founder and CEO of Just Solutions, has spent her career pushing towards survivor-centered policy by expanding the definition of justice by listening to survivors and advocating on behalf of their definitions of justice. Lisalyn’s and Leah’s conversation brings deep insight into the behind-the-scenes steps that legislation and policy go through to make the work to prevent sexual violence, support healing after harm, and finding justice more accessible for survivors across the nation.

En este episodio en español de Conversaciones de VALOR, Rocío Molina platica con Bamby Salcedo sobre la visibilidad trans como presencia, liderazgo y construcción de futuro. Con mucha honestidad y corazón, Bamby, Presidenta y Directora Ejecutiva de la Coalición TransLatin@, se nombra primero como servidora del pueblo y comparte cómo pasó de la sobrevivencia a la esperanza, transformando experiencias dolorosas en propósito, alegría y fuerza colectiva. Habla de lo que significa vivir sin disculpas y de la importancia de abrir espacio para otras personas trans. Juntas conversan sobre el “sí te acepto, pero…” que muchas veces aparece en nuestras familias, sobre la fuerza del amor incondicional, y sobre una justicia social que verdaderamente incluya a todas las personas—sin excepciones. Este episodio es una invitación a practicar la unidad, a creer en nuestras comunidades y a seguir construyendo un futuro donde vivir plenamente sea posible para tod@s. Mira el video musical de Bamby para su canción “La Cumbia del Movimiento” y disfruta la alegría de la música y la hermosa energía de la comunidad trans → https://youtu.be/ol2stIsOipA?si=76IQoeVYMT506pDJ ----- In this Spanish-language episode of VALOR Conversations, Rocío Molina sits down with Bamby Salcedo to explore trans visibility as presence, leadership, and the work of building a more just future. With honesty and heart, Bamby, President and CEO of The TransLatin@ Coalition, first names herself a servant of the people and reflects on her journey from survival to hope, transforming painful experiences into purpose, joy, and collective power. She speaks about what it means to live without apology and to intentionally open doors for other trans leaders. Together, they examine the “I accept you, but…” that so often shows up within families, the urgent need for unconditional love, and why social justice movements must fully include trans communities, not as an afterthought, but at the center. This episode is a call to unity, to real solidarity across movements, and to building systems where dignity and full humanity are non-negotiable. Watch Bamby’s music video for her song, “LA Cumbia Del Movimiento,” to experience the joy of music and the trans community → https://youtu.be/ol2stIsOipA?si=76IQoeVYMT506pDJ

Emma Collins and Charley Newel of Community Action Partnership, San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO), join Leah Aldridge in this episode of VALOR Conversations. As sex educators, they share how introducing youth to healthy relationship practices early on instills ideas of respect and care for one another. Through accessible education and taking students’ lived experiences, understanding, and feelings into consideration, Charley and Emma highlight how sex-ed has changed from being monotonous to youth-led. Their conversation puts into perspective the importance of teaching healthy relationships and understanding of consent as an integral part of creating healthy communities and preventing sexual violence.

In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Sarah and Abby sit down with Leah Aldridge to discuss harm reduction: what it is, how it can be practiced to increase opportunities for prevention, and the power it has to uplift survivors of sexual violence and harm.  Friends for many years, Abby and Sarah have drawn from growing up in the punk subculture with a DIY ethos and experiences working to end sexual violence to connect support for survivors and harm reduction advocacy. Their conversation illuminates how harnessing uncommon practices can increase access to services for non-traditional survivors, prevent further harm, and support stronger, healthier communities.

Welcome back to VALOR Conversations! This season, hosts Leah Aldridge, Marsela Rojas-Salas, Grace Glaser, and Rocio Molina sit down with advocates as they share how their experiences shaped their advocacy and work in the gender-based violence movement. In this episode, Amika Mota, the Executive Director of Sister Warriors and formerly incarcerated survivor joins VALOR Conversations to talk about how she became an “accidental activist.” She shares how her experiences as a teen mom, midwife, and within the carceral system pushed her to reimagine justice. Amika’s story compels us to imagine the work we can do alongside her to create a future where mass incarceration and societal barriers do not exist.

In this episode, Jasmine Wali, a policy, advocacy, and research consultant and organizer with Survived and Punished California, joins us to discuss the criminalization of poverty. Jasmine’s story highlights transformations for social workers to become advocates who support, not report, children and families in need.

Primera Parte / Episode 1 En nuestros primeros episodios de Conversaciones de VALOR (VALOR Conversations) en español y dividido en dos partes, Anabela Aguirre y Verónica M. Lagunas comparten sus historias transformadoras de ser conserjes inmigrantes en el turno de noche que experimentan entornos de trabajo hostiles para construir una comunidad unida y poderosa como co-fundadoras del Centro ¡Ya Basta!  En el episodio se habla de cómo Anabela y Verónica comenzaron su labor de abogacía y su explosivo especial de primera línea, “Violación en el Turno de Noche.” El episodio 2 continúa la historia de abogacia de Anabela y Verónica después de “Violación en el Turno de Noche” y comparten el activismo directo en el que participaron y las leyes que aprobaron para crear entornos más seguros para inmigrantes, conserjes y trabajadores del turno de noche. ---- In our first-ever Spanish language and two-part VALOR Conversations episodes, Anabela Aguirre and Veronica M. Lagunas sit down with VALOR Conversations to share their transformational stories of being night-shift, immigrant janitors experiencing hostile work environments to building a tight-knit and powerful community as co-founders of the ¡Ya Basta! Center. Episode 1 discusses how Anabela and Veronica came into advocacy and their explosive frontline special, “Rape on the Night Shift.” Episode 2 continues Anabela’s and Veronica’s advocacy story after “Rape on the Night Shift” and they share the direct activism they participated in and laws they passed to create safer environments for immigrants, janitors, and night-shift workers.

Segunda Parte / Episode 2 En nuestros primeros episodios de Conversaciones de VALOR (VALOR Conversations) en español y dividido en dos partes, Anabela Aguirre y Verónica M. Lagunas comparten sus historias transformadoras de ser conserjes inmigrantes en el turno de noche que experimentan entornos de trabajo hostiles para construir una comunidad unida y poderosa como co-fundadoras del Centro ¡Ya Basta!  En el episodio se habla de cómo Anabela y Verónica comenzaron su labor de abogacía y su explosivo especial de primera línea, “Violación en el Turno de Noche.” El episodio 2 continúa la historia de abogacia de Anabela y Verónica después de “Violación en el Turno de Noche” y comparten el activismo directo en el que participaron y las leyes que aprobaron para crear entornos más seguros para inmigrantes, conserjes y trabajadores del turno de noche. ---- In our first-ever Spanish language and two-part VALOR Conversations episodes, Anabela Aguirre and Veronica M. Lagunas sit down with VALOR Conversations to share their transformational stories of being night-shift, immigrant janitors experiencing hostile work environments to building a tight-knit and powerful community as co-founders of the ¡Ya Basta! Center. Episode 1 discusses how Anabela and Veronica came into advocacy and their explosive frontline special, “Rape on the Night Shift.” Episode 2 continues Anabela’s and Veronica’s advocacy story after “Rape on the Night Shift” and they share the direct activism they participated in and laws they passed to create safer environments for immigrants, janitors, and night-shift workers.