- Voices for Safety
- Agenda
- Let's Talk About It...Really Talk About It
Let’s Talk About It…Really Talk About It
Conference Theme: Community Empowerment
Session Description
Sexual violence is an epidemic impacting individuals, families, and entire communities. One of the most powerful ways we can begin prevention is by starting early, with foundational conversations about body autonomy, using anatomically correct language, and discussing safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches.
While these may seem like simple concepts, many caregivers face barriers when it comes to having these conversations in age-appropriate ways. In this workshop, advocate and trainer Bree joins survivor and author Cheyenne to provide practical tools and resources across multiple modalities. Together, we’ll explore how to engage children, caregivers, and community members in conversations that can spark prevention and healing—and how to push for systemic change so these discussions are normalized and continued in schools. We especially aim to offer participants strategies to expand this knowledge beyond the home and into classrooms, neighborhoods, and support networks.
Session Objectives
Participants will
- To discuss and provide information on the importance of prevention education with safe/unsafe/unwanted touches, anatomically correct body parts, consent, etc.
- To discuss the importance of continuing these discussions in the classroom based on age appropriateness.
- To provide tools and resources to use in these conversations for parents/caregivers/community members to advocate for further systemic change.
Presenter
Bree Theising, Midwest Children’s Resource Center and Advocate
Bree Theising BS, MPA is an advocate with over a decade of experience working alongside victim/survivors and professionals, eradicating sexual violence and promoting healing. Bree specializes in medical advocacy, sexual assault kits, and has done direct services. She continues to fight for those who may be silenced.
Cheyenne Wilson, We Are the Evidence
Cheyenne Wilson, BSN, founder of We Are the Evidence, is on a mission to raise awareness about the reality of sexual assault, eliminate the stigma associated with being a victim of this violent crime, and make lasting changes in the justice and healthcare systems. Cheyenne earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology and worked in social services before pursuing a career in nursing.