One Leader’s Mission to Support Survivors in Colorado’s Mountain Towns with Shannon Meyer | Ep 18

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Shannon Meyer, the Executive Director of Response, a nonprofit doing critical work with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking here in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley.Shannon’s path to this work is unlike any I’ve heard - she came from a background in environmental conservation and ended up leading a survivor services organization through a period of major transformation. We talked about what it’s really like to run a domestic violence shelter in a small mountain community, and the unique challenges (and opportunities) that come with that.In our conversation, we cover:How Shannon helped stabilize and grow Response after years of leadership turnoverWhy fewer survivors are seeking sexual assault exams - and why that’s deeply concerningWhat trauma-informed advocacy actually looks like on the groundThe power of law enforcement partnerships and early interventionThe shift away from secret shelters - and why public-facing models may actually be saferHow Response is reaching youth and shifting culture through educationAs a lawyer who works closely with survivors and serves on Response’s board, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact this organization has. This episode is close to my heart - and I hope it gives you a deeper understanding of the work being done behind the scenes to support survivors in rural communities.Resources:Learn more or get help: responsehelps.orgFollow Response on Instagram24/7 crisis line: 970-925-SAFE (7233)