RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work

In this episode, Steph sits down with Rita to explore her decades-long journey in the anti-violence movement—from her early days as a young survivor facilitating peer support groups to becoming a leader shaping healing-centered work. Rita reflects on what sustained her over the years, the challenges and harms embedded within the field, and how she ultimately recognized it was time to step away. Together, they unpack the weight of long-term care work, the complexity of leaving a movement you still believe in, and what it means to reimagine both healing and collective futures beyond burnout.Guest BioRita Flores is a survivor leader, facilitator, and consultant with over 25 years in the movement to end gender-based violence. Her work focuses on healing-centered strategy and building collaborative spaces. She joined the We Deserve Better Project in 2025. If you’d like to connect with Rita, reach out to her via Collective Capacity Consulting.More from the We Deserve Better Project* We Deserve Better Project website* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBPIf you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Did this episode inspire you to donate to continue the work of the We Deserve Better Project?When you give to the We Deserve Better Project, you’re fueling a movement for worker rights and survivor justice. Your support keeps our website alive, helps us share our vision through outreach materials, and provides the tools we need to connect with more anti-violence workers.Show CreditsHost: Steph KlotzGuest: Rita FloresProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditors: Mo Lewis & Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

In Episode 9, Jackie flips the script and interviews Steph about her journey through—and out of—the anti-violence field. Steph reflects on what drew her to the work, the realities of workplace harm within mission-driven organizations, and the moment she knew it was time to leave. Together, they explore the emotional and physical toll of staying, the mix of grief and relief that comes with stepping away, and the broader systems pushing workers out. It’s an honest conversation about burnout, healing, and what it looks like to choose yourself while still believing in the mission.Guest BioSteph Klotz is a social work educator with over twenty years of experience in the field of domestic violence and a Masters of Social Work from Fordham University. During her career, Steph spent twelve years working directly with individuals and families impacted by abuse. She brings expertise in domestic violence, the impact of DV on children, case management, values and ethics in family casework, substance abuse, trauma, mental health, and cultural considerations in DV. As an educator, Steph strives to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment and values the power of connection within a classroom. Outside of the teaching space, Steph is a dog mom with a passion for social justice, the arts, cooking, and self-care.More from the We Deserve Better Project* We Deserve Better Project website* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBP* What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence OrganizationsIf you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Did this episode inspire you to donate to continue the work of the We Deserve Better Project?When you give to the We Deserve Better Project, you’re fueling a movement for worker rights and survivor justice. Your support keeps our website alive, helps us share our vision through outreach materials, and provides the tools we need to connect with more anti-violence workers.Show CreditsHost: Jackie StrohmGuest: Steph KlotzProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Mo LewisGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

As the original solution for protecting workers’ rights in exploitative workplaces, unions are starting to make their way into anti-violence organizations across the nation. In Episode 8, Steph is joined by Lorraine, a survivor and direct-service advocate who has played a role in three successful unionizing campaigns. Steph and Lorraine explore the benefit of advocates coming together for collective bargaining power, debunk common myths about unions, and highlight tips for anyone thinking about unionizing their workplace. They also dive into “union-busting” strategies used by employers, from the subtle to more extreme…and how engaging in these tactics signals just how threatened an organization is by workers advocating for their rights.The We Deserve Better Project has a Unionizing Survey launching March 15—more information coming soon on how you can participate!Links* Organize Your Organization * Labor Notes: Secrets of a Successful Organizer* Fight Like Hell* Emergency Workplace Organizing CommitteeGuest BioLorraine is a survivor and direct-service advocate based in the Bay Area, California. With over a decade of experience in the field, their work is driven by a deep commitment to survivor-defined justice. She is proud to have played a role in three successful union campaigns, and most recently, has further honed their leadership skills as a shop steward.Lorraine is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Restorative Justice Leadership & Facilitation and continues to bring their passion and expertise to advancing dignity for workers and survivors in her community.More from the We Deserve Better Project* We Deserve Better Project website* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBP* What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence OrganizationsIf you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Did this episode inspire you to donate to continue the work of the We Deserve Better Project?When you give to the We Deserve Better Project, you’re fueling a movement for worker rights and survivor justice. Your support keeps our website alive, helps us share our vision through outreach materials, and provides the tools we need to connect with more anti-violence workers.Show CreditsHost: Steph KlotzGuest: LorraineProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Mo LewisWriters/Researchers: Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

With so many anti-violence workers experiencing abuse and navigating toxic work environments, it can be hard to envision a brighter future. But there are pockets of change and hope all around us! This month, Steph connects with Emil to chat about their experiences in the anti-violence field—both positive and negative—and the concrete factors that shape those environments. We know perfection doesn’t exist, especially in the systems we live in, but Steph and Emil dig into some of the small things anyone in a position of power can do to better support staff and survivors… and what we can learn from other movements. Links* Million Experiments* Interrupting Criminalization* Anne Helene "Imagine Your Flexible Office Work"* National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence* FORGE Forward* LGBTQ+ Survivor Advocacy Network Monthly Meeting Sign Up FormBooks (note: if folks buy from these links it will benefit FORGE)* The Revolution will Not Be Funded* What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures* Everything for Everyone* We Will Rise AgainGuest BioEmil has worked in survivor support and violence prevention for over twenty years. They’re white, genderqueer, and living with Long Covid in Florida. They strive to bring abolitionist and liberatory values to all of their work.More from the We Deserve Better Project* We Deserve Better Project website* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBP* What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence OrganizationsIf you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Did this episode inspire you to donate to continue the work of the We Deserve Better Project?When you give to the We Deserve Better Project, you’re fueling a movement for worker rights and survivor justice. Your support keeps our website alive, helps us share our vision through outreach materials, and provides the tools we need to connect with more anti-violence workers.Show CreditsHost: Steph KlotzGuest: EmilProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Mo LewisWriters/Researchers: Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

There’s a lot of talk about the power of setting healthy boundaries, but what does that really mean… and why can it be so hard to do? In Episode 6, Steph unpacks this hot topic with Lauren R. Taylor, a powerhouse in the movement to end gender based violence and co-author of the book Get Empowered: A Practical Guide to Thrive, Heal, and Embrace Your Confidence in a Sexist World. From the internal challenges around setting boundaries to potential retaliation to these new limits, Lauren and Steph demystify the boundary-setting process and provide real tools for navigating it with confidence and self-compassion. Links* Defend Yourself website* Get Empowered book* Brain States Awareness Profile (assessment mentioned by Steph that analyzes brain states. This tool can be used for inclusion work, as well as for becoming your best self at home and in the work place). If you’re interested in learning more about the Brain States Awareness Profile, or in taking the assessment and discussing your results, contact Mercedes, a certified consultant. ActivitiesI have a right to:* To be in public spaces without harassment* To be me* To be safe and secure* To defend myself* To define my own comfort zone* To feel however I feel* To have my boundaries respected* To make my own decisions* To not always be available* To be touched only with consent* To say no* To ask for what I want* To take care of myself, not just others* To take up space in the world* To walk away* To work without harassment* To be treated with respect* To feel safeAm I a bad person?People raised female often feel like a “bad person” when they start to say “No.” We don’t even know you and we can honestly say this: YOU ARE NOT A BAD PERSON!If you feel unable to speak up because you’d be violating an unjust rule that says you don’t matter, notice that. What are the sentences that come into your brain when you start to speak up for yourself? Where is the feeling in your body that shuts you down? These feelings are real — but the rules are wrong.You are not a bad person if you don’t want to do everything that’s asked of you. You are not a bad person if you set limits. You are not a bad person if you ask for what you want.We all deserve to be whole human beings with our own feelings, wants, and needs. To be able to speak our feelings, wants, and needs out loud might feel like we’re violating some rules — because we are. Let’s break the rules that say we don’t matter, or that we’re not as important as others are.Guest BioLauren R. Taylor (she/they) is a powerhouse in the movement to end gender-based violence — a fierce advocate for bodily autonomy, safety, and healing. She began this work in 1978, when she co-founded D.C.’s first shelter for abused women and their children.She’s a survivor who, for more than 35 years, has been teaching skills for stopping harassment, abuse, and assault to those most often targeted: women, LGBTQIA+ people, and disabled people.She and her team at Defend Yourself have shared skills for preventing, interrupting, and healing from harassment, abuse, and assault with some 40,000 people in the D.C. area and nationwide. Her book — Get Empowered: A Practical Guide to Thrive, Heal, and Embrace Your Confidence in a Sexist World — co-authored with Nadia Telsey, is a blueprint for resilience, self-advocacy, and collective liberation. Using practical tools and sharing powerful stories, Lauren equips those she works with to set boundaries, speak up with confidence, and change the world.laurenrosetaylor.comMore from the We Deserve Better Project* We Deserve Better Project website* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBPIf you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Did this episode inspire you to donate to continue the work of the We Deserve Better Project?When you give to the We Deserve Better Project, you’re fueling a movement for worker rights and survivor justice. Your support keeps our website alive, helps us share our vision through outreach materials, and provides the tools we need to connect with more anti-violence workers.Show CreditsHost: Steph KlotzGuest: Lauren R. TaylorProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Mo LewisWriters/Researchers: Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

In Episode 5, Steph is joined by Megan Schoetter, the Assistant Professor of Professional and Technical Writing at West Chester University and an anti-violence volunteer advocate. They explore how reading and writing practices for advocates can be used as a tool to prevent and combat compassion fatigue, especially when implemented organizationally and on agency time. Whether the phrase “reading and writing” gets you excited or brings up some anxiety, Megan dives into how the process can have a positive impact… and even get the self-proclaimed haters to change their tune!Links* Megan’s Blog Post: “Surviving and Thriving: Reading and Writing Practices of Survivor Advocates,” for Text Power Telling* Crystal Ponti “What It’s Actually Like to Be Stalked by Joe”* In Her Shoes, designed by Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence* Chanel Miller Know My Name* Roxane Gay Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture* Michelle Alexander The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness* WDBP Resource Page* SOAR Collective InstagramGuest BioMegan Schoettler is the the Assistant Professor of Professional and Technical Writing at West Chester University and an anti-violence volunteer advocate. She researches feminist activism and advocacy and has been published in peer-reviewed journals and books, including the book Rhetorica Rising: Feminist Rhetorical Methods for Social Change. Megan also contributed to the We Deserve Better Project as a reviewer.Check out Megan’s faculty webpage for her contact informationMore from the We Deserve Better Project* We Deserve Better Project website* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBPIf you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Did this episode inspire you to donate to continue the work of the We Deserve Better Project?When you give to the We Deserve Better Project, you’re fueling a movement for worker rights and survivor justice. Your support keeps our website alive, helps us share our vision through outreach materials, and provides the tools we need to connect with more anti-violence workers.Show CreditsHost: Steph KlotzGuest: Megan SchoetterProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Mo LewisWriters/Researchers: Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

In Episode 4, Steph is joined by Kayla DeCant, the Project Director of Prevention & Outreach at Lewis University, working to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and substance use/misuse on campus. They chat about the many challenges organizations face in funding the work, Kayla’s creative strategies for keeping programs afloat in these tumultuous times, and how she stays aligned to the mission while doing it.Links* Trauma Stewardship Academy * Emergent Strategy* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBPGuest BioKayla DeCant is the Project Director of Prevention & Outreach at Lewis University, working to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and substance use/misuse on campus. They are an experienced educator and research professional with a background in community and nonprofit violence prevention. Kayla’s facilitation philosophy draws from trauma-informed practices that focus on the community, intersectionality, and empowerment. Her experiences include youth organizing facilitations, restorative justice circles, classroom facilitation, professional development, and individual mentoring. Kayla received her Master’s Degree in Community Development and Action with a certificate in Women and Gender Studies from Vanderbilt Peabody College. They currently serve on Will County’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee, the Campus Advisory Committee for the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), are on the Leadership Committee for the Campus Advocacy and Prevention Professionals Association (CAPPA), as well as on the board of the National Prevention Science Coalition (NPSC).If you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Did this episode inspire you to donate to continue the work of the We Deserve Better Project? When you give to the We Deserve Better Project, you’re fueling a movement for worker rights and survivor justice. Your support keeps our website alive, helps us share our vision through outreach materials, and provides the tools we need to connect with more anti-violence workers.Show CreditsHost: Steph KlotzGuest: Kayla DeCantProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Mo LewisWriters/Researchers: Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

In Episode 3, Steph is joined by Jess H, former anti-violence worker, current mental health therapist, and author of the blog post A Point of View: On Promoting Self-Care as a Tactic of Worker Exploitation. Steph and Jess put agencies’ push for self-care under the microscope, and explore how this individualistic solution to an organizational issue can turn into another means of worker exploitation.Links* A Point of View: On Promoting Self-Care as a Tactic of Worker Exploitation* Why Boundaries Are Essential Self-Care* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBPIf you’re interested in being a guest on the podcast to share your experiences in the anti-violence field and/or your visions for a better future, email [email protected] with the subject line, “Podcast Guest”Show CreditsHost: Steph KlotzGuest: Jess HProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Mo LewisWriters/Researchers: Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

In Episode 2, Steph is joined by Hoiyan, a former anti-violence advocate, survivor, and current social work graduate student. Steph and Hoiyan unpack the challenges within the field, including burnout, toxic nonprofit cultures, and working in a hostile political climate. From comic books to grassroots resistance, they explore bold ways to reimagine a movement that too often recreates the harm it seeks to end.Links* Florida Department of Law Enforcement: Former FCADV CEO has been arrested* A cautionary tale of power and corruption: CEO autonomy and board oversight at the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence* Recommendations for Funders* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBPHost: Steph KlotzGuest: HoiyanProducers: We Deserve Better Project teamEditor: Steph KlotzWriters/Researchers: Steph KlotzGraphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie StrohmSocial Media Manager: Jackie StrohmMusic: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

Welcome to RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work, our new podcast by the We Deserve Better Project. It’s a small space where we’re going to unpack the big issues currently impacting the anti-violence field, and collectively dream up a new future. New episodes will air on the first Monday of the month.In our pilot episode, our host, Steph Klotz, is joined by one of the co-founders of the We Deserve Better Project to discuss the results of their National Assessment and visions for the future of anti-violence work.Links* We Deserve Better Project website* WDBP Assessment Key Findings* Get Involved with the WDBP* What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence OrganizationsShow Credits* Host: Steph Klotz* Guest: Jackie Strohm* Producers: We Deserve Better Project team* Editor: Steph Klotz* Writers/Researchers: Steph Klotz* Graphic Designers: Merlin Paton-Usry & Jackie Strohm* Social Media Manager: Jackie Strohm* Music: Breathe In by Sappheiros This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com

Welcome to RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work, the new podcast brought to you by the We Deserve Better Project. Subscribe now! First episode out August 4th! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wedeservebetterproject.substack.com