BWJP Presents: Taking Back Control
By The Battered Women's Justice Project
Financial Empowerment for Survivors: Inside the Moving Ahead Workbook
Economic abuse is a common tactic in abusive relationships—yet it’s often misunderstood or overlooked. In this episode of Taking Back Control, we take a closer look at the Moving Ahead workbook, a resource developed by The Allstate Foundation to help survivors navigate financial instability and work toward long-term independence.
Host Alyssa Toledo is joined by Tonya Lovelace, President & CEO of Lovelace Consulting Services, Inc., who served as expert facilitator for the workbook’s most recent revision. Sharisse Kimbro of The Allstate Foundation and Amy Sánchez, CEO of BWJP, also join the conversation to share how the workbook has evolved over time and how it continues to support advocates and survivors across the country.
Together, they explore how financial empowerment is not just about numbers—it’s about safety, dignity, and building a future on your own terms.
https://www.thelearningcommunitytoendviolence.org/movingahead
Freedom and Power: Ending the Criminalization of Black Women and Girls
In this powerful episode of Taking Back Control, BWJP’s Cindene Pezzell sits down with three visionary leaders working to dismantle the criminal legal system’s impact on Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people. Dr. Sydney McKinney of the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, and Niki Martinez and April Grayson of the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition, share their lived experiences and bold strategies to promote healing, justice, and community-led change. From trauma-informed mentorship to the creation of the LOVE curriculum, this conversation centers dignity, resilience, and radical care.
Rising Stars: Honoring the Women Shaping BWJP's Future
In this special episode of Taking Back Control, we celebrate Women's History Month by highlighting BWJP's rising stars — four inspiring women making waves in the fight against intimate partner violence. Host Alyssa Toledo, a Communications Associate at BWJP, takes listeners on a journey through powerful conversations with fellow BWJP leaders: Diana Griffin, Megan Belden, and Rachel Barkley.
Each guest shares insights on the women who have inspired them, the lessons they've learned in their careers, and words of wisdom for the next generation of women leaders. Topics include:
Empowering Lessons from Female Mentors — Hear how strong women shaped the careers of BWJP’s rising stars.
Advice for Young Advocates — Insights on the importance of resilience, community, and self-care in emotionally demanding work.
Creating Change in Complex Systems — Discover how these leaders are pushing for systemic shifts in the legal landscape to better support survivors.
The Power of Storytelling — Alyssa reflects on her filmmaking background and the inspiring narratives that have fueled her creative and professional journey.
Whether you're an aspiring advocate, a seasoned professional, or someone looking to learn more about gender-based violence prevention, this episode is packed with heartfelt stories, practical advice, and powerful reflections.
Tune in to hear how BWJP's rising stars are taking back control — one story, one policy, and one act of courage at a time.
Teen Dating Violence & Firearms: What the Research Tells Us
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kimberly Randall, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and researcher, to discuss the intersection of teen dating violence and firearm access. With February marking Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, this conversation sheds light on:
- How firearms contribute to intimate partner homicide among teens
- Surprising statistics about adolescent firearm access, even in homes with safe storage
- Gaps in research around gun violence in teen relationships
- Interventions that can help prevent teen dating violence
- How healthcare providers, schools, and parents can play a role in fostering healthy relationships
With nearly 70% of teens who have dated reporting some form of dating violence, this issue demands urgent attention. Listen in to learn how we can better protect young people from abuse and firearm-related harm.
Disclaimer:
This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05140-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this program are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
Supreme Court Decisions That Shape Survivor Rights: 2023-2024 Term Digest
In this episode, Kristine Lizdas, Esq. and Rachel Barkley, J.D. dive into key Supreme Court cases from the 2023-2024 term that will have a lasting impact on survivors of domestic violence. They explore landmark rulings like United States v. Rahimi, City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, and Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, breaking down how these decisions affect survivor rights and safety. They will also offer insights into a critical case from the 2024-2025 term that could shape the future of protections for survivors. Tune in for a comprehensive legal update.
Contact:
Kristine Lizdas, Esq.: Klizdas@bwjp.org
Rachel Barkley: Rbarkley@bwjp.org
Providing Meaningful and Effective Representation to Survivors of Domestic Violence: Our North Star
In this episode, the Director of BWJP’s National Center on Legal Approaches to Prevent Family Violence, Kristine Lizdas, speaks with Maria Maier, a family law attorney with the St. Paul and Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Intervention Project (SPIP), and member of the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Standing Committee for the Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project. Maria speaks with Kristine about Minnesota’s pilot effort to provide nonlawyer legal representation to survivors of domestic violence in specific case-types. Maria shares considerations for using nonlawyers in domestic violence-related cases and recommendations on the mechanics and safeguards that should be built into any effort to provide increased access to representation by nonlawyers to survivors of gender-based violence.
Resources:
Final Report and Recommendations to The Minnesota State Court
Standpoint and MNCASA Correspondence
Battered Woman Syndrome: Helpful tool or problematic framework?
This episode of Taking Back Control dives into the complex issue of presenting evidence in cases involving criminalized survivors, unpacking "battered woman syndrome" (BWS). We'll chat with Defense Center staff about the use of BWS in criminal court settings and clear up some of the most common misunderstandings of what it is – and what it is not. We'll discuss the impact of language and explore alternative ways to understand this nuanced issue. Join us for this enriching and entertaining discussion.
Update of the Battered Woman Syndrome Critique
So Much Activity, So Little Change: A Reply to Critics of Battered Women's Self-Defense
The Validity and Use of Evidence Concerning Battering and Its Effects
Other references:
Walker, L.E. (1984). The battered woman syndrome . New York: Springer Publishing Co.
Walker, L.E. (1992). Battered women syndrome and self-defense. Symposium on Woman and the Law, Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy , 6(2), 321-334.
The Realities of Firearms and Domestic Violence
In this month's episode, we delve into the stark realities of firearms and domestic violence. Joining us are Jennifer Becker, Esq., Director of the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships, and Dr. April Zeoli. Together, we will explore the deadly intersection of domestic violence and firearms, shedding light on this critical issue.To learn more visit https://www.preventdvgunviolence.org/
Storytime with a Former Public Defender
Welcome back to Taking Back Control! Today's episode will focus on public defense in honor of National Public Defenders Appreciation Day. We are joined by Cindene Pezzell Esq., Director of The National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors and a major public defender fangirl. Cindene is going to share a few stories from her time as an assistant public defender, and talk about why it is crucial for defense attorneys and GBV advocates to join forces when serving criminalized survivors. To learn more about defense-based advocacy, please visit our website and check out the resources below.
To learn more about incorporating a defense perspective into your community’s responses to gender based violence, please see our CCR Toolkit by Sue Osthoff and Jane Sadusky .
Please visit and register with the National Gender-Based Violence Learning Community for more resources and opportunities to learn about serving survivors of gender-based violence, including criminalized survivors.
Raising the Voices of Latinas During Hispanic Heritage Month
BWJP would like to invite you to join us this month as we celebrate and raise the voices and experiences of Latinas at the intersection of gender-based violence (GBV) in observance of Hispanic Heritage Awareness Month. As the leading national nonprofit at the intersection of GBV and the law, we work to move the needle providing support, education, and innovation to advocates, systems professionals, and policy experts. It is one of our greatest priorities to center the experiences and voices of historically marginalized communities to ensure their specific needs are seen, heard, and met.
Joining the conversation today are four incredible Latina staff members from BWJP:
Kesimy Medina (she/her)
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Lumarie Orozco, MA (she/her)
PROJECT DIRECTOR, FIREARMS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Maritza Valdez Fagin, MPA (she/her)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT, EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Maria Jose Fletcher, Esq. (she/her)
PROJECT DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CENTER ON SYSTEMS CHANGE AND POLICY
Behind Closed Doors: Unmasking the Lethal Link Between Firearms and Domestic Violence
Did you know the risk of homicide increases by at least 500% when a firearm is present? This means that a woman is five times more likely to be killed by her partner when the partner has access to a firearm. June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and BWJP has an all-star lineup of experts in intimate partner violence and firearms to shed light on this deadly crisis.
- Rob Valente, Interim Director of the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships
- Alicia Nichols, Deputy Director of the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships
- Monica Player, Director of the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit
- Sarah Hur Attorney Advisor for the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit
- Lumarie Orozco Director of the Firearms Technical Assistance Project
- Rachel Graber Deputy Director of the Firearms Technical Assistance Project
Find out more: www.bwjp.org
https://bit.ly/437kJ9v
How Organizations Can Support Staff Who Are Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
The Impact of IPV on Kids
When people think about intimate partner violence, children are often forgotten about, even though millions of children live in homes surrounded by abuse. In this episode, we chat with Ana Martinez-Mullen, Director of the SAFeR Project about the connections between different legal systems and how even people working inside them struggle to make sure children aren’t forgotten about. We make connections, problem solve, and envision a world where children and their parents are thriving after intimate partner violence.
Two useful tools from BWJP: A summary of SAFeR, our approach to domestic violence decisionmaking: https://www.bwjp.org/assets/safer-summary.pdf
Our child support palm card: https://www.bwjp.org/resource-center/resource-results/getting-child-support-when-coparent-is-abusive.html
Find us:
BWJP Technical Assistance line: (800) 903-0111 x 1
To discuss Taking Back Control, or for printed copies of the child support palm cards, email us at communications@bwjp.org
Celebrating Bisexual+ Survivors
In this episode, we celebrate and highlight Bisexual+ survivors of intimate partner violence. Bisexual+ people represent a large community under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, with more and more young people identifying as bisexual. We know that bisexual+ people report a higher prevalence of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking than their heterosexual peers, so in this episode we're speaking to Andrea Holland at the Bisexual+ Resource Center to find out more about public health, gender-based violence, and the Bisexual+ community.
Find the Bisexual Resource Center at www.biresource.org
Twitter/Instagram/Facebook @biresource/bisexualresourcecenter
Find a Bi+ Group: https://biresource.org/find-a-bi-group/
Bi+ Health month resources: https://bihealthmonth.org/
Find BWJP at www.bwjp.org
BWJP Technical Assistance line: (800) 903-0111 x 1
To discuss Taking Back Control email us at: communications@bwjp.org
Codifying Coercive Control
This episode builds on our previous one: "Coercive Control in Washington State." We discuss the benefits and drawbacks of codifying coercive control with Kristine Lizdas, co-Director of BWJP's Policy Division. We go in depth about codifying coercive control within the criminal, protection order, and child custody contexts. We discuss BWJP's recent policy papers on coercive control, and our reasons behind not recommending that coercive control be included in state domestic violence laws.
BWJP's brief guide on coercive control codification is found here: https://bwjp.org/site-resources/coercive-control-codification-policy-brief-domestic-violence-protection-orders/
BWJP's coercive control matrix can be found here: https://bwjp.org/site-resources/coercive-control-codification-matrix/
Our policy papers on coercive control can be found here: https://bwjp.org/site-resources/coercive-control-codification-brief-a-guide-for-advocates-and-coalitions/
Find us:
BWJP Technical Assistance line: (800) 903-0111 x 1
To discuss Taking Back Control, email us at communications@bwjp.org
Coercive Control in Washington State
Coercive Control is a pattern of threatening, humiliating, or intimidating actions. It is a pattern of behavior that seeks to take away an individual's liberty or freedom and strip away their sense of self. Coercive Control is designed to make someone dependent, isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence, and regulating their everyday behavior.
Many survivors and professionals in the field of gender-based violence are discussing the importance of coercive control to a full understanding of intimate partner violence. In this episode, we discuss the push to include coercive control in the laws of the state of Washington with Heather Wehr, Legal Advocacy Program Coordinator at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, www.wscadv.org
A report on HB 1901, the Washington bill codifying coercive control in protection orders and discussed in this episode, is found here.
To discuss Taking Back Control, email us at communications@bwjp.org
The Open Secret
In this episode we speak with Dave Keck, the former Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms, and Jennifer Gollan, a print journalist experienced in reporting on the connection between firearms and gender-based violence, who has worked on a year-long series about the connection between domestic violence and illegal guns. Dave and Jennifer discuss a crisis: across the U.S. laws prohibit abusers from possessing guns, but these laws aren't enforced. That firearms surrender works on the honor system. This is The Open Secret.
The National Resource Center works with communities on implementing firearms surrender and trains professionals nationwide on issues surrounding firearms and domestic violence. Its website, "Safer Families. Safer Communities." is linked here.
Jennifer Gollan's latest article on firearms and domestic violence, "Revealed: U.S. police consistently miss red flags - and domestic abuse turns deadly," published in The Guardian, is linked here. Her twitter is @jennifergollan.
Find BWJP at www.bwjp.org. BWJP's twitter is @batteredwomenjp.
BWJP Technical Assistance line: (800) 903-0111 x 1
To discuss Taking Back Control email us at: communications@bwjp.org
Justice for Survivors Charged With Crimes
The criminalization of survivors of gender-based violence is not new. Survivors end up inside the criminal justice system in so many ways. We talk to Cindene Pezzell, Legal Director of the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women, an organization working for criminalized survivors since 1987. We discuss about what we would do if we had a magic wand and could fix how the criminal justice system relates to survivors.
Cindene Pezzell may be reached at: cpezzell@bwjp.org
Phone: (800) 903-0111 x 3
Want to learn more about Taking Back Control? Email us at communications@bwjp.org or check out our website www.bwjp.org.
Teens Deserve Protection Too
Teens and young people deserve to be safe from abusive behaviors. Did you know that most jurisdictions have a separate process for teens to receive protection orders? In this episode, we talk with BWJP Attorney-Advisor Sarah Henry about what the National Center on Protective Orders and Full Faith and Credit does to help teens and their families understand the laws around protection orders.
Find your jurisdiction's law around teens and protection orders: https://www.bwjp.org/resource-center/resource-results/states-allowing-juveniles-access-protection-orders.html
Need help? Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or Love is Respect, the teen dating violence resource at 1.866.331.9474 or www.loveisrespect.org. You can also reach out to BWJP’s National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith and Credit at (800) 903-0111 x 2.
Want to know more? Find us at bwjp.org. On Instagram: @batteredwomensjusticeproject. Twitter: @BatteredWomenJP
Using Our Platform to Inform Policy
The best national policy is informed by the real-world experiences of the people who policies affect. BWJP recently responded to the Biden Administration's National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. In this episode, we talk to BWJP CEO Amy Sánchez about our response and why organizations should engage with national policy decisions.
BWJP's response to the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality: https://www.bwjp.org/resource-center/resource-results/white-house-gender-equity-strategy-report.html
White House Strategy: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf
Want to connect with us? Find us at bwjp.org or email us at technicalassistance@bwjp.org
The Loyalty Trap: Black Woman, Domestic Violence and Firearms
In the 1980s, Dr. Beth Ritchie coined the concept of "The Trap of Loyalty." The term refers to the immense pressure that black women feel to protect black men even at the expense of their own bodies. In this episode, Alicia Nichols, Deputy Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms joins Christina Jones to interview Lashonia Thompson-El and Tiffany Garner about the incredible danger that domestic violence and guns are to black women.
The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms (preventdvgunviolence.org)
Interviewees: Lashonia Thompson-El, Co-chief Cure the Streets DC and Executive Director of The W.I.R.E.
Women Involved in Reentry Efforts [The WIRE] – The WIRE (thewiredc.org) Cure the Streets: OAG’s Violence Interruption Program | Attorney General Karl A. Racine (dc.gov)
Tiffany Garner Community Violence Initiative State Manager Giffords Law Center
The Lived Perspectives of Latina Survivors
Rosario de la Torre es Co-directora de apoyo a las familias y participación comunitaria de la organización Esperanza United. Rosario a dedicado su vida profesional a ser intercesora de las mujeres latinas sobrevivientes de violencia de género y a abogar por la comunidad. A raíz de su labor, Rosario conoce las deficiencias del sistema y sus limitaciones en cuanto a la comunidad latina se refiere. En este episodio, moderado por Ana Martínez-Mullen de BWJP, Rosario explora la realidad de la comunidad latina y profundiza en cómo el sistema puede servir mejor a las mujeres latinas y sus familias.
Este episodio está grabado en español.
Rosario de la Torre is Co-director of Family Advocacy and Community Engagement for Esperanza United. As a lifelong advocate for Latina women, she understands where the gaps in the systems exist for Latina women. In this episode, guest hosted by BWJP’s very own Anadelle Martinez, Rosario takes a deep dive into how the system can better serve Latina women and their families.
This episode is recorded in Spanish.
How we can better serve victim-survivors who identify as LGBTQ.
The most predictive indicator of domestic violence is gender. In most cases, a woman is being abused by a man. Most systems operate with the assumption that a woman is being abused by a man. But how do systems treat people who are in same sex relationships? In this episode, we chat with Connie Burk, a lifelong advocate in the LGBTQ domestic violence space to talk about how the system can be more responsive to victim-survivors who identify as LGBTQ.
Want to know more about Connie? Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others: van Dernoot Lipsky, Laura, Burk, Connie: 8580001069340: Amazon.com: Books
Want to learn more about Taking Back Control? Email us at technicalassistance@bwjp.org or check out our website www.bwjp.org.
Reclaiming Bodily Sovereignty
Centering the stories of Native women and girls are essential because they are disproportionately impacted by intimate partner violence. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Corrine Sanchez of Tewa Women United to dig deeper in what it means to reclaim bodily sovereignty for Native women and girls.
Find Dr. Sanchez at TewaWomenUnited.org
Want to learn more about Taking Back Control? Email us at technicalassistance@bwjp.org or check out our website www.bwjp.org.
Centering the Stories of the Hmong Community
In this episode, we talk to Kabzuag Vaj, Co-Executive Director of Freedom, Inc. Kabzuag is a longtime advocate and proud Hmong-American who has spent her life working to build collective power and social change. We talk to her about the intersection of firearms and domestic violence and the different ways in which communities can tell their stories.
Want to know more about Kabzuag? Find her at Freedom-inc.org. Twitter: @aboutfreedominc
Want to learn more about Taking Back Control? Email us at technicalassistance@bwjp.org or check out our website www.bwjp.org.
Hearing the Authentic Voices of Black Women
Advocates across the country have been doing some amazing work in culturally specific communities. Antonia Drew Vann, Director and Founder of the The Asha Project, has been working with black survivors of domestic violence for over 30 years. In this episode, we dive into the importance of culturally specific services and why the movement needs to hear the authentic voices of black women.
Find Antonia Drew Vann at Ashafamilyservices.org; Find We Are Here MKE at weareheremke.org.
Want to learn more about Taking Back Control? Email us at technicalassistance@bwjp.org or check out our website www.bwjp.org.
The Stories That We Tell
In this episode, we talk with BWJP Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Sujata Warrier about the history of the advocacy movement and the importance of using your privilege to lift up others.
Reach out to Dr. Warrier at swarrier@bwjp.org.
Find BWJP at www.bwjp.org. Twitter: @BatteredWomenJP Instagram: @BatteredWomensJusticeProject
Organizational Shifts and How to Bring Your Whole Self to Your Work
Welcome to Episode 1 of BWJP Present's Taking Back Control. In this inaugural episode, we talk to BWJP CEO Amy Sanchez about the importance of bringing your full self to the table and the importance of amplifying the voices of marginalized survivors of gender-based-violence.
Find Amy at ASanchez@bwjp.org. www.bwjp.org
IG: @batteredwomensjusticeproject
Twitter: @BatteredWomenJP
BWJP Presents Taking Back Control
BWJP is proud to present a new podcast that shines a light on gender-based violence. Join us as we talk to advocates from across the United State's about their role as advocates and what systems can do to truly help survivors.
Find us online! www.bwjp.org Twitter: @batteredwomenJP