Welcome to the team, Abigail!

Abigail, Community Educator/Program Support Advocate

How long have you been with the team and what has your journey to this role been like?

I’ve been with the team for a month, and I’ve loved it so far! I have a background in community organizing and volunteer management. While in college, I was President of Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Club (RSVP) and completed academic research identifying five neighborhoods in the community with higher call rates to police regarding domestic disputes. I also interned at the Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis, where I observed and collected data on the immigration Court at Fort Snelling. After graduating, I knew I wanted to use my skillset to serve the people of Minnesota, which is how I ended up here!

Why is outreach and education important?

Outreach and education are essential to preventing violence in our communities. The more people that educate themselves on interpersonal violence, the more people that will be able to identify warning signs, offer resources, and raise awareness in their own networks.

Especially when it comes to the next generation, it is vital that they understand what they need to look out for when building relationships with others. Students take in many different types of media on a daily basis, so it’s important that they learn how to critically think about the relationships they’re seeing on screen. By educating young people on interpersonal violence, we can help build awareness within their generation and prevent future violence.

Are there any personal experiences or values that shape how you approach your work?

In high school and college, I was very moved by the number of stories I was hearing from friends and family. It can oftentimes feel frustrating and powerless when hearing stories of interpersonal violence and not knowing how to help. So, I decided to raise more awareness of interpersonal violence by restarting Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention club (RSVP) and initiating academic research on domestic violence in the city of Cedar Rapids.

One experience I had that completely changed my perspective was an Open Night Mic with RSVP, where survivors could share their stories with the audience. I heard many stories about domestic violence and sexual assault, each one deeply inspirational and moving. What shocked me that night was not only the sheer number of stories, but how each one was different than the next. I realized just how complex and nuanced interpersonal violence can be and recognized the importance of respecting everyone’s individual story. We can know and understand general facts about domestic violence, but it is always important to remember that every situation is unique – ultimately, the survivor knows their situation best, and they are the only ones who can make decisions about what they need.

What are some goals or upcoming projects you are excited about?

I’m very excited about the opportunity to work with volunteers and connect with members of the community. One goal that I have is to strengthen our community involvement and reach out to other organizations that we could partner with. By sharing information and resources with other organizations, we can get our message to even more people.

I’m also very excited to give presentations to schools in our area and think about ways we can continue to keep students engaged and involved. Educating young people on healthy relationships is very important, and I’m looking forward to adding new activities and topics to our presentations.

What is one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

One piece of advice I’d give my younger self is to take more time for myself. I oftentimes get wrapped up in the work I do, and I can easily forget to take care of myself. One thing I’ve realized is that I can only do my best work when I’ve taken the time to practice self-care. From a time management perspective, taking breaks when I need them makes me more productive when I’m working.

What is your favorite form of self-care?

My favorite form of self-care is building and making connections within my community. Staying connected with friends and family is an important part of maintaining my support system and it always gives me a renewed sense of inspiration, focus, and motivation.