On International Podcast Day, September 30th, we launched the first episode of our Podcast, Guest Speaker Series. Featuring Heather Lovell, who is a survivor of sexual assault, we focus on body positivity & survivor empowerment in this episode.

Heather uses her Instagram platform to assist other survivors in their healing journeys, emphasizing on finding life even when it feels like there isn’t one after an assault. Now, she works in wedding videography and photography, and is happily married.

In honor of February's Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we invited guest speakers Loretta Sosa and Nicole Zárate from Laura's House and SAVS Waymakers to talk to us about healthy relationships and the importance of violence prevention education among youth.

Nicole Zárate (she/her) is the Prevention Coordinator for Waymakers’ Sexual Assault Victim Services & Prevention program. She educates youth throughout Orange County on topics surrounding sexual assault prevention like consent and bystander intervention. Nicole has followed her passion for prevention work since graduating from CSULB and feels honored to be part of the anti-sexual violence movement.

Loretta (she/her) is a recent UC Santa Barbara graduate who is passionate about providing prevention educational services, especially to the low-income, underrepresented communities of Orange County. She is a Prevention Education Specialist at Laura’s House, a domestic violence agency, where she is responsible for developing and implementing teen dating abuse prevention education and outreach services through Laura’s House H.E.A.R.T. Program.