RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work

How Do You Know it's Time to Go?

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 Bio Rita 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 [https://www.collectivecapacityconsulting.org/]. More from the We Deserve Better Project * We Deserve Better Project website [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/] * WDBP Assessment Key Findings [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/key-findings/] * Get Involved with the WDBP [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/get-involved/] 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 wedeservebetterproject@gmail.com 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 Credits Host: Steph Klotz Guest: Rita Flores Producers: We Deserve Better Project team Editors: Mo Lewis & 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 [https://wedeservebetterproject.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Flip the Script

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 Bio Steph 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 [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/] * WDBP Assessment Key Findings [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/key-findings/] * Get Involved with the WDBP [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/get-involved/] * What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence Organizations [https://www.raftcares.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/InsightsforThrivingOrgs.pdf] 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 wedeservebetterproject@gmail.com 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 Credits Host: Jackie Strohm Guest: Steph Klotz Producers: We Deserve Better Project team Editor: Mo Lewis 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 [https://wedeservebetterproject.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Coming Together Because We Deserve Better

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 [https://www.organizeyour.org] * Labor Notes: Secrets of a Successful Organizer [https://labornotes.org/secretshttps://labornotes.org/secrets] * Fight Like Hell [https://store.iww.org/shop/fight-like-hell/] * Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee [https://workerorganizing.org/] Guest Bio Lorraine 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 [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/] * WDBP Assessment Key Findings [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/key-findings/] * Get Involved with the WDBP [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/get-involved/] * What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence Organizations [https://www.raftcares.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/InsightsforThrivingOrgs.pdf] 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 wedeservebetterproject@gmail.com 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 Credits Host: Steph Klotz Guest: Lorraine Producers: We Deserve Better Project team Editor: Mo Lewis 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 [https://wedeservebetterproject.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

So You're Telling Me There's A Chance!

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 [https://millionexperiments.com/] * Interrupting Criminalization [https://www.interruptingcriminalization.com/] * Anne Helene "Imagine Your Flexible Office Work" [https://annehelen.substack.com/p/imagine-your-flexible-office-work] * National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence [https://lgbtqipvinstitute.org/] * FORGE Forward [http://forge-forward.org] * LGBTQ+ Survivor Advocacy Network Monthly Meeting Sign Up Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer1OGEfgkHElReNG5R8TomuzBU7tbh15NC3Or4LAvvts60wA/viewform] Books (note: if folks buy from these links it will benefit FORGE) * The Revolution will Not Be Funded [https://bookshop.org/a/113166/9780822369004] * What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures [https://bookshop.org/a/113166/9780593229361] * Everything for Everyone [https://bookshop.org/a/113166/9781942173588] * We Will Rise Again [https://bookshop.org/a/113166/9781668095959] Guest Bio Emil 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 [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/] * WDBP Assessment Key Findings [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/key-findings/] * Get Involved with the WDBP [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/get-involved/] * What Works: Insights for Thriving Anti-Violence Organizations [https://www.raftcares.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/InsightsforThrivingOrgs.pdf] 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 wedeservebetterproject@gmail.com 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 Credits Host: Steph Klotz Guest: Emil Producers: We Deserve Better Project team Editor: Mo Lewis 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 [https://wedeservebetterproject.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Do I Have the Right to Say No?

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 [http://www.defendyourself.org] * Get Empowered book [http://getempoweredbook.com] * Brain States Awareness Profile [https://assessment.brainskillsatwork.com/#:~:text=The%20BrainStates%20Awareness%20Profile%20provides,achieve%20higher%20levels%20of%20performance] (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 [http://mnd@naficyconsulting.com], a certified consultant. Activities I 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 safe Am 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 Bio Lauren 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.com [http://laurenrosetaylor.com] More from the We Deserve Better Project * We Deserve Better Project website [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/] * WDBP Assessment Key Findings [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/key-findings/] * Get Involved with the WDBP [https://www.wedeservebetter.work/get-involved/] 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 wedeservebetterproject@gmail.com 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 Credits Host: Steph Klotz Guest: Lauren R. Taylor Producers: We Deserve Better Project team Editor: Mo Lewis 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 [https://wedeservebetterproject.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]