Whitney graduated with her dual bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice. With her background in sociology, she studied how people and systems interact with each other. It became clear that there was not nearly enough focus put on how violence truly impacts a person and their community.

Whitney joined the anti-violence movement in 2017 immediately after graduating. She spent three years working one-on-one with survivors of sexual violence in Southern Maine before moving on to coalition work where she focused on equity and access for historically marginalized survivors for two years.

Throughout her time in the anti-violence movement, she has trained students, teachers, law enforcement, medical staff, social workers, advocates, and other community members on the dynamics and impacts of gender-based violence. Whitney plans to now focus her efforts on the primary prevention of domestic violence through training, education, community led prevention efforts and system-change work.

She will continue to center those who have been historically marginalized in these efforts. Whitney believes that violence impacts all of us, but that we have the tools and resources to create different conditions.

Suchandan is the Founder and CEO of HelplineSoftware.com, where his team leverages experience in telecommunications, software engineering, and data science to build tech for good. He has worked closely with a number of hotlines across the country to develop solutions for their unique tech challenges.

Selena Faith is a dedicated professional working in the overlapping fields of domestic violence response and survivor criminalization.

She serves as the Coordinator of the Justice for Incarcerated Survivors (JFIS) program at GCADV, where she oversees program function through case management and collaboration with a breadth of community partners. She began this role in 2021 through a fellowship position, building upon her background in sexual health and relationship education, and has continued her position with GCADV after the completion of her fellowship. 

Nani Daniels, a seasoned professional, joined Safe Stays by ReloShare in October 2023, bringing extensive experience and compassion. Her background in the nonprofit sector began with supporting children and families affected by the Department of Child Safety.

She then spent three years as a Victim Advocate in the Special Victims Unit, specializing in sexual assaults, homicides, and domestic violence felonies within the government sector. Her tenure in behavioral health and the legal field has given her valuable insights into service gaps, inspiring her to advocate for survivors and other social service and promote Safe Stays' mission of bridging these voids.

Lindsay Wilson, LCSW-C (she/her), has been a social worker at the VA Maryland Health Care System for over 8 years, beginning as a social work student intern.

She has worked with Veterans and their families in the Post 9/11 Military2VA program, primary care, Women’s Health, and Caregiver Support Program. In her current role as the IPV Assistance Program Coordinator, she supports veterans, their partners, and VA employees who have been impacted by intimate partner violence.

She is also a member of the MNADV Board of Directors and the Maryland Health Care Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Megan Elbin has devoted her career to enhancing services for survivors and vulnerable populations. Prior to joining the ReloShare team, she served as a program coordinator for a crisis advocacy program, where her commitment to empowering survivors led her to integrate Safe Stays as a crucial resource. Now, Megan channels her passion into fostering partnerships and equipping service providers with innovative solutions to meeting the needs of the individuals they serve.

Kaitlin Savarese, LCSW-C, serves as a VA Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) Coordinator at the VA Maryland Health Care Center (VAMHCS). Ms. Savarese graduated with her MSSW from University of Texas at Austin in 2015 where she completed research on non-death and ambiguous loss and started working for the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Ms. Savarese has experience working in numerous VA programs and settings including Transition and Care Management, Patient Aligned Care Teams, Outpatient Mental Health, Inpatient Psychiatry, and Geriatrics and Extended Care.

Lauren Dougherty, started working in the Domestic Violence field in 2015, providing crisis intervention services to survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). For nine years, she has provided training and technical assistance to practitioners in the field working with IPV survivors on topics including high-risk screening tools, fatality review, the health impacts on intimate partner violence, and others.

In addition to working for the Maryland Health Care Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Ms. Dougherty sits on the Board of the Partnership for a Safer Maryland and provides consultation services to a Hospital-based Domestic Violence Program in Baltimore. Ms. Dougherty holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work and a Master of Science Degree in Human Services Management.

Justin Maslanka, He/Him/His, is a Partnership Associate that joined the ReloShare team in June of 2023. Before joining the team, he served as the services coordinator for a state-wide program that utilized SafeStays to assist animal survivors of domestic violence find safety with their families. Justin is a life-long advocate who is passionate about victim services, animal welfare, and LGBTQ safety.

Kara Wasser is the Founder and CEO of OhanaLink Technologies™, a woman-owned technology solutions development company based in Western Pennsylvania. After her own personal experiences with the challenges and frustrations with the lack of clear communication in a healthcare setting, resulting in missing the birth of her niece, she set out to create a solution. She designed the original concept for OhanaLink Baby™, a smartphone app to help expectant mothers and their support person to bridge communication gaps between patients and their families.

She has expanded the company's offerings from a single app to a menu of innovative mobile solutions designed to connect and support users. More recently, the company collaborated with a group of domestic violence agencies to develop mobile technology that transforms the delivery of services between advocates and victims of domestic abuse, OhanaLink Purple is the first in the market safe, secure, and private delivery system available in the U.S. Kara's professional portfolio expands over more than a decade in the financial industry. She left her full-time corporate role in 2019 to pursue her vision to create solutions that increase communication and support in the social care and health care markets.

Kara completed a master's degree in Leadership and Professional Development from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. Kara has been a presenter for national and state webinars and workshops, subject of numerous media interviews, and regional entrepreneur-focused seminars, classes, and programs.

Audrey Bergin, MPH, MA, has over 30 years of experience with survivors of abuse. She previously worked as an Art Therapist with abused children, coordinated Baltimore County’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline, worked on a Domestic Violence research project at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and co-led Abuser Intervention groups.

She launched DOVE in November of 2004 and has won numerous awards for her work with survivors. Ms. Bergin is involved in several local and statewide collaborative initiatives, including the Baltimore County’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, the Maryland Health Care Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Baltimore County’s Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee.

Heather Tucker is the Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) Supervisor for the Abuse/Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. Prior to this, Heather worked as a bedside nurse with both Mercy Medical Center's Specialty Surgical Unit in Baltimore and Anne Arundel Medical Center's Emergency Department. After years of part-time forensic nursing, Heather jumped at the opportunity to take her passion into a full-time career. Heading up the FNE team at AAMC has allowed her to revamp the program's response to community needs.

She worked to establish an online documentation system for forensic exams, expanded the practice of FNEs at AAMC to encompass domestic violence and human trafficking exams, and continues to advocate for the highest quality healthcare for survivors of assault. Heather received her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from James Madison University with minors in Medical Spanish and Humanitarian Affairs. She has since worked closely with hospital and community partners to ensure patients of all backgrounds and experiences are provided equal and evidenced-based medical attention. She believes that championing access to education and compassionate care is the key to improving the life of every member of our community.

Julia Dowling is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist who has worked in domestic violence direct service for five years in the DC area. She also provides psychosocial support and therapy to refugees, asylum seekers, and torture survivors in the USA and abroad. Prior to becoming a clinician, Julia worked in international human rights, peacebuilding, and development for a decade in the Western Balkans, Western Europe, Africa, and Asia with the OSCE, UN Foundation, and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She also holds an MA in Human Rights and Democracy from the Universities of Bologna (Italy) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Fushena Cruickshank has more than 15 years of experience in the public health field. She has worked in many sectors, including federal contracting, non-profit grassroots organizations, and healthcare. She has taught at the graduate level for over seven years and is involved with many community organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of women and children. Fushena is a Women's Maternal/Child Health Consultant at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. She supports women with medical complications during pregnancy to maximize their chances of having a healthy, full-term baby.

Working closely with the OB/GYN department allows her to translate medical recommendations from their physicians to members and patients. By helping women access resources & early prenatal care, mothers, and their baby’s benefit. She uses innovative teaching models, progressive curricula, and state-of-the-art materials to engage individuals to maintain wellness for themselves and their families. She is a part of many Pregnant and Postpartum Women's programs as well as Intimate Partner Violence Prevention committees.

She enjoys supporting women during pregnancy to maximize their chances of having a healthy, full-term baby and reduce perinatal and environmentally related effects on infants and children. Her interests connect to advocating for reproductive health rights, maternal mental health, domestic violence, wellness associated with gender, nutrition, teen pregnancy education, and school health programs.

Andrew Campbell is an expert on family violence and the associated risks of harm for adults, children, and pets residing in homes where this violence occurs. Andrew obtained his master’s degree in public health from Purdue University and has presented at over 170 professional conferences and trainings since 2019.

His many publications over the last several years include papers cited by the FBI, CDC, United Nations, and in over 1,200 international academic papers and research studies. His book, "Not Without My Pet: Understanding the relationship between victims of domestic violence and their pets", was released in September of 2021. In addition to being an author, researcher, and educator, Andrew also speaks as a survivor of family violence in childhood.

Ellie Williams is the Director of the Justice for Incarcerated Survivors Program at the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She provides post-conviction legal representation to survivors of domestic violence whose conviction is tied to abuse. Before attending law school, Ellie worked extensively with survivors of domestic and sexual violence in shelter, court, advocacy center, and hospital contexts.

She speaks fluent Spanish and has also worked extensively with immigrant survivors. Ellie has represented survivors in both family and criminal law contexts, and she is a contributor to recent versions of the Georgia Domestic Violence Benchbook. She has done research for the National Family Violence Law Center, and last year, she published an article in the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law focused on the criminalization of survival and international human rights law.

Tanisha Russell serves as the Community Educator at DAWN. In this role, her primary objective is to elevate community awareness through comprehensive outreach initiatives. She conducts informative presentations on DAWN's services and leads educational sessions covering various awareness-related topics.

Tanisha aims to provide engaging and enriching visual learning experiences that enhance comprehension and information retention. She holds a BA in Education with a minor in Dance from Gallaudet University and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Strategic Communications at American University.

Katie started as a volunteer hotline advocate at her local shelter while working at the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. During her 6 years at the coalition she served as Project Specialist, then as Rural Program Capacity Specialist where she focused on training new advocates and building SANE, SART, and PREA programs across the State. As the Coalition adopted a new database, Katie learned to love how technology can create the space for change in advocacy work.

After moving to Vermont in 2019, she started supporting other state and national coalitions in utilizing Coalition Manager by Element74, then transitioned to Product Director of Vela, supporting local domestic and sexual violence agencies in 2021. In her role now Katie works to ensure survivor data is held with care and confidence, and that advocates feel supported in their work to end violence. She received her Bachelor's degree in International Studies from the University of Wyoming, focusing on human rights in Africa and the Middle East. Katie volunteers weekly in restorative justice circles with folks coming back into community after incarceration, has recently discovered a love of pottery, and is wildly in awe of her two children and the stories they co-create.

Survivor of DV. Programmer of AI. Mechanical Engineer. Sold a mobile app company. Voted "The Best Hispanic Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016" in Phoenix.

He has built a FREE app that will tell you if any criminal statutes were violated in the domestic violence you suffered. This gives you leverage in talking to police/detectives, getting OOP approved, & holding your abuser accountable. Maintains anonymity.

The app never asks names or addresses.

• Available 24/7

• FREE

• Maintains Anonymity

• Not a Download

• Not Legal Advice

• Has Already Saved Lives

• Available in all 50 statues

Use Now at: StatuteMatcher.com

Delvonda Smith embarked on her human service career in 1990 and has since accumulated a remarkable 32 years of experience in the field. Throughout her journey, Delvonda has worked in various areas within the human service domain, gaining a breadth of knowledge and expertise. Her educational background includes attending Baltimore City public schools and obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Coppin University.

From a young age, Delvonda had an intrinsic desire to assist others, particularly those who faced adversity or felt marginalized. In 2003, Delvonda discovered her true passion in helping individuals experiencing homelessness. She has dedicated herself to this cause, working tirelessly in two full-time positions. Delvonda possesses a deep empathy and understanding for those who are homeless, and she is committed to empowering them. She firmly believes that one's circumstances should not define their worth or potential. With her invaluable experiences in supporting homeless veterans in Baltimore City, Delvonda found herself drawn to House Of Ruth Maryland, where she found a fulfilling sense of purpose. Working at Sarah's Hope Shelter in Baltimore City allowed Delvonda to refine her unique skill of gathering essential information through casual conversations.

This ability, combined with her unwavering belief in the power of asking for what is needed, has proven to be highly effective in her work. At House of Ruth, Delvonda has developed her own approach called "Soft Phase Work." This approach centers on understanding and addressing the emotional needs of her clients as they navigate the challenges of finding safe and stable housing. Through this personalized method, Delvonda has successfully placed 29 women into secure housing, with one individual even finding an opportunity in Hawaii.

Additionally, she has assisted numerous others in securing housing across various parts of the United States. Delvonda's approach to her clients places great importance on building a strong connection and creating a sense of togetherness. She firmly believes in meeting her clients exactly where they are in their journey, providing unwavering support and guidance along the way.

Delvonda's steadfast belief in the potential for positive change serves as a beacon of hope for those she assists.

M. Elizabeth Bowman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Gallaudet University. She is also a minor domestic sex trafficking survivor, anti-trafficking advocate, mother of two teens, researcher, clinician, and speaker. In her clinical practice she works with trafficking survivors using trauma-informed yoga group therapy and also has a clinical practice supporting children and adolescents with anxiety and other challenges.

She holds clinical social work licensure in DC, VA, FL, and Maryland and is a Registered Yoga Teacher, RYT-200. Her research areas include the intersection of child welfare and sex trafficking, organizational culture and supervision in child welfare, and special populations issues in trafficking including LGBT, foster youth, and Deaf youth.

She is the founder and executive director of the Restoring Ivy Collective in Washington, D.C., a survivor led organization which provides supportive services to survivors of sex trafficking with a focus on intentional community.

Rebecca Allyn has nearly a decade of experience in the victim services field.

In her current position as the Manager of Victim Services Initiatives at the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, she plays a crucial role in monitoring and assessing victim assistance programs, providing support to the Governor’s Family Violence Council and the Maryland State Board of Victim Services, and ensuring compliance with victims’ rights laws.

Rebecca’s expertise extends to overseeing the certification of Abuse Intervention Programs and conducting research and data analysis to shape policy and legislative recommendations. She is actively involved in various statewide groups, demonstrating her commitment to advancing victim services in Maryland.

The groups include the Maryland Association of Victim Services Professionals, the Maryland Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Workgroup, the Maryland Abuse Intervention Collaborative, and the Maryland Domestic Violence Fatality Review State Implementation Team.

Tacarra Wilson is the Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinator for the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence and previously provided direct oversight of the Financial Literacy and Austin Peay State University (APSU) Upstander programs. She now assists with prevention programming project implementation and review as well as with state level prevention implementation.

Tacarra’s area of focus is providing technical assistance, support, and oversight to community-level Program and Policy Efforts, including Engaging Men and Boys, IPV & the Workplace Training and Policy Efforts Around Paid Parental Leave Policies and Benefits. Tacarra has a B.S in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling as well as over ten years of experience advocating for youth in the foster care system and those with varying levels of mental health needs. She also has experience in advocacy for vulnerable adults. 

As the Director of Prevention, Samantha Kaloi coordinates the intimate partner and sexual violence prevention work of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, including overseeing a statewide leadership team and coordinating community based prevention efforts of engaging men, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and economic justice initiatives. 

Samantha has a B.A. in Psychology and a M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and brings 12+ years of direct services experience in domestic violence and sexual assault work.  She is passionate about advocating for justice and safety for all people and dreams of a world where joy, celebration, and peace are abundant for all.  Outside of work, Samantha enjoys rejuvenating in nature, tending her garden, and gathering friends for storytelling and laughter.

Erin Boguski is the Chief of the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention at the Maryland Department of Health and serves as Maryland’s Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Director. Erin contributes to the reduction of violence and injury in Maryland by leading training and technical assistance initiatives, managing funds for prevention programs, and collaborating with partners.

Erin has over 15 years of experience in anti-violence and gender-based violence work, including at the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and as a Women’s Studies Adjunct Faculty member at the Community College of Baltimore County. Erin earned her Bachelor’s degree at Kent State University and her Master’s degree at Towson University. She is currently a violence prevention fellow with the Bloomberg American Health Initiative and is working towards a second Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Katie started as a volunteer hotline advocate at her local shelter while working at the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

During her 6 years at the coalition she served as Project Specialist, then as Rural Program Capacity Specialist where she focused on training new advocates and building SANE, SART, and PREA programs across the State.

As the Coalition adopted a new database, Katie learned to love how technology can create the space for change in advocacy work. After moving to Vermont in 2019, she started supporting other state and national coalitions in utilizing Coalition Manager by Element74, then transitioned to Product Director of Vela, supporting local domestic and sexual violence agencies in 2021. In her role now Katie works to ensure survivor data is held with care and confidence, and that advocates feel supported in their work to end violence.

She received her Bachelor's degree in International Studies from the University of Wyoming, focusing on human rights in Africa and the Middle East. Katie volunteers weekly in restorative justice circles with folks coming back into community after incarceration, has recently discovered a love of pottery, and is wildly in awe of her two children and the stories they co-create.

Lakendra Schwendig is a nationally credentialed victim service advocate providing advocacy to survivors of abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault for over 11 years. As a trauma informed service provider, she has partnered with a number of local and national agencies to provide education, support, and guidance assisting in establishing best practices to better serve community and clinical needs.

She graduated from the Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland where she sat as a board member for several years after. She is a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a former board member of the Womens Safety Commission for Baltimore City. As a current student on the path to obtaining her PhD in Clinical & Nuero Psychology , she is passionate about not only providing individuals with the tools they need to improve their quality of life but, to effect change in all  healthcare and legislative settings.