EmpowerHer Sexual Violence Conference 2026

Youth Experiencers (survivors) of sexual violence are often expected to heal within systems and spaces that were not designed to protect or affirm them. For youth of color and gender-diverse youth, these challenges are compounded by cultural stigma, systemic inequities, and the erasure of lived experience. This 90-minute session centers culturally rooted, healing-centered approaches that restore voice, power, and safety to youth experiencers while honoring their identities, histories, and inherent strengths.


Participants will explore how sexual violence impacts youth development, trust, and self-determination, and how culturally responsive practices can interrupt harm while fostering resilience and collective care. Through education, reflection, and applied strategies, the session examines barriers to disclosure, the importance of survivor-defined safety, and the critical role of community healers and advocates in creating affirming pathways to healing. Particular attention is given to supporting trans and gender-expansive youth and challenging narratives that silence or marginalize survivor experiences.


Attendees will leave with practical tools, trauma-informed frameworks, and culturally grounded strategies they can apply immediately in their work. The session emphasizes survivor-led healing, community accountability, and sustainable approaches that strengthen safety, restore agency, and support youth not only in surviving harm but also in reclaiming their power and voice.