Media Engagement Skills for Survivors of Sexual Violence
2026-02-05 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-02-12 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-02-19 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
REGISTER HERE!
This training program teaches survivors and community advocates practical communication skills for media engagement and public speaking. Using trauma-informed approaches, participants learn to engage strategically while protecting their wellbeing and creating meaningful change.
THE PROBLEM
Survivors and community advocates face:

No framework for deciding which media opportunities to accept
Limited training for interviews and public speaking
Burnout from saying yes to everything or not knowing where to start
Inconsistent messaging that weakens message impact

THE TRAINING – DIGITAL COURSE FORMAT
Three 90-minute virtual sessions delivered over 3-4 weeks. Due to the limited capacity of this training series and the cumulative nature of the content, we ask that registrants commit to attending all three training sessions.
REGISTER HERE!
SESSION 1 (90 MINUTES)
Module 1: Civic Assessment and Detox (30 minutes)

Assessing your current advocacy capacity and goals
Clearing the noise about what advocacy “should” look like
Framework for evaluating speaking opportunities strategically

Module 2: Reconnecting to Your Core Message (60 minutes)

Identifying your civic north star and values
Developing your core message (not your whole story)
Creating 30-second, 2-minute, and 5-minute versions for different contexts

SESSION 2 (90 MINUTES)
Module 3: Rest as Resistance and Boundary Setting (45 minutes)

Understanding that boundaries make you more effective, not less engaged
Scripts for declining requests professionally
Safety planning and sustainable engagement practices

Module 4: Media Engagement (45 minutes)

Preparing for interviews (TV, radio, print, digital)
Staying on message during diﬃcult questions
Building relationships with journalists

SESSION 3 (90 MINUTES)
Module 5: Public Speaking Skills (60 minutes)

Structuring presentations and testimony
Managing nerves and staying grounded
Handling Q&A sessions

Module 6: Ongoing Advocacy (30 minutes)

Pitching stories to media
Digital advocacy best practices
Sustainable engagement planning

TRAINING APPROACH
Trauma-Informed Virtual Learning:

Participants choose their level of engagement
Camera-optional environment
Chat and verbal participation options
Private breakout rooms available

Interactive Virtual Format:

60% hands-on practice (breakouts, role-plays, individual work)
40% instruction and group discussion
Small group work in breakout rooms
Real scenario applications
Interactive polls and activities

WHAT PARTICIPANTS GET
Live Training:

Three 90-minute expert-led virtual sessions
Interactive breakout sessions and practice opportunities
Real-time Q&A and personalized coaching

Take-Home Materials:

Complete worksheets with all frameworks
Decision-making checklist
Message templates
Interview preparation guides
Media pitch scripts
Boundary-setting language examples
Downloadable templates

FACILITATOR
Sophia Fifner brings expertise in strategic communications and trauma-informed training. As CEO of Columbus Metropolitan Club and creator of The Civic Reset framework for sustainable advocacy, she combines professional communications experience with understanding of how to engage meaningfully without burning out. Her approach helps advocates use their voice strategically while protecting their wellbeing.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Participants will have:

A clear framework for deciding which opportunities to accept
Conﬁdence to prepare for and handle media interviews
Professional scripts for setting boundaries
Their core message developed and practiced
Practical tools they can use immediately

DIGITAL COURSE LOGISTICS
Session Schedule:

Duration: Three 90-minute sessions
Delivery: Virtual platform (Zoom/Teams)
Group Size: 20-35 participants
Format: Interactive with breakouts, polls, and hands-on activities

Technical Requirements:

Stable internet connection
Computer/tablet with camera and microphone
Quiet space for participation

Participant Preparation:

Pre-session materials sent 48 hours in advance
Optional prep calls for technical support
Access to digital resource library before Session 1

REGISTER HERE!

Monthly Legislative Update: First Friday Call
2026-02-06 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-06 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-05 13:00 - 14:00 | OH
Join OAESV’s First Friday calls to learn about timely legislative updates that impact Ohio survivors, rape crisis centers, and communities. In 2026, our First Friday calls will cover everything from tracking state legislation, calls to action, engaging in deeper policy discussions, and covering key state and federal government updates.
These calls are an open space for anyone to join – whether you are a lifelong advocate or looking for some initial public policy information to get engaged with the movement to end sexual violence.

REGISTER HERE

Collective Calls
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-21 10:00 - 11:00 | OH
There is power and strength in a collective! With a rotating focus, these monthly meetings are opportunities for members to build community and strength as we work together to end sexual violence.
In-Service (members only)
In-service sessions are short trainings during which participants can grow skills, cultivate new partnerships, and learn about developments in the field.
Program Spotlight (members only)
Program spotlight sessions are opportunities to engage with peers and build skills for giving and receiving feedback. In these sessions, an identified program will spotlight a project or a topic, and participants will have opportunities to ask clarifying questions and make recommendations.
Connection Spaces (open to all)
Connection space sessions are opportunities to connect and be in community with those who do similar work in Ohio. In these breakout spaces, participants will connect with their peers to discuss emerging topics related to their role(s). These spaces will feature breakout rooms for preventionists, direct service advocates, and SART/CCRT leaders. Additional breakout rooms may be available for rotating topic-specific conversations.
In-service and Program Spotlight sessions are reserved for OAESV members only. If you are an individual member or you work for a member program and need assistance logging into the member portal, please reach out to info@oaesv.org. If your agency is represented on this map, you are a member.
Click month names below to register for a specific session. Click here to register for 2026 entirely.

Month
Session Type
Date

January
In-Service
1/15/26 (10am-11:30am)

February
Program Spotlight
2/19/26 (10am-11am)

March
In-Service
3/19/26 (10am-11am)

May
Connection Space
5/21/26 (10am-11am)

July
Program Spotlight
7/16/26 (10am-11am)

August
In-Service
8/27/26 (10am-11am)

September
Connection Space
9/17/26 (10am-11am)

October
Program Spotlight
10/15/26 (10am-11am)

November
Connection Space
11/19/26 (10am-11am)

OAESV Legal Clinic Virtual Office Hours
2026-02-19 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-03-04 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-19 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-08 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-16 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-06 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-21 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-03 11:00 - 13:00 | OH
Survivors & Advocates – Connect with an attorney
The OAESV Legal Clinic hosts virtual office hours to provide a safe space for Ohio survivors and their advocates to connect with an attorney. They also allow survivors to discuss legal options, connect with resources, and/or have a brief consultation.

Wednesdays
11 am – 1 pm

Thursdays
3 pm – 5 pm

January 7
February 4
March 4
April 8
May 6
June 3
July 1
August 5
September 2
October 14
November 4
January 15
February 19
March 19
April 16
May 21
June 18
July 16
August 20
September 17
October 22
November 19
December 17 (2-5pm)

Please call or text 216-282-1559 to connect.
Additional accommodations available by request.

Engaging Men Symposium: Understanding and Disrupting the Manosphere
2026-03-12 10:00 - 16:00 | OH
The one-day symposium will focus on teaching about what the manosphere is, addressing online radicalization of boys and men, identifying manosphere content, the pathways to adopting harmful narratives and the impacts on gender equity and violence in our communities. We will explore strategies to supporting narratives for healthier masculinity and how increasing protective factors for young men can lead to greater public health outcomes.
This will be a full day training opportunity featuring four workshops that will discuss the Radicalization of Boys and Men, Healthy Masculinities, Primary Prevention and Manosphere Counter-narratives and other innovative disruption.
Register HERE by March 6.

Q&A with Jay
2026-03-18 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
Engaging Men Q&A is a program where facilitators and co-hosts discuss important topics related to Engaging Men including best practices for serving men as survivors, men’s health and healing, social and emotional learning, violence prevention and social justice.
Subject matter experts are invited to facilitate answering common technical assistance questions that are submitted from member programs on livestream.
March’s go-live will be on Sextortion and Digital Abuse. Tune in live at noon on our Facebook page.
You can view and listen to past episodes here.

Seasonal Training Series, Taking Care: Resilience for the Self
2026-03-23 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-03-24 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Join us for our Spring Seasonal Training Series! Taking Care: Resilience for the Self with Sarah Buffie, MSW, LSW. Please plan to join us for both sessions on March 23 & 24, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, as the training is designed to build across the two 90‑minute days.
In violence prevention work, our ability to foster safety, connection, and healing in communities depends on how well we care for ourselves. This training grounds resilience as a core prevention practice, a way to strengthen our capacity to engage, respond, and lead with clarity in the face of chronic stress, trauma exposure, and the emotional demands of the work. Through experiential mind–body activities, participants will explore practices that support regulation, presence, and sustainability, helping us prevent burnout, build protective factors, and model the wellbeing we hope to cultivate in our communities.
Training Objectives:

Learn prevention‑aligned strategies for nurturing personal resilience as a protective factor in their work.
Engage in interactive mind–body exercises that enhance regulation, connection, and collective capacity.
Explore practical tools for returning to balance and grounding during moments of stress, activation, or compassion fatigue.

REGISTER HERE.

Seasonal Training Series (Spring): Taking Care, Resilience for the Self
2026-03-23 11:00 - 2026-03-24 12:30 | OH
Join us for our Spring Seasonal Training Series! Taking Care: Resilience For the Self with Sarah Buffie, MSW, LSW, and Danae Riggs, Certified Trauma Specialist. Please plan to join us for both sessions on March 23 & 24, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, as the training is designed to build across the two 90‑minute days.
In violence prevention work, our ability to foster safety, connection, and healing in communities depends on how well we care for ourselves. This training grounds resilience as a core prevention practice, a way to strengthen our capacity to engage, respond, and lead with clarity in the face of chronic stress, trauma exposure, and the emotional demands of the work. Through experiential mind–body activities, participants will explore practices that support regulation, presence, and sustainability, helping us prevent burnout, build protective factors, and model the wellbeing we hope to cultivate in our communities.
Training Objectives:

Learn prevention‑aligned strategies for nurturing personal resilience as a protective factor in their work.
Engage in interactive mind–body exercises that enhance regulation, connection, and collective capacity.
Explore practical tools for returning to balance and grounding during moments of stress, activation, or compassion fatigue.

All accommodations will be as requested.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

14th Annual Advocacy Day
2026-04-15 09:00 - 17:00 | OH
Our 14th Annual Advocacy Day will be held in person at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio on April 15th, 2026.
This is an amazing opportunity to inspire hope, build connections, and ensure our communities can thrive. By attending, you can take action to communicate directly with lawmakers to elevate the voices of survivors in Ohio.
Registration is now open for Advocacy Day.
OAESV’s Advocacy Day is a free event. We encourage survivors, advocates, educators, students, legislators, and anyone else who shares our vision of an Ohio free from sexual violence to attend!
Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I have to know a lot about policy and legislation to attend?

No – Advocacy Day is open to first-time participants and returning/seasoned advocates. OAESV creates custom materials & preparatory training to those who register in advance of the event.

Can I attend Advocacy Day alone?

You can attend Advocacy Day on your own or with a partner or group. If you wish to participate in legislative meetings, OAESV will group you with people from your county or region and will connect you with your group prior to the event.

Do I have to attend the whole day?

We welcome all attendees to join us for as much of the day as possible. You can register for the morning session only (program in Statehouse Atrium), the afternoon session only (legislative meetings) or both. It’s important that you let OAESV’s team know as soon as possible if your registration changes at publicpolicy@oaesv.org.

Is there anything I have to bring or prepare in order to participate?

No – since OAESV prepares materials for you, you don’t need to worry about too much prep work. We recommend you are familiar your meeting agenda (emailed to you prior to the event) and the prep materials we send you. We always encourage local organizations to consider bringing information about their sexual violence services and partnerships to highlight to lawmakers.

Ohio Statehouse Resources:
You can find information about all state policymakers, including a bio, committee assignments, press releases, and more, online here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/

Ohio Statehouse Security FAQs
Event Parking & Locations

Questions? Please reach out to publicpolicy@oaesv.org.
Wear Your Advocacy
Our storefront features our 2026 campaign “Hope. Build. Thrive.” and provides a powerful visual representation of power and strength in the collective! Order your swag here and wear it to Advocacy Day!

Training Institute for Sexual Violence Advocates
2026-05-04 10:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-05 10:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-07 10:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-08 10:00 - 15:30 | OH
OAESV’s Training Institute for Sexual Violence Advocates is designed for advocates and rape crisis program staff who have been working in the field two years or less or are new to Ohio laws and procedures. This training fulfills the “Core Standards for Rape Crisis Programs in Ohio” requirement of 40 hours of introductory training for new staff. OAN and NOVA/NACP: meets requirements as a pre-approved training for “Introductory Advocacy” training. Approved for 37 hours of CEU credits for social workers.
Training Schedule:

20 Hours of Asynchronous Training: Accessible 4/13/2026-5/3/2026, completed at your own pace.
20 Hours of Interactive Zoom Training: May 4th – 8th, 10 am – 3:30 pm with breaks throughout the day, including a 30-minute lunch break.

*Includes breakout room discussions, polls, Padlet activities, and more! Please be prepared to fully immerse and engage with your peers!

This training is for OAESV members only. If you need assistance logging into our Member Portal (Coalition Manager) or you would like to become a member, please email info@oaesv.org for assistance. For additional information or questions, please email training@oaesv.org.
REGISTER HERE

Ready, Set, GO! Foundations for Prevention
2026-05-13 10:00 - 15:00 | Ohio Domestic Violence Network, 174 E Long Street, Columbus, Ohio, United States
Ready Set Go! will introduce new prevention professionals to violence prevention foundations, including public health and best practices. While focused on introductory information, this training is beneficial for all anti-sexual violence professionals to build skills and refresh knowledge about primary prevention and its integral role in ending sexual violence. The day will include time to network and practice skill-building and is open to OAESV members and non-members. The last day to register is APRIL 29th 2026.
REGISTER HERE for this in-person event at the Ohio Domestic Violence Network offices (174 E Long St. Columbus)
