Violence Free Colorado

ED Summitt
2025-06-05 - 2025-06-06 | Rose Andom Center, 1330 Fox Street, Denver, Colorado, 80204
We’re thrilled to welcome Cathy Cave as this year’s featured speaker! With 35+ years of expertise in trauma-informed leadership and equity-focused systems change, Cathy offers invaluable insight for leaders in our movement.
Join executive directors from across Colorado to learn, connect, and lead with purpose.
Registration is now open!

ACRTI Series: From Language Access to Language Justice: Embracing the Intersections in the Transcreation of the Online Course Apoyo a la Comunidad 2ELGBTQIA+
2025-06-10 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Denver) | CO
This panel explores the intersections of identity, language, and access through the lens of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Latine community. By centering the experiences of queer latine survivors, panelist will share their journey in the transcreation of the Online Learning Center course Apoyo a la Comunidad 2ELGBTQIA+, and the challenges they faced while seeking out inclusive and affirming knowledge in a world that often feels out of reach for the 2SLGBQIA+ community.

Panelist will delve into the nuances of language and what it means to go from language access to language justice by unpacking the challenges of the what is the language being used and why/how it was chosen, the lack of information around the Two-Spirit identity in the latine community and for Spanish speaking individuals, as well as socio-cultural and intersectional factors that shape how service providers connect with survivors. This discussion will also be rooted in accessibility for individuals with learning disabilities by honoring all bodies and experiences.

Note: This panel will be in Spanish. English interpretation will be provided.

Panelist:
Miranda Encina (They/them/theirs, She/her/hers) – Culturally Responsive Training and Technical Assistance Manager, Violence Free Colorado
Ashley Méndez Ruiz (She/Her/Ella) – Language Justice Specialist, Violence Free Colorado
Kevin Vélez Negrón (He/Him/El) – Transcreator and Content Expert

Este panel explora las intersecciones de la identidad, el lenguaje y el acceso, a través de la perspectiva de la comunidad latina 2SLGBTQIA+. Centrándose en las experiencias de les supervivientes queer latines, les panelistas compartirán su recorrido en la transcreación del curso del Centro de Aprendizaje Online Apoyo a la Comunidad 2ELGBTQIA+, y los retos a los que se enfrentaron mientras buscaban un conocimiento inclusivo y afirmativo en un mundo que a menudo se siente fuera del alcance de la comunidad 2SLGBTQIA+.

Les panelistas profundizarán en los matices del lenguaje y en lo que significa pasar del acceso lingüístico a la justicia lingüística, abordando los retos de cuál es el lenguaje que se utiliza y por qué/cómo se eligió, la falta de información sobre la identidad de dos espíritus en la comunidad latina y para las personas de habla hispana, así como los factores socioculturales e interseccionales que determinan la forma en que les proveedores de servicios se conectan con les supervivientes. Esta discusión también estará basada en la accesibilidad para las personas con diversidad funcional honrando todos los cuerpos y experiencias.

Nota: Este panel será en español. Habrá interpretación al inglés.

Panelistas:
Miranda Encina (They/them/theirs, She/her/hers) – Culturally Responsive Training and Technical Assistance Manager, Violence Free Colorado
Ashley Méndez Ruiz (She/Her/Ella) – Language Justice Specialist, Violence Free Colorado
Kevin Vélez Negrón (He/Him/El) – Transcreator and Content Expert

How Trafficking Presents in Intimate Partner Relationships
2026-01-28 12:00 - 14:00 | CO
Join the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking in collaboration with Violence Free Colorado for a critical and action-oriented training on the intersections between human trafficking and interpersonal and domestic violence across Colorado. Survivors often experience overlapping forms of abuse, including coercion, isolation, economic control, and threats to safety, which can make trafficking difficult to identify within traditional domestic violence frameworks. This session will help participants recognize how traffickers use many of the same tactics as abusive partners, including manipulation of housing, finances, immigration status, substance use, and family relationships to maintain control. Grounded in Colorado based data, real case examples, and survivor informed insights, this training will equip advocates, service providers, and community partners to more confidently identify red flags, respond to complex safety concerns, and support survivors whose experiences do not neatly fit into one category of harm. We will explore risk factors for both adults and youth, considerations for marginalized and underserved communities, and strategies to strengthen coordinated community responses.
Participants will leave with enhanced tools to screen for trafficking within domestic violence settings, offer trauma responsive and culturally relevant support, and collaborate with partners across systems to promote survivor safety and autonomy.

Stalking Awareness Series : Know More, Do More: Recognizing and Responding to Stalking
2026-02-04 10:30 - 12:00 | CO
Stalking is a prevalent, dangerous, and often misunderstood crime. This session explores the dynamics of stalking, focusing on the highly contextual nature of the crime by discussing common tactics used by perpetrators and the co-occurrence of stalking with domestic and sexual violence, as well as tools to plan for victim safety and hold offenders accountable.
Objective
By the end of this presentation, participants will be better able to:

Identify stalking behaviors and dynamics
Recognize the intersection of stalking with other crimes
Apply strategies for working with victims of stalking

Stalking Awareness Series : Stalking 2.0: The Use of Technology to Stalk
2026-02-11 10:30 - 12:00 | CO
Stalkers are creative criminals who use – and misuse – a variety of technologies to locate, monitor, contact, and otherwise scare their victims. While helping survivors navigate technology-facilitated stalking can seem intimidating, the reality is that many stalkers leverage common and easy-to-use applications and devices. This session provides concrete strategies to help responders identify technologies being used to facilitate stalking, safety plan with survivors, and preserve evidence.
Objectives
By the end of this presentation, participants will be better able to:

Identify common technologies misused by perpetrators
Apply strategies to document stalking and preserve technological evidence
Consider tools for enhancing victim safety

Stalking Awareness Series : Risk Assessment in Stalking Cases and Safety Planning with Victims
2026-02-18 10:30 - 12:00 | CO
Stalking is a traumatizing crime that frequently co-occurs with physical violence – including homicide. The Stalking & Harassment Assessment & Risk Profile (SHARP) is a practical tool that provides a clear picture of a stalking situation and its risks. Using a case study example, this session highlights the SHARP assessment and explores strategies to promote victim safety, focusing on the diverse tactics stalkers may utilize, documentation strategies, and safety options for victims and survivors.
Objectives
By the end of this presentation, participants will be better able to:

Recognize high-risk times for stalking victims
Assess danger in stalking cases
Identify safety planning strategies for victims of stalking
Consider tools for enhancing victim safety

Stalking Awareness Series : Stalking and Adolescents
2026-02-25 10:30 - 12:00 | CO
Stalking is a criminal, traumatic, and dangerous victimization that impacts people of all ages, and research suggests that adolescents experience even higher rates of stalking victimization than adults do. This session focuses on how stalking impacts teens, exploring the dynamics and contextual nature of stalking; considering the diversity of stalking behaviors; highlighting the intersections of stalking with bullying, teen dating violence, and sexual violence; and offering strategies to better recognize and respond to victims and survivors.
Objectives
By the end of this presentation, participants will be better able to:

Identify stalking behaviors and dynamics, specifically among adolescents
Recognize the intersection of stalking with other crimes
Apply strategies for working with victims of stalking

Intersections of Disability and Abuse
2026-03-11 13:30 - 14:30 | CO
This webinar, presented by the initiative, will discuss the intersections of disability and partner abuse.

If you are interested in becoming a member to get access to webinars and tailored technical assistance please contact in**@************co.org or visit or membership page at https://violencefreecolorado.org/get-involved/become-a-member/

An Introduction To Wealth and Income Inequality
2026-03-18 11:00 - 12:00 | CO
Join staff from Violence Free Colorado for an interactive walkthrough of our Introduction to Wealth and Income Inequality guide. This webinar will explore why understanding wealth and income inequality is critical to advocates’ day-to-day work with survivors of domestic violence. Participants will be guided through the core components of the resource and gain practical, actionable strategies to support survivors’ financial empowerment and long-term economic stability. Whether you are new to these concepts or looking to deepen your practice, this session will provide tools you can immediately apply in your advocacy work.
The last 15 minutes of the webinar will be reserved for Q&A.
Please request language access accommodations by 3/4.

Trauma-Informed Advocacy for Deaf Survivors
2026-03-25 10:30 - 12:00 | CO
This Training addresses why these survivors are 1.5 times more likely to experience abuse and the barriers that hinder support. Participants learn practical interaction tips, legal ADA obligations, and the importance of certified interpreters. The goal is to help organizations move from reactive to proactive support through accessible policies and specialized technology.

About the Presenter:
Marja (she/her) was born in South Korea and was adopted to the United States as a young baby. Throughout her upbringing, growing up in a predominantly white community as a Person of Color (POC) and as a Deaf person, she has developed a vast cultural understanding of intersectionality barriers as a POC and a Deaf person. With the lived experience and deep understanding of her intersectionality, she moved to New York and Colorado to advance her higher education and career to work in the social services field. Marja brings 18 years of expertise of working in the behavioral health space in various roles of direct advocacy, consultation, training and committee work and served on a couple of boards as a Vice President and Secretary. Her strong background in consultation and training work has led Marja in serving on several task force groups for the State of Colorado and helped design the blueprint of Colorado Behavioral Health Reform to ensure accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing behavioral health services in Colorado.
Outside of work, you will find Marja cooking or baking, taking her dogs out on a walk, reading a good book on her Kindle, snowboarding in the winter, paddleboarding and camping in the summertime. She is also a foodie and enjoys great food.

Series: Financial Empowerment for Advocates
2026-04-14 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-28 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-11 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-26 13:00 - 14:00 | CO
Join us for a 4-Part Series of Advocate Financial Empowerment Workshops. Violence Free Colorado is inviting advocates to work with Kim Pentico, Economic Justice Senior Director from the National Network To End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). Each hour long session will focus on a different financial skill building topic that advocates can use personally as well as professionally, with survivors they work with. The final session will be an hour and a half as we discuss future efforts and next steps.
All Sessions will take place from 1:00-2:00pm; May 26th will be 1:00-2:30pm
April 14th – Session 1: Overview of Why and How We Got Here – The struggle is real; it’s not in your head
April 28th – Session 2: Budgeting: It’s not a dirty word
May 11th – Session 3: Credit-Building – Myths vs. Facts
May 26th – Session 4: Banks, Loans and Long-Term Planning

Understanding IPV in 2SLGBTQ+ Communities
2026-04-22 10:30 - 12:00 | CO
Description:
Understanding IPV in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities explores how power, control, and violence can show up in 2SLGBTQIA+ relationships- and how advocates and community responders can strengthen their support for survivors. This session moves beyond foundational terminology to examine bias, common assumptions, and the real-world barriers 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors face when seeking help, particularly in resource-limited settings. Participants will build awareness around inclusive communication, pronoun navigation in crisis situations, shelter access considerations, and culturally responsive advocacy practices. Through scenario-based discussion and reflection, we will explore how trauma-informed approaches can be applied in local programs and specific community contexts. Participants will leave with practical tools, clearer language, and concrete best practices that participants can immediately adapt within their own agencies, teams, and communities.

Speaker Bio:
Castro (they/them) works as the Education and Training Manager at Rocky Mountain Equality. They lead LGBTQ+ cultural competency trainings for organizations across Colorado and beyond, and support statewide advocacy efforts focused on community safety and equity. Castro brings experience from The Trevor Project, The Posse Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Mays Foundation, and Youth Speaks. With a background in Studio Art and Art History from Carleton College, they integrate creativity, trauma-informed facilitation, and community-centered practice to help institutions strengthen inclusive response and community-informed support.

Violence Free Colorado Summit: Thrive and Rise
2026-05-12 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-13 09:00 - 16:00 | CO
This year’s summit will bring together domestic violence advocates from across the state to connect, share, and learn alongside one another. Participants will engage with content experts on a wide range of topics and issues that impact survivors of domestic violence, gaining valuable insights and tools to take back to their organizations and apply in their daily work with survivors. Please be sure that each person attending the event registers so that we are able to accurately capture our attendee numbers and language access accommodations.
Space is limited and attendance will be capped, register now to reserve your spot!

Important Details:
-Registration will close on 4/30 unless we reach our cap sooner.
-Please be sure to request language accommodations by 4/15.
-Lodging costs may be covered depending on your organization’s geographic location – organizations within 30 miles of the Rose Andom Center are not eligible for assistance with the cost of lodging.
-VFC may be able to provide a travel stipend of up to $140.00 per organization.
-Additional Logistics will be sent to folks registered approximately a week prior to the event.

Please reach out to Lindsay at lc**********@************co.org with questions about this event and/or for assistance with lodging or travel stipends.

The summit will be a two-day, in-person event in Denver, Colorado, featuring two distinct learning tracks: One track will address specific challenges and areas where advocates have requested additional training and support. The other will focus on housing and economic justice, exploring how these critical issues intersect with survivor safety and empowerment.

Keynote speaker:
The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For: Building a World without Intimate Violence
Anne P. DePrince, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and distinguished university professor at the University of Denver as well as an internationally recognized expert in violence against women. Author of “Every 90 Seconds: Our Common Cause Ending Violence against Women” (Oxford University Press, 2022), she studies the impact of multiple forms of violence against women – sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking, adolescent dating violence – on a range of outcomes, from health and economic wellbeing to education and safety. The U.S. Department of Justice recognized her contributions to the nation’s understanding of crime victims with the Vision 21 Crime Victims Research Award. A clinical psychologist and community-engaged researcher, Anne is a champion for the importance of community-university collaboration for public problem solving. She directed the University of Denver’s Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning for 10 years, and currently serves as Associate Vice Provost of Public Good Strategy and Research

Members Only- 2026 Bilingual/Bicultural Denver Convening
2026-10-07 10:30 - 16:00, 2026-10-08 10:30 - 16:00 | CO
Join Us for Our 2026 Bilingual/Bicultural Denver Convening
Violence Free Colorado is excited to host a Bilingual/Bicultural Convening Series this summer across the state! We’re bringing together bilingual and bicultural staff from our member programs for energizing two-day events.
We warmly invite bilingual and/or bicultural staff to attend and be part of these meaningful gatherings.
What to Expect:
These convenings are all about building community. Together, we’ll create space to connect, share, and grow in our collective work supporting survivors. Participants will engage in inspiring workshops on personal power, collective power, and self-care, while also strengthening connections with peers from across Colorado.
Important Details:

This is a two-day event.
Registration is required.
If more than one person from your organization is attending, each person must complete their own registration using the link below.

Let’s come together, connect, recharge, and celebrate the powerful work you do. We can’t wait to see you there!

¡Únase a nuestro encuentro Bilingue/Bicultural 2026 en Denver!
Violence Free Colorado se complace en organizar una serie de encuentros bilingües y biculturales este verano en todo el estado. Estamos reuniendo a personal bilingüe y bicultural de nuestros programas miembros para dos días energizantes de eventos.
Invitamos cordialmente al personal bilingüe y/o bicultural a asistir y formar parte de estos encuentros tan significativos.
¿Qué puede esperar?
El objetivo de estos encuentros es crear comunidad. Juntes, vamos a crear un espacio para conectar, compartir y crecer en nuestro esfuerzo colectivo de apoyo a les sobrevivientes. Les participantes asistirán a talleres inspiradores sobre el poder personal, el poder colectivo y el autocuidado, al mismo tiempo que fortalecerán las conexiones con sus colegas de todo Colorado.
Detalles importantes:

Se trata de un evento de dos días.
Debe completar la registración.
Si va a asistir más de una persona de su organización, cada una de ellas deberá completar su propia inscripción utilizando el enlace que figura a continuación.

Reunámonos, recarguémonos y celebremos la poderosa labor que realizas. ¡Estamos deseando verte!
