A commitment to inclusion:
The Voices and Faces Project diversity statement.

At The Voices and Faces Project, we bring the names, faces, and testimonies of survivors of gender-based violence to the public.

The survivors who share their stories with our project do not do so because it is healing — although it can be — but because it is necessary in a world that too often blames, shames, and silences victims. Despite the advances made by the global movement to end gender-based violence, those who come forward with their stories still face stigma and risk. Publicly identifying as a survivor of gender-based violence can be in and of itself marginalizing.

All survivors of gender-based violence, regardless of their level of social or economic privilege, encounter these risks and stigmas. But victims from communities that have been historically denied basic civil or human rights —including communities of color, people with disabilities, the undocumented, homeless or impoverished persons, those incarcerated or impacted by the criminal justice system, those who have been trafficked or prostituted, those from oppressed religious communities, and gay, lesbian, and transgender persons — are often doubly silenced.

In our storytelling efforts, we at The Voices and Faces Project work to reflect the unique challenges faced by survivors of violence who are members of vulnerable communities even as we also challenge domestic and global cultures that fail to protect basic human or civil rights. We do not believe it possible to pursue our efforts on behalf of victims of gender-based violence without actively engaging in efforts to create more inclusive cultures here in the United States and in the world at large.

Diversity is a part of our organization’s value system. Our ability to develop and deliver programs that change minds, hearts, and public policies depends on the diversity and skills of our team members. Our personnel policies are non-discriminatory and affirmative. Our organizational culture respects the contributions of and seeks out diversity in its leaders and project managers. Further, we ask and demand that our on and offline communications reflect this spirit of inclusion and diversity in actionable ways. Media representations play a crucial role in advocating for a more inclusive culture; and as an organization committed to making creative interventions that reshape social perceptions of gender-based violence, we work hard to be at the forefront of inclusive messaging across all our media formats.

Our Board of Advisors reflects our commitment to diversity. We have built a survivor-driven board that is also a highly diverse one, where leaders from the communities we serve and represent have a powerful voice.