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Mission

Our mission is to influence domestic violence and human trafficking agencies to reach their maximum potential in service-providing abilities and to implement neoteric services that expand upon customary practices.

Our vision is to empower survivors, influence systems, and educate communities to facilitate a higher likelihood of a life free from abuse for those who have been victimized by domestic violence and human trafficking.

Vision

Now She Speaks aspires to fill the service-providing gaps in the fields of
Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking

For the purpose of our mission, a service-providing gap is defined as the inability to meet the needs of survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking due to a lack of specified and unique service availability.

It's time to expand service availability to better meet the needs of

domestic violence & human trafficking victims.

Meet the Team

Maggie Benjamin - Founder & CEO

Maggie is a two-time survivor of domestic violence, and she has also been victimized by human trafficking. She uses her lived expertise to assist her fellow survivors and those at risk, as well as to educate the professionals that serve them. Each experience of her own and that of those she has served has cultivated her desire to pour into survivors and survivor serving professionals. Maggie has a passion for restoring the lives of survivors and expanding quality services across the U.S. that meet the needs of individuals just like her. Maggie's experiences have truly driven her career. Prior to founding Now She Speaks, she has worked with and advocated for individuals who have suffered from domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault. Throughout her career she has worked with diverse populations including but not limited to immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, male survivors, LGBTQIA+, survivors of torture and physical entrapment survivors. Maggie has worked with some of the highest risk domestic violence and sexual assault cases in her local vicinity including those at risk of fatality. Maggie expressed that the work isn't easy, but that it needs to be done, and it needs to be done right by those with true compassion for and understanding of the impact of domestic violence and human trafficking.

Meghann Simpson - Co-founder & Development Director

Meghann considers herself a peer amongst the population served by Now She Speaks. She is a relentless advocate with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fields of domestic violence, human trafficking, mental health, and African American studies. Meghann has a A.A is Social Science with a focus in Human Services, a B.A is Interdisciplinary Mental Health Studies, and a minor in African American studies. Her passion is driven by her lived expertise, and she has positioned herself to be a resource to any community she serves. Meghann has a special interest in the development of domestic violence and human trafficking research, advocacy, and services available to assist survivors and help-seekers. Meghann dedicates her passion at now she speaks to raising awareness, advocacy, research, and training. She is also well-versed in mental health, healing resources, and coping mechanisms, which have an incredible impact of the population served by Now She Speaks.

Shannon Riley - Board Director & Grant Administrator

Shannon, a father of four, prides himself on raising his children and being a present black father. He has spent the better portion of his life recovering from adverse childhood experiences. As the second child of his teenaged parents and drug-addicted father, Shannon faced much abuse and mistreatment. As he developed into a youth and onward, he had an intimate relationship with drugs, crime, and violence, while his relationship with his academics and peers suffered drastically. Recovering from such experiences has been an uphill battle that Shannon has managed to reach the top of to do better for himself and set a better example for his children. He eventually decided to obtain higher education where he successfully earned a master's degree in psychology and graduated cum laude of his graduating class. Shannon began his career in the world of non-profit and eventually took off into his career securing supervisory, director, and program development roles, then later opening his own consulting firm called Logos-Ethos-Pathos(L-E-P). L-E-P's primary focus is to secure funding for and develop the programs of organizations that work with underserved communities. As of 2024, Shannon has also joined the board at Now She Speaks and facilitates grant related operations.

Amanda Brown - Board Secretary & Internal Group Facilitation Auditor
Amanda considers herself a peer to the population served by Now She Speaks and has also faced other adversities such as overcoming the challenges of her disability and advocating for herself when others doubted her. Amanda is a mogul for strength, resiliency, and way-making. She made her way is cooperate America securing roles in a loss draft and mortgage debt recovery in fortune 500 companies but has decided to take life in a different direction. As Amanda steps away from the corporate world she turns her life over to working for a family-owned business as well as joining the board at Now She Speaks in 2024. She has a wealth of knowledge in criminal justice and crime related activities as the holder of a bachelor's degree in forensic science.

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SERVICES

S

For Survivors

Life skill building
- (agency referrals only)
Career skills building
- (agency referrals only)
National domestic violence support group #VDVSG
- (agency & self-referrals)
National human trafficking support group
- (agency & self-referrals)
Amazon wish list
- (donated to shelters, safehouses, and transitional housing programs)

For Professionals

Professional skill-building and training
Human trafficking professional support group
Domestic violence professional support group
Self-care and burnout prevention workshops
40-hour virtual domestic violence advocacy training
40-hour virtual human trafficking case management training

"Real courage owns up to the fact that we face a terrifying task, admitting that we are appropriately frightened, identifying sources of help and strength outside and within ourselves,

and then going ahead and doing what needs to be done."

-Dr. Alla Renne Bozarth