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| Diversity
Speakers is committed to improving the quality of life of women
and ending violence against women and children. Our featured
speakers will be reducing their regular honorarium non-profit
organizations dedicated to this cause. |
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Rudi
Thomas
As a survivor of domestic violence, Rudi Thomas decided that
the education of women from a spiritual standpoint is needed
for the cycle of violence to stop. Rudi’s belief is that
with a strong rooted foundation of knowledge, a person can weather
the storm and survive. Rudi is the founder of Full Spectrum
Ministries, a women’s ministry based on the principle
of leaving a legacy of sharing and caring. She focuses on liberating,
uplifting, empowering and educating women. Know where you came
from, look at where you have been, and then you can control
where you are going. |
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Alice Matta
The old saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you
stronger” is a saying that Alice lives by today. After
16 years of living in an emotional and verbal abusive relationship,
she had to find a way out for her and her children. Unfortunately,
it almost cost her her life. Today, with multiple stab wounds,
Alice stands stronger and encourages other people that there
is a way out of an abusive relationship without having to lose
their lives. She was one of the lucky ones. |
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Gale Williams-Jackson
By the age of 5, Gale Williams-Jackson knew that domestic violence
had a destructive affect on families. As a child she kept a
private money jar with coins to call the police from a phone
booth when she feared for her mother’s life. She witnessed
the abuse and murder of her mother suffered at the hands of
her abuser as a result of domestic violence. By sharing her
story and speaking out against domestic violence and the effects
that it has on the victim, children and our society, she hopes
that no other child or woman will live what she lived through.
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Betty Ramirez Swinners
Adversity did not stop Betty from becoming a success and now
she has dedicated her life to sharing her story of success and
survival to encourage others to believe in themselves. A survivor
of sexual and physical abuse, she was raised as a homeless child,
living in an abandoned house and eating out of trash cans to
survive. She has been recognized as One of Texas’ Most
Influential Women by Texas Hispanic Magazine, inducted into
The Hispanic Women’s Hall of Fame by Hispanic Women In
Leadership, and has received many other honors. |
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Toi Moore
Since her awakening of her gift to write, her talents have allowed
her credits to include over 200 published articles in various
newspaper and magazines throughout the United States and Canada.
She also adds to her credit several short stories and five novels.
She grew up in a family that was affected by domestic violence
and abuse. Having lived it, she totally knows how it affects
people and how the results of the hurt are painful for life.
She spends her life encouraging people to not become victims,
and to get help if they are victims.
Toi latest release Momma, Please Forgive Me, a fictional
novel is the product of her first
published book, which was self published by the author and
is receiving rave reviews.
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Sandra Ramos
In 1970, when domestic violence still remained a private family
affair and was hushed into non-existence, a forlorn woman came
to Sandra's door fleeing her abuser. Sandra took her in and
within a short period of time the number of battered women and
children living in the home she shared with her own 3 children,
grew to 22. Sandra was threatened with jail, but refused to
throw the families out and for the next 6 years she marched,
staged sit-ins, threatened legal action, and defied court orders
in her efforts to protect women and children from their abusers.
A child of the sixties, Sandra often used theatrics to drive
home the need. When the county freeholders denied financial
assistance to battered women but voted to award $500,000 to
build an animal shelter, she brought a battered woman with
her dog to the next meeting. She asked if the new animal shelter
would take the dog and also provide shelter for the woman
and her children, as there was no place for them to stay.
She made her point and funds were awarded to open the first
official battered women's shelter in North America. |
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