We Are the Movement: 2026 WSCADVSA Conference

This workshop will be presented in Spanish with limited English interpretation available.

Arte, Sanación y Esperanza: Construyendo una Comunidad Más Allá de la Violencia 
Grupo de Apoyo para Mujeres Rurales de YWCA WW
Este taller explora cómo la creatividad y el arte pueden apoyar a las sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual en su camino hacia la sanación, la conexión y el fortalecimiento personal.

Guiadas por el personal y Promotoras de YWCA, los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de crear arte en un espacio de apoyo, utilizando la expresión artística como una forma de:

• Fomentar la conexión, el sentido de pertenencia y la expresión personal
• Crear un espacio seguro y confidencial para la sanación
• Honrar las experiencias, fortalezas y resiliencia de cada sobreviviente
• Apoyar a las sobrevivientes mientras imaginan y construyen una nueva vida libre de violencia

Juntas, crearemos obras de arte que reflejen el espíritu de pertenencia y que recuerden a quienes con demasiada frecuencia no son vistas o escuchadas que importan, que sus voces importan y que pertenecen a nuestra comunidad. Este es un camino hacia la construcción de una vida libre de violencia, basada en la esperanza, la conexión y la comunidad. La esperanza es comunidad. Juntas somos más fuertes.

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Art, Healing & Hope: Building Community Beyond Violence
YWCA WW Rural Women’s Support Group
This workshop explores how creativity and art can support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault on their journey toward healing, connection, and empowerment.

Guided by YWCA staff and Promotoras, participants engage in a supportive group experience where creating art becomes a pathway to:

• Foster connection, belonging, and self-expression

• Create a safe and confidential space for healing

• Honor each survivor’s experiences, strengths, and resilience

• Support survivors as they envision and build a new life beyond violence

Together, we will create artwork that reflects the spirit of belonging and reminds those who are too often unseen or unheard that they matter, their voices matter, and they belong. This is a journey toward building a life without violence—one grounded in hope, connection, and community. Hope is community. Together, we are stronger.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in WA State is an interactive session designed to increase attendees understanding of FGM/C in Washington state, address common myths and misconceptions, and strengthen participants’ ability to support prevention and survivor-centered responses. Through storytelling, reflection, and discussion, participants will develop an understanding of the cultural and social drivers of FGM/C, its health consequences, and the US and global context with a focus on Washington State’s prevention and response efforts. The workshop encourages participants to identify meaningful actions they can take within their professional and community roles. By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to promote awareness, respond with compassion, and connect survivors to available resources and referral pathways.

Supporting immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault requires an understanding of how immigration status, language, race, gender identity, disability, income, and geographic location shape both survivors' experiences and their access to safety and support. This workshop explores the unique barriers immigrant survivors face and how advocates can provide culturally responsive, survivor-centered services that recognize the impact of these intersecting identities. Through real-life scenarios and interactive discussion, participants will strengthen their understanding of trauma-informed advocacy, identify common challenges, and develop practical strategies for supporting immigrant survivors in navigating systems, accessing resources, and making informed decisions about their safety and well-being.