Me Too Panel and I Believe You video Screening

The First Dialogue: #MeToo and #IBelieveYou

A panel discussion on how to end sexual violence and the first official screening of "I Believe You" a voice of survivors.

Internationally-acclaimed award winning songwriter Emiko, the organizers of the #MeToo International Movement and California For Progress are teaming up for the launch of the “I Believe You” project, taking place in Los Angeles . Called “I Believe You”, the video and short-form documentary accompanies the launch of the I BELIEVE YOU Project and serves as the kickoff to The I BELIEVE YOU National US Tour 2018.

EVENT SCHEDULE:
5-6pm - Press hour (Select speakers will be available before the event for interview)
6-7pm - Meet and greet with speakers, organizers, and guests
7-7:30 - Screening of I BELIEVE YOU video
7:30-9 - Discussion panel

PARTICIPANT BIOS (in alphabetical order):

BRENDA GUTIERREZ is a lead organizer with California for Progress, an organizer with Bernie Sanders Brigade, and a prospective member of AIM SoCal. She was also the lead organizer of the Me Too Survivors' March in Los Angeles in November of 2017, and is a rape and assault survivor. Brenda also holds an AA in drug and alcohol counseling and medical assisting, and has spent much of her life caring for others. Brenda also works on local, state, and national policy issues, such as immigration, education, healthcare, and homelessness. The #MeToo moment inspired her to speak out about her own assault and work for those whose voices have been silenced.

“We should not allow ourselves to be silenced any longer. This goes beyond Hollywood, and now is our time.”

CHELSEA BYERS is a social change strategist, community builder, creative consultant, and a feminist writer/speaker, advocating for a world where creativity and human dignity can flourish. She is the Chair of the campaign to End Rape Statute of Limitations (EndRapeSOL) and a member of the 2017-2018 inaugural cohort of Community Justice Reform Coalition's Speakers Bureau. Chelsea has organized dozens of public demonstrations for social justice, held vigil for political prisoners and whistleblowers, and earned media at the 2016 Republican National Convention for gun violence prevention advocacy. After she disrupted and ended his hateful speech during a campaign stop in Las Vegas on January 20th, 2016, Donald Trump said of Chelsea, “That’s a young woman that doesn’t know... She’s Lost... To hell with her.” In 2014, Chelsea was named 'Community Ally' by the Northern Arizona Pride Association for her work organizing against discrimination legislation at the local level.

ELENA CHRISTOPOULOS is a scientist and sustainability expert with 20 years of expertise as an Energy and Political Consultant who “walks the talk of sustainability.” Ms. Christopoulos is a rape survivor and became a Commissioner on the Status of Women, with the City of Santa Monica to give a voice to women who do not have one, for the women whose life was taken from them for the women who were sexually assaulted at schools, in their homes, on public transportation, this unfortunate list goes on. She hopes to continue the dialogue about rape culture and to one day put an end to it. She is also an Advisory Board Member of Peace Over Violence.

“I believe survivors; your stories and I stand with you and support you. It is time that this becomes the new normal. Thank you to all who have supported me. I appreciate and love you.”

JAYDA RASBERRY is the Organizing Director for Dignity and Power Now (DPN) is a grassroots organization based in LA that fights for the dignity and power of incarcerated people, their families, and communities. In 2006 she was sentenced to Valley State Prison for Women where she would spend 6 years of her life. She's now educating community members and making them aware of what is happening behind jail walls. As a formerly incarcerated person and a queer woman of color she believes that it is important to be a voice of change in directly impacted communities.

J.B. WILLIAMS is a Police Officer in Los Angeles, California with more than 27 years experience in municipal, K-12 and Community College law enforcement agencies. He is a state certified law enforcement academy instructor and teaches Administration of Justice courses at the community college and advanced officer levels. Mr. Williams was awarded an A.A. Degree from West Los Angeles College, a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from California State University, Long Beach and a Master’s Degree from California State University, Northridge. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Education Degree at the University of Southern California. Through his participation in this event, Mr. Williams would like to use personal and professional experiences to help promote awareness and advocacy on the part of law enforcement and survivors alike to reduce the incidence of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

LYDIA PONCE - Quechua - Paita Peru and Mayo - Sinaloa Mexíco, Descendant of the Brown Clan in Scotland. Lydia has been a community volunteer since the mid 1980s, connecting organizations and people from one community to the other near and far. Lydia currently works with Guerrilla Food Not Bombs, MEChA, and Water Protectors. She is a sponsor at Venice High School, works with Venice Aunties & Elders (on an anti-gentrification plaintiff on the city and state lawsuits), and she is a South Central Farm defender. Lydia is currently serving as the Director of Idle No More SoCal, the Assistant Director of AIM SoCal. She is a recent Honoree at Women on the Frontlines, Indigenous Elders, and a 2011 City of Angels Award Recipient, Human Relations Commission.

“I recognize the work and success is never mine alone, and so it was difficult to write a bio because it's not about me. It's about being of service to the people, it's about sharing resources... and holding true to good intentions.”

TAYLOR MORLEY is the Coalition and Locals Coordinator for CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She has worked with survivors of intimate partner violence, writes on issues of consent, and serves as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and image-based abuse.

PANEL MODERATOR:
EMIKO, founder of the I BELIEVE YOU Project, is an internationally acclaimed, award winning songwriter, recording artist and composer for film and television.

The I BELIEVE YOU Project, inspired by the song off Emiko’s EP “Looking at Later” has been called a vital social statement and an opportunity for survivors to come together, heal, get the truth out, and offer others strength so that their voices may be counted. Shining a light on survivors of sexual assault, harassment, abuse, etc., The I BELIEVE YOU PROJECT is committed to building bridges between survivors and the law enforcement/judicial communities to create lasting positive change through cultural and policy reform so sexually violent perpetrators are brought to justice more swiftly, and most importantly, survivors are not re-victimized within the system, but instead believed and their cases treated with urgency, transparency, compassion, and ultimately given the support they so desperately need.