05/29/2026
Sometimes the most important battles are fought in rooms most people will never see.
Over the past few weeks, I attended both the TAASA Conference and the Conference on Crimes Against Women in Dallas.
These conferences always leave me with two conflicting feelings. It breaks my heart that sexual assault and domestic violence remain so pervasive that entire conferences are dedicated to addressing them. Yet it gives me hope to see rooms filled with survivors, advocates, prosecutors, law enforcement, medical professionals, and therapists all working toward the same goal: creating safer communities and better systems for survivors.
I know many survivors feel that the systems meant to protect them have failed them. In many cases, that feeling is understandable. There is still much work to do.
But please know there are people working behind the scenes every day to create change. At TAASA, I was inspired by leaders, advocates, and survivors pushing for legislative reform. At CCAW, I was encouraged to see prosecutors, District Attorneys, and law enforcement discussing collaboration and accountability. I was especially proud to see representatives from the Rio Grande Valley engaged in these conversations.
We see you. We believe you.
Change can be frustratingly slow. Sometimes it takes years. But people have not stopped fighting.
“I may be one drop in the ocean, but what is the ocean if not a multitude of drops?”
Every voice matters. Every act of advocacy matters. Every drop counts.
