We are thrilled to be joined by local, regional, and national experts for this year's Advocates' Training & Networking Event!
Barbara Benezet
Nick Beard is a staff attorney at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. Nick previously worked at the Planned Parenthood and Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she worked on legislation supporting domestic violence survivors. She has a DPhil in Law and Gender Studies from the University of Sussex and is admitted to the Delaware, New York, and Maryland bar. She also serves on the board of the First State Abortion Fund.
Ava Carcirieri holds a Ph.D. in Sociology, with research specializations in Gender and Law. Dr. Carcirieri currently fills multiple roles within the Delaware Community; the first of which is the Sexual Violence Prevention Coordinator with the Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence. In this role, she works with domestic violence and public health partners on prevention efforts that increase economic justice and childcare access for women across Delaware. Additionally, Ava serves on the Board of Directors for Trauma Matters Delaware (TMD), a non-profit organization that acts as a central network of resources for organizations that are working to become trauma-informed. She also teaches gender-based violence courses at the University of Delaware, organizational psychology courses at Wilmington University, and holds a consultant position with the Administrative Office of the Courts where she leads initiatives focusing on staff wellness across the Judiciary and on increasing community mental health connections.
Nancy Carranza
Bailey Coco (she/they) is a Black, Italian, Queer professional dedicated to advancing social justice and systemic reform. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Bailey earned a degree in Sociology and Women & Gender Studies with a concentration in Domestic Violence Prevention Services and a minor in Politics and Social Justice. Bailey began their work in the field as an intern with the Delaware Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC), where they contributed to revising the Domestic Violence Intervention Standards—authoring the section Considerations for Diverse Populations—and helped draft Delaware’s Strangulation Protocol for law enforcement. They also co-authored and co-facilitated DVCC trainings including Supporting Hispanic and Latino Survivors, Gender Freedom: The Practice of Gender Inclusivity, and Updated Domestic Violence Intervention Standards. Currently, Bailey serves with the Family Court of the State of Delaware, managing the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Compliance Calendar across all three counties. They coordinate communication among intervention providers, litigants, and the court to strengthen procedural justice and improve systemic responsiveness. Bailey also serves as Secretary for the Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence and the Delaware Domestic Violence Task Force.
Lauren Cuevas (she/her) has served as the Social Services Senior Administrator at the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) for the past three years, where she oversees and facilitates the state’s Fatal Incident Review Team (FIRT). She brings prior experience leading Cecil County, Maryland’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, coordinating their multidisciplinary response to domestic violence, and leading the county's Sexual Assault Response Team. Lauren graduated from the University of Delaware in 2021 where she triple-majored in Political Science, Sociology, and Women & Gender Studies, with a concentration in Domestic Violence Prevention and Services. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Victims' Rights Task Force and as a member of the Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence's Board of Directors. She is committed to using data-informed insights and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve system response to violence. Outside of her professional passions, she is an animal lover passionate about animal welfare who fosters for the Brandywine Valley SPCA and volunteers in a variety of settings with her therapy dog, Huck, through PAWS for People.
Leah M. Forney, widely known as The Culture Doctor™, is a cultural strategist, social and behavioral sciences researcher, trauma-informed educator, and consultant dedicated to transforming how institutions show up for survivors of sexual violence especially survivors from communities of color. As the Founder and CEO of Unculture Your Workplace, Leah partners with organizations, institutions, and community-based programs to identify and dismantle uncultured leadership and workplace systems that undermine survivor-centered values in practice.
Tara Gush
Diedra Harper
Rona Harris is the Founder and Executive Wellness Director of LoveEtcetera: Wellness, Wisdom & Wealth LLC a whole-person wellness and empowerment brand dedicated to helping families heal, grow, and transform from the inside out. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Services, specialized training in Marriage and Family Systems, and is a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, Community Health Worker, and Certified Peer Support Specialist Supervisor. With more than 20 years of experience in trauma-informed care, family engagement and wellness, youth development, and community revitalization, Rona blends clinical insight with lived experience to create practical, compassionate tools for healing. In her work, she integrates emotional wellness, behavioral health strategies, spiritual grounding, and holistic practices to support individuals and families navigating stress, transition, or trauma. Rona is known for her warm, motivating facilitation style and her ability to make complex concepts simple, accessible, and transformative. She empowers clients and communities to embrace strength, balance, and purpose.
Fatima Jayoma (she/her) is the Education Manager at the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV). She brings over a decade of experience in the anti-violence movement. She started as a mobile multilingual advocate, where she supported Asian and Pacific Islander victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence in Iowa. Later, she served as a prevention educator, where she developed community-based prevention programming. Most recently, she worked as a national training and technical assistance provider, focused on systems change and community collaboration approaches in rural communities. Fatima holds an MSW and a BA in Social Work and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Iowa. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and thrifting.
Jenn Kutney-Soper
Francisca Moreno
Philinda Mindler, LCSW, is Program Manager for the School-Based Therapeutic Program (SBTP) and Adolescent Resource Center (ARC) at Children & Families First, overseeing statewide school-based services in Delaware. With two decades of experience in adolescent reproductive health counseling and education, she specializes in inclusive practices for youth with special needs and LGBTQ+ identities. Philinda is a certified trainer at the Brain Science Training Institute, delivering professional development on trauma-informed care and evidence-based interventions. She is trained in EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT and integrates these approaches into her work with school-aged children and adolescents. Committed to equipping professionals with practical tools, Philinda focuses on creating safe, supportive environments where youth can heal and thrive.
Nina Morales-Perez, PhD, CA, is currently a sexual assault therapist with ContactLifeline, Inc. She has a BS in criminal justice, an MS in psychology, and a PhD in forensic psychology. She began her survivor advocacy journey 5 years ago when she decided to make a life change during the COVID-19 pandemic after working as a paralegal for many years. She has worked in the movement against domestic and sexual violence as a survivor advocate at a Georgetown, DE community center that helps mostly the Hispanic community. She is currently a therapist working with teens and adults who are survivors of sexual assault.
Erin Munoz
Traci Murphy is the Executive Director of Coalition for a Safer Delaware, which seeks to end gun violence in Delaware and nationwide through policy advancement, prevention education, and partnerships.
Cindene Pezzell, Esq. is the Director of the National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors at the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP). Cindene is a leading expert on legal issues involving criminalized survivors and has over two decades of dedicated legal experience championing criminal defense and gender justice issues, policy reform, and systems transformation. At BWJP, Cindene oversees the Defense Center, where she and her colleagues provide specialized technical assistance to defense teams, including attorneys, expert witnesses, advocates, and survivors facing criminal charges related to their experiences of abuse. Cindene is an experienced trainer who designs and conducts programs around the country on topics related to advocating for and defending charged and incarcerated victims and survivors. Cindene also develops legal materials and consults on policy and legislation impacting criminalized survivors. Cindene is a former assistant defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where she focused primarily on trial work.
Sonya Reaves is the Education Coordinator at the Dr. Carol B. Berz Family Justice Center in Chattanooga, TN, and she’s all about building bridges and sharing knowledge in the Chattanooga community. She designs hands-on training and educational programs, always focusing on real-world issues like domestic and sexual violence that impact local families. If there’s a theme to Sonya’s career, it’s community development, both at home and abroad. She’s been a teacher, a principal, and an international social worker, traveling to places like Cambodia, Chad, and Norway creating and developing empowering community based programs. With degrees in Social Work and International Community Development, plus fluency in Spanish, French, Khmer and Kiswahili, Sonya brings a global perspective, sharp strategic skills, and passion to everything she does.
Juan Rodriguez
Stephanie Rodriguez
“I love seeing my clients grow, and live their life on purpose. Empowerment is the strongest vehicle to change. Your journey begins with you..." Tamara Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the owner and founder of Transpire Wellness, founded in 2020. A place where every client feels valued, heard and seen. She has worked with thousands of clients over her career and has expanded the practice into 4 states. Tamara also is committed to helping survivors of domestic violence on their healing journey, as this was once a part of her story. She is passionate and committed to instilling hope; and has committed her life to a life of service. Transpire Wellness is evidence of her passion and purpose aligning. Tamara holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Salisbury University, a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University and a Masters in Management and Leadership from Liberty University.
Tamara Wilson, JD, serves as the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Child-Related Relief Facilitator for the Family Court of Delaware, a pilot initiative modeled after the Cook County Child-Related Relief Program. In this role, she facilitates trauma-informed discussions between petitioners and respondents on child-related issues in protection orders and collaborates with judges, attorneys, and stakeholders to enhance access, safety, and equitable outcomes for families navigating the court system. With over 20 years of experience in child welfare, family court, and nonprofit leadership, Tamara brings a deep commitment to systems change and equity. As the former Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at CASA Youth Advocates, she led organizational transformation efforts, developed DEI strategy, and designed capacity-building programs for staff, volunteers, and community partners. A skilled facilitator and speaker, Tamara has presented at numerous conferences, including the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) Conference, Pathways to Victim Services Conference, Philadelphia Bench Bar, Kids at Court Conference, and the National CASA/GAL Conference. She continues to advance equity and cultural humility across systems that serve children, families, and communities.
David Zisser is a staff attorney and the fair housing project lead at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. David has an interest in affordable and accessible housing for all. David graduated Cum Laude from Drexel Thomas R. Kline School of Law May of 2024. David obtained a BA in journalism from Temple University in 2014. In law school, David was the President of the Drexel chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. Additionally, David received the Outstanding Clinic Team Award from the Clinical Legal Education Association for his participation in the Stern Community Lawyering Clinic.
