The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) announced today that Naomi Wadler, the 11-year-old youth activist who provoked a strong reaction from Americans with her speech at the March for Our Lives (March 24th, 2018), will be opening Voices Rising, NCADV’s 17th biennial national domestic violence conference this September.
“Ms. Wadler is a shining light and we admire her decision to shine her light on the issue of domestic violence,” said Ruth M. Glenn, President/CEO of NCADV. ”Her passion and activism regarding gun violence is powerful. Her ongoing advocacy regarding this nation’s gun violence epidemic and the lack of acknowledgement of young girls and women of color who are disproportionately falling victim to to that gun violence and domestic violence makes her a beacon of hope for the future.”
Wadler is widely known for her youth activism, most recently at March for Our Lives, where students from across the United States came to protest alongside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students from Parkland, Florida in an effort to protest gun violence in schools. Wadler will open the Voices Rising conference with a speech about youth activism as well as the intersection of firearms, domestic violence, and the disproportionate impact on women and girls of color. With youth activism being an important part of this year’s conference, Wadler will play a crucial role in portraying that message.
Voices Rising marks the 17th national domestic violence conference NCADV has hosted over the past 35 years and is known for its cutting-edge content and survivor-centric focus. The 2018 conference will focus on how advocates do the work in the domestic violence field. The conference is intentional in that it is convened to delve deeper into the causes of violence and its impact and effect on individuals, communities and our nation. Voices Rising will also highlight how constituents can continue to use their voices to catalyze change.
For more information about Voices Rising and NCADV, visit: www.ncadv.org.
About The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is the voice of victims and survivors and works as the catalyst for changing society to have zero tolerance for domestic violence. NCADV does this by affecting public policy, increasing understanding of the impact of domestic violence, and providing programs and education that drive change.
About Naomi Wadler
Naomi Wadler is an 11 year old student activists from Alexandria, Virginia.
Naomi led a student walk out at her elementary school in Alexandria, Virginia on the one month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida, adding an additional minute for Courtlin Arrrington, an African American student who was murdered shortly after the Parkland shooting in her Alabama high school.
Naomi went on to speak at the March for Lives on March 24, 2018. She continues to work to promote common sense gun control legislation and encouraging the world to remember Courtlin and the many African American girls lost to gun violence around the country whose potential will never be realized.
Naomi is committed to supporting girls of color to stand in their power. Currently, She is a member of the Kidbox Youth Board of Directors where she is working to raise money for Safe Shores, the DC Child Advocacy Center, working with both DoSomething.org and The March for Our Lives to promote the importance of voting, and advocating for changing in disciplinary practices in schools.