We Deserve Better Project
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wdbproject.bsky.social
We Deserve Better Project
@wdbproject.bsky.social
27 followers 3 following 42 posts
We are a group of anti-violence workers who are committed to creating better working conditions that mutually benefit survivors and advocates.
https://bio.link/wdbproject
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wdbproject.bsky.social
Talk It Out Together is back February 17 ✨ This month, we reflect on: When everything feels out of control, where do we want to focus our energy and attention? TIOT is a space for anti-violence workers to connect, share challenges, and support each other. 🔗 Register at the link in our bio.
February 10, 2026 at 10:17 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
✨Want to join the We Deserve Better Project? We’re inviting new members to join our monthly meeting this March! If you're interested, fill out the “volunteer” form on our website by February 15 (link in bio). #WeDeserveBetter #AntiViolence #Advocate
February 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Episode 7 is here! 🎙️ When you work in anti-violence, toxic environments can start to feel normal—but pockets of hope exist! Steph chats with Emil to talk about the good, the bad, and the factors that shape our workplaces. Listen on Substack (link in bio) or your fave podcast app! #WeDeserveBetter
February 2, 2026 at 9:47 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
✨Want to join the We Deserve Better Project? We’re inviting new folks to our March meeting! Fill out the form at wedeservebetter.work/volunteer to get started.

#WeDeserveBetter #AntiViolence #Advocate
January 15, 2026 at 10:42 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Talk It Out Together is back next week on Tuesday, January 20 ✨This month, advocates will have the chance to tap into their creative side. TIOT is a space for anti-violence workers to connect, share challenges, and support each other. 🔗 Register now at the link in our bio. #advocates #antiviolence
January 13, 2026 at 6:08 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Episode 6 is here! 🎙️ What does setting boundaries actually mean and why is it so hard? Steph is joined by Lauren R. Taylor to unpack the challenges of boundary-setting, from internalized barriers to fear of retaliation. Listen on Substack (link in bio) or your fave podcast app! #WeDeserveBetter
January 5, 2026 at 5:15 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
We can’t end violence without addressing its root causes. Advocates are calling for prevention funding, anti-oppressive practices, deeper training, and systems change—not an endless crisis-response cycle. 📊Learn more about our assessment & key findings at the link in our bio. #WeDeserveBetter
December 30, 2025 at 5:22 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Would you like to be a guest on the We Deserve Better Project's 'RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Work' podcast?

If you’re interested, send an email with the subject line “podcast” to [email protected].
December 22, 2025 at 8:51 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 8:25 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Survivors deserve more than being “included.” Survivors must be centered, compensated, and given real power in decision-making—not exploited for labor or stories. 📊Learn more about our assessment & key findings at the link in our bio. #WeDeserveBetter
December 16, 2025 at 8:25 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Anti-violence workers are very familiar with the Power & Control Wheel. But did you know there is a Workplace version? Read our post for some examples & follow along for additional information and tools for worker power. Email [email protected] to get involved! #WorkerPowerWednesday
December 10, 2025 at 8:52 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Talk It Out Together is back next week on Tuesday, December 16 ✨ Join us this month for end of year reflections.
TIOT is a space for anti-violence workers to connect, share challenges, and support each other. 🔗 Register now at the link in our bio. #advocates #antiviolence
December 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Episode 5 is here! 🎙️Steph and Megan explore how reading and writing practices for advocates can be used as a tool to prevent and combat compassion fatigue, especially when implemented organizationally and on agency time. Listen on Substack (link in bio) or your fave podcast app! #WeDeserveBetter
December 1, 2025 at 5:40 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Community Collaboration: While 29% of advocates cited “collaboration between domestic and sexual violence organizations” as something that would make them more likely to stay at their job, some also uplifted the need to work more deeply with a multitude of community-based organizations. “[We need to] work with other organizations to teach life skills, environmentalism, financial literacy, cooking, home maintenance and non-violence. It takes a village! So many of our clients have a multitude of challenges and little education or social support. We need the whole community to be invested in the success of the population we serve!" - Advocate from Louisiana About the Assessment: We asked advocates to complete an anonymous assessment between the end of November 2022 and the middle of January 2023. Our goal was to learn more about the experiences of current and former anti-violence workers. We received 265 responses from advocates across 33 US states and territories. Map of United States with states and territories colored in. We defined "advocate" as anyone who currently or had recently worked at victim service agencies. Learn more at wedeservebetter.work/assessment
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Advocates are saying it plainly: the old ways aren’t working. Survivors deserve new, community-rooted, non-carceral approaches—and advocates won’t stay in jobs that won’t evolve. 📊Learn more about our assessment & key findings at the link in our bio. #WeDeserveBetter
We Deserve Better Project 2023 Assessment; Key Finding #6: Advocates are adamant that traditional methods are no longer working and that survivors deserve new and innovative services. Learn more at wedeservebetter.work/key-findings Innovation is needed: 52% of anti-violence workers identified “lack of viable alternatives for clients and survivors” as a challenge or reason they left their job; 43% of advocates said “opportunities to innovate” would make them more likely to stay; “Antiquated ways of running local programs, coalitions, and national projects have to change. Look at concepts like transformative justice, prevention through liberation, prioritizing an anti-racism lens on all things, etc. This is where we need to find our direction for moving this work forward if we want this work to live on and actually be responsive to the needs of the most marginalized (and therefore benefiting everyone)." - Advocate from Pennsylvania Move away from carceral systems: “Anti-violence as a field is still rooted in the criminal justice system and that system is traumatizing to work in and send survivors to.” - Advocate from Ohio; This is an even more important point when we recognize that so many advocates are survivors themselves. "[There is] Inconsistency among the community with regard to how anti violence systems “should” work. Often times law enforcement is not trained on trauma informed procedures for dealing with anti violence cases. They may often become part of the problem by not believing a survivor when called out to a scene."- Advocate from Pennsylvania Meeting Basic Needs: Anti-violence workers shared desires to provide additional holistic services to meet basic needs to provide space for healing. “In many cases, there is no real justice for survivors. We need to help our communities meet their basic needs—food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and relationship-building.” - Advocate from Wisconsin; Advocates would also like to see more culturally-specific and inclusive services for people with disabilities. “[We need] more no-strings-attached funding for survivor needs, housing that is disabled accessible, and open to care attendants and interpreters.” - Advocate from Virginia
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Talk It Out Together is back next week on Tuesday, November 18 ✨ This month we’ll discuss grief and loss in the anti-violence field.

TIOT is a space for anti-violence workers to connect, share challenges, and support each other. 🔗 Register now at the link in our bio. #advocates #antiviolence
Join us on November 18 from 4:30 - 6 pm ET. Talk It Out Together: This month we’ll discuss grief & loss in the anti-violence field. What are you grieving? Where do you store grief in your body? How is your grief showing up? Is burnout a form / manifestation of grief? If so, what would healing look like when burnout is tied to grief? How can organizations recognize & repair when burnout may actually be rooted in unacknowledged grief (personal or collective)?
November 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Episode 4 is here! 🎙️Steph talks with Kayla DeCant about what it takes to fund anti-violence work. They dive into creative strategies, transparency, and staying grounded in your values—especially in times like these. Listen on Substack (link in bio) or your fave podcast app! #WeDeserveBetter
New Episode of the RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Podcast, brought to you by the We Deserve Better Project; Episode 4: Fearless Funding in Tumultuous Times; Audio clip starting at 38:06
November 3, 2025 at 5:09 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
#WorkerPowerWednesday Affirmations!

If working with survivors is your passion–you deserve to have the support you need to continue doing that. #Unionizing or collective action can be the tool to build the workplaces we need.

To join us, reach out at [email protected]!
Affirmations for Anti-Violence Workers: You deserve a liveable wage. You deserve safe working conditions. You deserve transparency. You deserve time for self-care. You deserve to have your voice heard. An illustration of a person holding a megaphone is next to the affirmations.
October 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Talk It Out Together is back on Tuesday, October 21 ✨ This month we’ll discuss harm reduction for advocates in the anti-violence field.

TIOT is a space for anti-violence workers to connect, share challenges, and support each other. 🔗 Register now at the link in our bio. #advocates #antiviolence
October 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Episode 3 is here! Steph and Jess H, a former anti-violence worker and current mental health therapist, examine how “self-care” rhetoric can mask systemic harm and exploit workers. Listen on Substack (link in bio) or your fave podcast app! #WeDeserveBetter
New Episode of the RE:Imagining Anti-Violence Podcast, brought to you by the We Deserve Better Project; Episode 3: Self-Care or Staff Exploitation? Audio clip starting at 37:33
October 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Advocates deserve better. Survivors deserve better. Our movement deserves better.
Slide 5: Where is the accountability? 60% of advocates tried to hold leadership accountable by using the following strategies: Open communication & feedback; Asking for help from supervisor, HR representative or Board of Directors; Collective group efforts, including writing anonymous letters to leadership & engaging in unionizing efforts. “We are taught to advocate for our clients but when it comes to us… the rules seem to become unclear regarding how to stay safe while doing our jobs.” - Advocate from Kentucky Slide 6: Retaliation is a Serious Fear: The top two reasons anti-violence workers chose not to share concerns with leadership: Fear of retaliation; Thought it would be unproductive or ignored. "[We have talked] with our executive director about the lack of leadership from management. However, it seems that this leader finds out about what is said and there is retaliation." - Advocate from Wisconsin. Nearly half (48%) of all discrimination claims filed with the EEOC included an accusation of retaliation. In 2024, charges alleging retaliation were the most prevalent filings for the seventeenth consecutive year. Slide 7: Why Are Advocates Leaving? Nearly half of advocates reported the following challenges or reasons they left their jobs: 49% cited “resistance to addressing internal conflict”; 48% cited “ineffective management”’ 47% cited “lack of transparency from organizational leadership and boards of directors”. "They are creating harm and victimizing their own employees in the name of helping victims. They're creating more harm in employees' lives while trying to uphold their mission. They refuse to create internal change in a field that is all about culture change. They hire excited change makers who are given a false perspective of the job, and are then let down and blindsided." - Advocate from Pennsylvania Slide 8: We Deserve Better: “So long as our movement engages in needless power games and toxic management practices, we will be as traumatizing to one another as abusers are to their victims. We must make a collective sea-change effort to no longer tolerate this as a culture.” - Advocate from Ohio; “The movement would be transformed when leadership…begins to treat those served with respect; when leadership is mandated to invest in staff and leadership training; and when microaggressions are no longer tolerated.” - Advocate from Pennsylvania
September 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Our 2023 Assessment shows that leadership at anti-violence orgs often replicate the same toxic power dynamics this movement is meant to end. Advocates deserve better—and so do survivors. 📊Learn more about our assessment & key findings at the link in our bio. #WeDeserveBetterProject
Slide 1: We Deserve Better Project 2023 Assessment; Key Finding #5: Leadership at anti-violence organizations often replicate the same toxic, abusive, and violent environments and power dynamics that this movement aims to prevent. Learn more at wedeservebetter.work/key-findings Slide 2: Replicating Patterns of Abuse: "There seems to be a particular dynamic in the anti-violence field where the workplaces themselves harm workers in ways that resemble the abuses and harms we respond to in our communities." - Advocate from Ohio; Graphic of Workplace Power & Control Wheel Slide 3: Advocates Experience Racism: 30% of advocates who completed our survey experienced white supremacy culture or racism at their current or former agency. "The practice of hiring activists, especially from marginalized backgrounds, with no plan for how to support them during periods of crisis, trauma triggers, burnout, and moral injury makes it impossible for us to effectively support survivors." - Advocate from New York Slide 4: Oppression & Microaggressions: "[There is] an abundance of racism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, and overall institutional oppression. In my experience, truly dedicated and passionate advocates were turned empty by the time they had a chance to flee the toxic workplace. Nearly every advocate that left had been victimized by leadership in one way or another." - Advocate from Pennsylvania
September 25, 2025 at 8:42 PM
wdbproject.bsky.social
Turnover is high in the #AntiViolence field, but we can reduce this by making sure workers, many of them survivors themselves, have healthy, supportive workplaces to continue doing the work they love. #WorkerPowerWednesday

To join us, reach out at [email protected]!

#Unionizing
Why Unionizing? Unionizing is not workers “being difficult” or choosing their wellbeing over survivor safety. Unionizing is an act of love, a sign of commitment to this work. Anti-violence workers, many survivors themselves, deserve to have their needs met to continue supporting survivors. You cannot pour from an empty cup. #WorkerPowerWednesday; We Deserve Better Project
September 17, 2025 at 9:15 PM