TIME held an Impact Dinner in Chicago on Thursday that featured reflections from four people who are working to support survivors of domestic violence. The four speakers at the event, which was presented by The Allstate Foundation, were Donna Ferrato, a photojournalist and activist whose photographs of survivors helped raise awareness of domestic violence in the U.S.; Tommi Vincent, an author and speaker who is also president of the family lifestyle brand Vincent Country, and her husband, Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations at the NFL; and Ashley Judd, a humanitarian, activist, and actor who was one of the “Silence Breakers” recognized as TIME Person of the Year in 2017. Here are highlights from each of the remarks.
Ferrato opened her remarks by honoring her mother, who she said was a survivor and “will be forever the inspiration for my work.” “I pledge allegiance to survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking,” Ferrato said. She’s not just a hero in my eyes … [but also] in the eyes of countless others who have followed her journey from being abused to becoming unbeatable.” Ferrato called TIME “the midwife that brought Elisabeth’s rebirth to light,” recalling how Lindberg had shared her story in emotional interviews. And she proves why women must believe in their own inner voice.” Ferrato also reflected on her decades-long career photographing the lives and experiences of survivors of domestic violence.
When she began her focus on the topic more than 40 years ago, she said, victim blaming was pervasive in society. Ferrato set out to raise awareness about domestic violence through her photographs, and she praised the women who entrusted her with their stories. She ended her remarks by emphasizing that such courage is needed now as much as ever.
Praise these survivors.” The Vincents began their remarks by sharing how their own personal experiences drove them to become advocates. When “the shame of abuse finally lost its battle to the threat of eviction,” he said, his mother sought help from family members—underlining the link between domestic violence and financial instability. The Vincents expressed their commitment to use their own experiences to help others.
Tommi Vincent said that she and her husband, working with organizations including the National Domestic Violence Hotline, are “building a new house for survivors.” “A house where survivors are centered. A house where their voices are heard. A house where their experiences help shape solutions,” she said.
That is the house we are committed to helping build.” During her remarks, Judd said that, while not all men are violent, many are silent about the violence that other men perpetrate. She spoke about her own experiences with sexual violence and abuse, as well as stories of abuse that have made national headlines recently, and the common thread of “entitlement to female bodies.” Those who foster that attitude, or who see abuse and remain silent, are “all complicit,” she argued. I am a survivor—of what are we surviving?
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