Leading by Following: Rewriting the Policy Advocacy Game

In this episode of VALOR Conversations, Leah Aldridge sits down with her colleague Grace Glaser to discuss the work behind how survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other violent crimes, facing a devastating cut of 44.7% in federal funding, harnessed their collective power and successfully advocated for the inclusion of $87 million in California’s state budget in 2024. 

Grace shares how she centers and uplifts the voices of survivors while advocating for policy change at the state and national levels as VALOR’s previous Senior Public Relations and Policy Manager. Their conversation highlights the importance of centering survivors' voices and following their lead in advocating for policy change, as well as the challenges and emotional toll of the work that goes into powering grassroots activism. 

Grace is continuing to advocate for survivors of violence at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence as their External Affairs Analyst.