Honorees include advocates, survivors, lawmakers, and more
HARRISBURG, PA – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) announced today 18 recipients of its 2025 Visionary Voice Awards. These honorees represent a wide range of disciplines from across the country and were selected for their outstanding work toward preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.
This year’s recipients include Colorado House Majority Leader Monica Duran, a state congressperson who created a funding source for victim services by taxing firearms and ammunition retailers and manufacturers; Erin Pollitt, Executive Director of District of Columbia Forensic Nurse Examiners (DCFNE), a nonprofit that is the sole provider of trauma-informed forensic care to adult survivors of violence in Washington, DC; Kishana Osei, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women of Color Network (MAWOCN), and the Overnight Residential Counselor at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence; Jacqueline M. Sugerman, MD, a physician whose expertise has been provided to the Kentucky Multidisciplinary Commission on Child Sexual Abuse, the Kentucky statewide sexual assault response team, and the University of Kentucky’s Pediatric Residency Program; and Ohio State Senator Nathan Manning, a state congressperson who passed crucial legislation including Senate Bill 237, Ohio's Anti-SLAPP legislation, and House Bill 161, which closed the marital loophole in Ohio.
“It is a privilege to recognize these awardees for their outstanding work in our movement” said Jennifer Grove, NSVRC Director. “All of them have committed their time and energy to make their communities safer and provide survivors the resources they need to move forward. These awards signify our deep gratitude for all they have done and for the doors they have opened for future advocates and survivors. We hope each and every one of the Visionary Voice Award recipients demonstrates to everyone that we all have a role to play in preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.”
The Visionary Voice Awards are presented annually by NSVRC, the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence, in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). SAAM is a national campaign held each April to raise awareness about preventing sexual violence. This year’s SAAM theme, “Together We Act, United We Change,” reinforces the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.
Nominated by state, territory and tribal sexual violence coalitions across the U.S, the following is a complete list of this year's Visionary Voice Award recipients:
- Majority Leader Monica Duran (nominated by Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault)
- Erin Pollitt (nominated by DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence)
- Chris Copelin (nominated by Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence)
- Jennifer L. Dritt (nominated by Florida Council Against Sexual Violence)
- Victim Advocates Reaching Out (VARO) (nominated by Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence)
- Kishana Osei (nominated by Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence)
- Midwest Native Coalition for Justice & Peace (nominated by Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence)
- Jacqueline M. Sugerman, MD (nominated by Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs)
- Julia Russell (nominated by Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault)
- Melissa Hoppmeyer (nominated by Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault)
- Abra S. Poindexter, LICSW, LIMHP (nominated by Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence)
- Lachell Jordan (nominated by Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence)
- Arissa Shupe (In Memoriam) (nominated by Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence)
- Nathan Manning (nominated by Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence)
- LeToy R. Lunderman (nominated by South Dakota Coalition Ending Domestic and Sexual Violence)
- Amy Carlton (nominated by Tennessee Coalition To End Domestic & Sexual Violence)
- Alejandra Valles (nominated by ValorUS, California)
- Janet G. Kowalski (nominated by West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services)
To learn more about the 2025 Visionary Voice Award recipients, please visit: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/visionary-voice-awards/2025
ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
Since 2001, NSVRC has coordinated the national Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign observed every April. This year’s theme is “Together We Act, United We Change.” Join the campaign by accessing free resources at nsvrc.org/saam.
ABOUT NSVRC
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is the leading nonprofit in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. NSVRC translates research and trends into best practices that help individuals, communities and service providers achieve real and lasting change. The center also works with the media to promote informed reporting. Every April, NSVRC leads Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a campaign to educate and engage the public in addressing this widespread issue. NSVRC is also one of the three founding organizations of RALIANCE, a national, collaborative initiative dedicated to creating equitable, respectful, and safe environments. NSVRC is a primary division of Respect Together.