Join the Survivor Speakers Bureau

It’s a pleasure to be a part of the Survivor Speakers Bureau. I’m grateful that I’m allowed to share my story of survival and not keep it in the dark. As for women of color, we often keep this shame hidden. I speak to let everyone know how we as a community can heal by sharing my story of how I got over the shame. We’re not alone. – Lillie

Do you want to share your experience with sexual violence to inspire change? BARCC invites you to join our Survivors Speakers Bureau (SSB) and learn how to:

  • Share your story with confidence
  • Speak with schools, colleges, and communities
  • Use your voice to create change

BARCC’s Survivor Speakers Bureau is also a great opportunity to connect with other survivor speakers. Members of the SSB are available to go into the community to speak about their personal experiences with sexual violence—from the incident to the aftermath, to the road to healing.

For many people who have experienced sexual violence, volunteering can be a rewarding and also challenging commitment. Check out the following requirements and guidelines to help you decide whether or not joining the SSB is right for you at this time.

Requirements and Guidelines

To join the SSB you must:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Commit for one (1) year of service
  • Complete the SSB onboarding process
    • Submit your story, attend story crafting sessions, shadow one or two engagements, and share your story with other survivor speakers for feedback.
  • Attend quarterly meetings and engagement debrief sessions
  • Be available to complete at least 1 engagement per year (days and times vary)
  • Willingness to share your experience and to reframe your experience to meet the needs and train the specific audience.
  • NOT be involved in an active legal case regarding your experience

Am I right for the SSB?

  • Committed to BARCC’s mission, philosophies, and programs
  • Has a strong support network and utilizes the network
  • Open to and wanting feedback to improve public speaking skills
  • Excited about educating diverse community groups to better understand sexual violence
  • Can speak to healing and recovery, possibly types of services that assisted in healing

Is the SSB right for me?

  • Identify and Engage Your Support Systems: Sharing one’s story can be difficult and affects people in many different ways. We encourage speakers to have a support system in place before starting the training. Think about what you may need for your own health and wellbeing before, during, and after speaking engagements. It is important that you are able to be honest with yourself and the Survivor Speakers Bureau Volunteer Coordinator about your limitations and safety.
  • Recovery and Empowerment: While there is no timeline for healing from sexual violence, we recommend that people wait one year after having experienced sexual violence before applying to join the Survivor Speaker Bureau. BARCC’s Vicarious Trauma Assistance Program (VTAP) can help you identify additional resources and support in the Boston area to empower you to decide whether you’re ready for becoming an SSB volunteer.
  • Being a BARCC Community Ambassador: As a member of the BARCC Survivor Speakers Bureau, you are a representative and an ambassador of BARCC to the community. As such, we ask that you follow all SSB protocols when sharing your story.
    • You will receive training to be able to speak effectively about BARCC’s mission and services. When speaking at a BARCC-affiliated engagement, a staff member or volunteer, who has completed the 40-hour BARCC rape crisis counselor training, will be present. Their role is to provide education around sexual violence, BARCC services, and to offer support to audience members as well as to you.
    • Please be aware that in many ways, Boston can be a small community. Although you will be able to choose which engagements you speak at, there is always the possibility of someone in the audience knowing you or knowing someone you know. We will further address any concerns you have about this in the interview.
We take your privacy very seriously at BARCC and understand that many survivors have concerns related to sharing their stories publicly. We are unable to guarantee complete confidentiality to our Survivor Speakers. Identifying information such as your full name, type of abuse you’ve experienced, and your contact information such as a phone number and e-mail address will need to be shared with other volunteers and staff of BARCC in order to set up engagements.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions & Concerns for more information.

We hope you’ll join our team of speakers today. Please call 617-649-1275 and we will be in touch with you to discuss next steps