Telling My Story: The Unexpected Gift of Post-Traumatic Growth

Kris Pedretti

Kris Pedretti is the 10th known survivor of the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo. After remaining silent for 42 years, she now courageously shares her journey of post-traumatic growth. Kris is a powerful voice for survivors, participating in national podcasts, documentaries, and public speaking engagements to raise awareness and promote healing.

She speaks across the country at conferences focused on trauma-informed care, law enforcement training, and survivor advocacy. As the founder and CEO of Phyllis's Garden, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting sexual assault survivors, Kris leads transformative initiatives, including the creation of soft interview rooms in police stations and the facilitation of survivor support groups.

Through her work, Kris empowers others to break their silence, reclaim their voice, and find strength in healing.

PIONEER PLENARY PANEL: What Have We Learned about Interpersonal Violence an Abuse in 40 Years: Pioneers Chat About Where to Go from Here?

Viola Vaughan-Eden, PhD, MJ, LCSW, Norfolk State University, The UP Institute, NPEIV

Jacquelyn W. White, PhD, (Retired), University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN, John Hopkins University School of Nursing

Oliver Williams, PhD, MPH, MSW, (Retired), School of Social Work at University of Minnesota

Sherry Hamby, PhD, University of the South, Life Path Research Center, ResilienceCon

Jerry Tello, M.A., National Compadres Network, Sacred Circles Center

Moderator: Robert Geffner, PhD, ABN, ABPP, IVAT

This distinguished panel of interdisciplinary pioneers have worked in the field of interpersonal violence and abuse for at least 3-4 decades in attempting to reduce and prevent child abuse, intimate partner abuse, youth violence, and sexual assault. The focus has been on what is now called a trauma-informed perspective from a biopsychosocial approach. However, these panelists were working toward this approach before we recognized such ideas. Viewing each type of abuse noted above as part of a continuum of interpersonal l violence and abuse across the lifespan, these leaders in their respective disciplines have advanced our knowledge, research, practice, and policies to improve the ways we reduce victimization and promote healing and prevention. This panel will discuss their ideas for continuing this journey in the midst of a strong political backlash against dealing with these types of polyvictimization, and present suggestions for those currently dealing with some aspect of interpersonal violence and abuse. They will discuss the lessons they personally have learned in promoting social justice in this important public health arena that affects more people than all the medical diseases combined.

Reflecting on our Past, Present, and Future: Bold Strategies for Anti-Violence Professionals

Carolyn West, Ph.D., University of Washington

Dr. Carolyn West is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Washington, expert witness, author, and consultant who has investigated gender-based violence in the lives of Black women for more than three decades. Dr. West has authored more than 100 publications, including the 4-part Technical Assistance Guidance Series: Serving Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. She has been a featured expert on Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett Smith and documentaries, including Chris Brown: A History of Violence and Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.

Dr. Carolyn West will share her 30-year journey as the granddaughter of sharecroppers, to a student activist who successfully filed a sexual harassment lawsuit, to an award-winning professor, author, domestic violence researcher, expert witness, and documentary filmmaker. She will discuss strategies for becoming a survivor centered, culturally responsive, trauma informed, strengths-based service provider as we face the challenges of doing anti-violence work in the coming decades.