This is the 2nd episode of our six-part SF Healing Roots Collaborative Series. It features a discussion on some of the major obstacles that stand in the way of ending domestic violence. This episode features Laura Jiménez of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Destini Davis of Young Community Developers, Rachel West of In Defense of Prostitute Women's Safety Project, and Cameron Lucas of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women.

Laura Jiménez has served as the Executive Director at CLRJ since 2011 and brings to this work the passion and commitment of close to 30 years of activism in the Reproductive Justice movement. She was raised in Santa Barbara, California, and since then, has made her way across the country and back. Along the way, she worked with the National Latina Health Organization in Oakland, California where she led a girls' mentorship program and initiated a collaboration between the organization and UC Berkeley to offer a class entitled, “Redefining Latina Health: Body, Mind and Spirit”, as well as the serving as the Development Officer with the Dominican Women’s Development Center in Washington Heights, New York. Laura was a part of the birth and growth of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective from 1998 to 2011, becoming the Deputy Coordinator in 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time with SisterSong, she co-coordinated two national conferences and established the Latina Encuentro – a gathering of Latina leaders in the Southeastern Region which had as a goal relationship building and leadership development of Latinas across the South. The birth of her two daughters brought home the issue of reproductive justice, encouraged her interest in the area of birthing work, and recommitted her to the healing of women of color. Laura is an innate healer, mother, and seer. She is a daughter of the ocean and a holder of hands and hearts.

Rachel West is the Program Director of the In Defense of Prostitute Women's Safety Project (IDPWS) in San Francisco, which raises awareness and educates the public about violence against sex workers. IDPWS campaigns for city and state policies, which prioritizes protection over criminalization of sex workers, and for all women’s safety. She is also with the US PROStitutes Collective (US PROS), one of the collaborating groups in IDPWS. US PROS advocates for decriminalization and resources so no one is forced into prostitution through poverty.

Destini Davis Destini Davis, AMFT is the Clinical Coordinator at Young Community Developers. She has been engaged in mental health work in the community for almost 10 years. Destini currently works with groups and individuals engaged in job readiness training. In addition, Destini created and facilitates a healthy relationships group for YCD participants.

Cameron Lucas is the Executive Management Assistant for the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. Cameron is passionate about the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in the provision of governmental services and ensuring that government truly works inclusively and equitably for everyone.