Bring the voice of experience and empowerment to your school—learn how Sydney Turner and SafeBAE are changing the conversation around consent.

by Henry O’Neal

SafeBAE Speaks at NOVA Visionaries of Advocacy Conference

Sydney Turner, SafeBAE’s Director of Outreach and Education, delivered an impactful presentation at the NOVA Visionaries of Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC. With attendees from across the country, the event highlighted SafeBAE’s unique focus on youth-led sexual violence prevention, restorative justice, and innovative approaches to school policy reform.

A Youth Advocate on a Mission

Sydney’s commitment to advocacy for young people has driven her to lead hundreds of workshops on sexual violence prevention. Her passion for public speaking is matched only by her experience—both before and during college—where she’s consistently shown how powerful youth voices can be in this fight. What makes Sydney’s voice resonate even more is her personal connection as a survivor. She understands that reaching young audiences with relevant, engaging, and relatable content is how you spark lasting change.

SafeBAE’s Approach: Restorative Justice and Accountability Training

At the heart of Sydney’s presentation was SafeBAE’s unique approach to restorative justice. While many traditional programs focus on punitive measures, SafeBAE listens to survivors and creates resources based on what they truly need—healing and accountability outside of legal systems. Sydney highlighted how the accountability training helps schools create safer environments, giving students the tools to understand their role in preventing sexual violence.

“It’s a new way of doing things,” Sydney said, “and it’s something other organizations aren’t offering right now.” SafeBAE’s approach doesn’t just stop at awareness—it offers actionable steps and real-life applications, ensuring that both survivors and educators have what they need to foster a culture of respect and consent.

Why Youth Should Lead the Movement

SafeBAE’s peer-led model stands out because it allows youth to take ownership of the conversation. Sydney shared how empowering it is for young people to not just be included, but to lead.

“Youth shouldn’t just be consulted,” Sydney emphasized. “We should be at the forefront of this movement, driving the change we want to see.” SafeBAE’s youth-led approach is unlike anything offered by other organizations, and Sydney was proud to share how it’s making a difference across the country.

SafeBAE’s speaker program offers schools a unique opportunity to engage students in meaningful conversations about consent, sexual violence, and healthy relationships. Here’s why SafeBAE speakers are different:

• Relatable and Authentic Voices: SafeBAE speakers, like Sydney, are survivors and youth advocates who bring real-life experiences to the table. Their authenticity helps students connect with the message on a deeper, more personal level.
• Customized Presentations: Every school is different. SafeBAE tailors each presentation to meet your school’s needs, whether you’re focusing on consent, bystander intervention, or digital boundaries.
• Proven Impact: SafeBAE’s programs are backed by an evidence-based, peer-to-peer education model. This approach has been proven to increase awareness, start conversations, and change behaviors among students.

Why You Should Bring SafeBAE Speakers to Your School

Interested in bringing a SafeBAE speaker to your school or event? Here’s how:

1. Visit SafeBAE’s Website: Explore the SafeBAE speaker page to learn more about the program and available speakers.
2. Contact Shael Norris: Reach out directly to discuss your school’s needs and schedule a speaker. Contact Shael at shael@safebae.org.
3. Customize Your Program: SafeBAE works with schools to tailor the presentation, ensuring it resonates with your students and addresses your community’s unique needs.

Leaving a Lasting Impact

The NOVA conference offered SafeBAE the chance to connect with professionals across the country dedicated to victim advocacy and sexual violence prevention. For Sydney, the atmosphere was electric—sharing SafeBAE’s message and feeling the energy from advocates who, like her, are driven to create change.

After her presentation, Sydney was walking through Washington, DC, when someone recognized her from the conference. “That moment was so surreal,” Sydney said, “because it reminded me just how far-reaching our message is. People really connected with what we were sharing.”

 

Take action today and bring SafeBAE to your school. Let’s work together to empower students and foster environments where respect and safety are the norm.