Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance

What if accountability wasn't scary? Over the past few years, the Action Alliance and others in the movement have been contemplating how and to what extent our actions match our vision, particularly around responses to the spectrum of harm, including physical violence: Will our current responses get us closer to equity and liberation?

We’ve joined an additional lawsuit challenging unlawful funding limits that threaten services for survivors, LGBTQI+ youth, and unhoused communities.

What if accountability wasn't scary? Over the past few years, the Action Alliance and others in the movement have been contemplating how and to what extent our actions match our vision, particularly around responses to the spectrum of harm, including physical violence: Will our current responses get us closer to equity and liberation?

What if accountability wasn't scary? Over the past few years, the Action Alliance and others in the movement have been contemplating how and to what extent our actions match our vision, particularly around responses to the spectrum of harm, including physical violence: Will our current responses get us closer to equity and liberation?

The Action Alliance is Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and domestic violence. We seek a radically hopeful future and work to promote healthy relationships, create thriving communities, and build a more peaceful future.

Building Consent Communities

In our efforts to prevent sexual and intimate partner violence, it’s so important we not only take a stand against violence, but also envision healthy and joyful alternatives. This is why building consent communities is a key part of our work. We most often define consent as a clear and enthusiastic “yes,” which is an active, voluntary, and verbal agreement that happens as a process and a conversation. Yet consent is not just about individual actions or behaviors, but rather exists within all relationship dynamics, cultural beliefs, and larger societal systems. Building a consent culture requires we normalize and encourage the everyday use of consent in all interactions.

hands working together on an art collage.

Forging Peaceful Families

The Building Healthy Futures Fund was created to establish a statewide revenue source for local Sexual & Domestic Violence Agencies to implement evidence-informed prevention programming to disrupt the interpersonal and social conditions (root causes) that give rise to sexual and intimate partner violence.

White text on purple background that says Transforming Relationships: A Violence Prevention Toolkit for Educators. Under the text are pink and white speech bubbles.

Promoting Healthy Campuses

The Red Flag Campaign is the first statewide public awareness campaign to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on Virginia’s college campuses.

Advance Policy

Photo of Action Alliance staff outside the front of their office.

The Action Alliance is committed to ensuring that public policies address the needs of victims and promote a comprehensive approach to responding to and preventing sexual and intimate partner violence.

News

July 21, 2025

Standing Up for Survivors: Action Alliance Joins Additional National Lawsuit

The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance has joined a new federal lawsuit challenging unlawful and politically motivated funding restrictions imposed by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human… read more

June 16, 2025

Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Joins Nationwide Coalition Challenging Federal Administration’s Attempt to Hold Violence Against Women Grants

New Grant Certification Requirements Threaten Support for Victims The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance joins a nationwide group of 17 state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions today… read more

June 4, 2025

Extending the Invitation – a Collective Impact Poem by V.O.I.C.E.S. Members

Recognizing the work to end gender-based violence began with the voices, efforts, and labor of survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence, and that survivors are the ones who, through… read more

April 4, 2025

Resisting Injustice: A Call to Action for Advocates and Allies

This article was originally written by Action Alliance Executive Director Kristi VanAudenhove for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Northern Neck. As we witness attempts to undo decades of antiviolence… read more

March 14, 2025

A Strategy, a Lens, and the BIPOC* Economic Justice Leadership Cohort Walk into a Room

Housing, transportation, food, clothes, education, and safety are all vital needs for survivors and advocates. One thing that this growing list has in common is that, depending on the strength… read more

February 12, 2025

Grounding Ourselves in Wholeness and Well-being

These are strange times indeed, and it can be quite challenging to focus on wellness and well-being. So instead, let’s focus on what we need to feel grounded: grounded in… read more

December 11, 2024

Reflections On the Year That Was

The Action Alliance’s 2023 Annual Report was released this autumn. While gathering the stories to highlight in it, I was struck by the creativity and commitment that shines through in… read more

November 22, 2024

“Your Body, My Choice” and the Danger of a Growing Manosphere

Trigger warning: This article contains demeaning and violent language toward women. The day after the 2024 presidential election, an alarming and loathsome post on X by Nick Fuentes, a white… read more

July 21, 2025

Standing Up for Survivors: Action Alliance Joins Additional National Lawsuit

The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance has joined a new federal lawsuit challenging unlawful and politically motivated funding restrictions imposed by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human… read more

June 16, 2025

Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Joins Nationwide Coalition Challenging Federal Administration’s Attempt to Hold Violence Against Women Grants

New Grant Certification Requirements Threaten Support for Victims The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance joins a nationwide group of 17 state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions today… read more

June 4, 2025

Extending the Invitation – a Collective Impact Poem by V.O.I.C.E.S. Members

Recognizing the work to end gender-based violence began with the voices, efforts, and labor of survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence, and that survivors are the ones who, through… read more

April 4, 2025

Resisting Injustice: A Call to Action for Advocates and Allies

This article was originally written by Action Alliance Executive Director Kristi VanAudenhove for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Northern Neck. As we witness attempts to undo decades of antiviolence… read more

March 14, 2025

A Strategy, a Lens, and the BIPOC* Economic Justice Leadership Cohort Walk into a Room

Housing, transportation, food, clothes, education, and safety are all vital needs for survivors and advocates. One thing that this growing list has in common is that, depending on the strength… read more

February 12, 2025

Grounding Ourselves in Wholeness and Well-being

These are strange times indeed, and it can be quite challenging to focus on wellness and well-being. So instead, let’s focus on what we need to feel grounded: grounded in… read more

December 11, 2024

Reflections On the Year That Was

The Action Alliance’s 2023 Annual Report was released this autumn. While gathering the stories to highlight in it, I was struck by the creativity and commitment that shines through in… read more

November 22, 2024

“Your Body, My Choice” and the Danger of a Growing Manosphere

Trigger warning: This article contains demeaning and violent language toward women. The day after the 2024 presidential election, an alarming and loathsome post on X by Nick Fuentes, a white… read more

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