ENOLA, Pa., April 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, an expert in sexual violence prevention and response, announces 30 recipients of the 2015 Visionary Voice Award. The multidisciplinary group of honorees is selected for their outstanding work toward ending sexual violence. The Visionary Voice Award is presented annually by the NSVRC in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a national campaign held each April to raise awareness about preventing sexual violence.
The award is presented to a wide range of industry professionals nominated by state, territory and tribal coalitions. This year's award recipients include U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, and Circuit Court Judge John Threet of Arkansas.
"We are pleased to honor these individuals for their commitment to ending the epidemic of sexual assault in communities across the country," NSVRC Director Karen Baker said. "Sexual violence is preventable. We thank our Visionary Voice Award recipients for their important work in educating communities about the shared responsibility everyone has in preventing sexual assault."
Here is a complete list of this year's Visionary Voice recipients:
- Justin Boardman, nominated by Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Stephanie Smith Bowman, nominated by Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
- Suzanne Cassidy, nominated by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
- Joanna Cifredo, nominated by District of Columbia Rape Crisis Center
- Shelli Collins, nominated by Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
- Deborah Downing, nominated by Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
- Donna Dunn, nominated by Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Tiffany Eskelson-Maestas, nominated by Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Theresa Fears, nominated by Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
- Rachel Freeman, nominated by Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Amy Goldberg, M.D., nominated by Day One
- Lawrence E. Hasley, nominated by West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information Services
- Kiona Heath, nominated by Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Eva C. Jones, nominated by Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Jared Konecny, nominated by Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
- Jessica Ladd-Webert, nominated by Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Christina Meneses, nominated by Missouri Coalition Against Rape
- U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, nominated by Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Jennifer Nadler, M.S.Ed, nominated by New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- J. Basil O'Mallan III, nominated by Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence
- Kelly Parsley, nominated by Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Robin Phipps, nominated by Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
- Leah Prescott-Burgess, nominated by Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services
- Ann Rausch, nominated by Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Barbara Hough Roda, nominated by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
- Nirvana Gonzalez Rosa, nominated by Puerto Rico Coalition Against DV and SA
- Abby Tassel, nominated by New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Judge John Threet, nominated by Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Isa Woldeguiorguis, nominated by Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
- Kym Worthy, nominated by Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
To learn more about the 2015 Visionary Voice Award recipients, visit: nsvrc.org/saam/award
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) leads the U.S. in providing professional support to local and state anti-sexual violence organizations. The NSVRC collaborates with partners nationwide to create research-based resources that focus on how to prevent and respond to sexual violence. The organization has the nation's largest library of resources on sexual violence and prevention. To learn more, go to nsvrc.org.