Annual Report 2023

Despite the shadows cast by adversity, we found joy and progress in our collective efforts to uplift survivors and advocate for justice and safety in underresourced communities.”

TARANA J. BURKE

CHIEF VISION OFFICER

DANI AYERS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE ADVISOR

TARANA J. BURKE CHIEF VISION OFFICER

DANI AYERS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE ADVISOR

Pathways to Collective Healing

Dear Community,

As we reflect on the events of 2023, we must acknowledge the profound challenges and impacts being faced by communities worldwide. From wars waged killing innocent civilians to the continued fight to remove rights to our bodies — just as 2022 was a testament to resilience and adapting to new realities — 2023 was also a period marked by significant shifts in societal, political, and cultural landscapes.

While navigating the complexities of a world still living with COVID-19, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering healing, power-building, and collective action against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), centered around the needs of Black women, all communities of color, those across the gender and sexuality spectrums, and those with disabilities.

2023 emerged as a year of profound reckoning and transformation, echoing the tumultuous nature of its predecessor. Despite the shadows cast by adversity, we found joy and progress in our collective efforts to uplift survivors and advocate for justice and safety in under-resourced communities.

The journey toward ending SGBV and also collective healing continues to be our north star. We are here to pave pathways for survivors to reclaim their narratives and find power in community support. We are here to convene the wide array of activists, allies, and advocates who understand the pervasive danger of SGBV. We are here to show up in spaces where SGBV is misunderstood or unacknowledged.

We know that ‘me too.’s global visibility represents an opportunity to continue shifting cultural norms and harmful narratives. We show up to illuminate the connective tissue of SBGV across all social justice movements, and bring solutions to end it.

Central to this mission was the launch and expansion of Survivor’s Sanctuary, a digital direct service where survivors can embark on their healing journeys with dignity and agency. ‘me too.’s global network of SGBV workers remained unwavering throughout 2023. From hosting webinars with future network members to forging partnerships with likeminded organizations, we continue to amplify the voices of survivors and advocates on a global scale. The US-based Survivors’ Agenda has evolved into a network of organizations focused on civic action. Through retreats, workshops, and strategic alliances, we are cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of advocacy and activism, laying the groundwork for a more just and equitable future.

On a structural organizational level, 2024 is a year of assessment and strategic visioning. After five fast years, it’s time for deep evaluation, spaciousness for staff-wide learning and discussions, and planning for the future of the organization. Alongside crucial capacity-building work, we will be establishing a new leadership structure, launching in FY2025.

me too. International remains committed to building a culture of care, empathy, equity, and accountability, where every survivor is affirmed, supported, and embraced. Our journey is far from over, but with each step forward, we draw closer to our shared vision of a world free from sexual violence.

In solidarity, Founder and Chief Vision Officer, Tarana Burke Chief Executive Advisor,

Dani Ayers

INTRODUCTION

Me Too. International is a global, and survivor-led, movement against sexual violence. We are dedicated to creating pathways for healing, justice, action and leadership and want to help people whereever they are in their healing journey.

In a culture where the voices of survivors are often silenced, we have remained deeply committed to creating pathways to collective healing.

In the last year, we have focused our work on moving to the forefront of a global movement, empowering survivors to find support for their healing journey and reclaim the narratives about survivors of sexual violence.

We are committed to transforming societal responses to sexual violence trauma through inventive initiatives and support programs. Our mission is to empower survivors with the resources necessary for healing and resilience, while actively challenging the culture of silence and shame. Our unwavering dedication lies in fostering a world where survivors feel validated, supported, and embraced.

Left to right: © ZIPHAUS, © DARIO VALENZUELA, © ELIZEU DIAS, © EYE FOR EBONY, © CHANG DUONG, © LAURA MARGARITA, © THE GENDER SPECTRUM COLLECTION, © ALLGO AN APP, © CLARKE SANDERS

Healing is an action word.

Survivor's Sanctuary provide resources, support, and information for survivors of sexual violence. There are many avenues for seeking help and the sanctuary can help you deepen your intentional healing practices.

SURVIVOR’S

SANCTUARY

‘me too.’ believes in community-based healing, and we recognize the importance of creating safe environments where survivors can find support and recover from the trauma of sexual violence.

Survivors need each other to thrive, and the ability to give and receive community care is not achieved in isolation. To that end, in 2022, we launched Survivor’s Sanctuary — a digital self-guided healing platform designed to equip survivors of sexual violence with tools to support their healing journey at every stage. Survivors who enter the platform are given a safe and compassionate environment that encourages self-reflection and growth. Survivor’s Sanctuary creates a space for survivors to explore their emotions, process their trauma, and develop coping mechanisms that suit their unique needs. We currently have about 1,200 registered users of the Survivor’s Sanctuary platform. And growing!

New Features and Resources for Survivors

In 2023, we launched a key feature to the site — the Survivor’s Sanctuary dashboard. The dashboard feature provides a more customized experience including a centralized page to view previously completed lessons; navigation to select lessons for future engagement; detailed view to track progress through each practice; and calendar feature with signup link to RSVP for events. Additionally, we conducted a focus group to assess the needs of current and potential Survivor’s Sanctuary members. The information collected from this study affirmed that Survivor’s Sanctuary has immeasurable

potential and multidimensional impact. In 2024, as a result of these insights, the members portal will be updated to create a virtual community within the Survivor’s Sanctuary’s platform. With more enhancements underway, we are committed to continuous development of the site and growing its repository of survivor resources.

80K+ HEALING VIEWS

34K+ SITE VISITORS OF ALL TIME

Healing Resource Library

2023 was a year of expansion for our Healing Resource Library — an extensive national directory of resources for survivors, including community, mental health, holistic, legal, and emergency services for survivors seeking support with their healing journey. As of June 2023, our team of researchers identified 108 new resources that are now a part of our library and available to survivors and community allies seeking wellness and social services support. Housed on the ‘me too.’ website, the Healing Resource Library allows users to explore our curated collection of resources and direct service organizations by filtering their search to find the best fit for their unique needs.

EXPLORE MORE

You are not alone in your healing journey. metoomvmt.org/explore-healing/resource-library

There is strength in numbers .

BUILDING OUR GLOBAL NETWORK

During the past year, we organized and hosted two global webinars. The first webinar was conducted in Spanish and targeted countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The second webinar was conducted in French and focused on countries in Africa. Both webinars served as platforms for knowledge exchange, community building, and networking. Approximately 35 organizations and 170 individuals participated in these global strategy sessions. So far, our global network has grown to 80 organizations that share our mission to end sexual and gender-based violence.

Shesheena Bray, Program Director, me too. International, Executive Director, Femmes et Droits Humains (F&DH), Nikita Mitchell, Chief of Strategy, 'me too.', and attendees from Nigeria and Mali meet for the Feminist Strategies to Resist Fundamentalists and Violence in the Names of Culture and Religion gathering. © ME TOO. INTERNATIONAL

The Global Network consists of 130 organizations in 34 countries in North America, Central America, South America, and Africa. Each organization works to address issues of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in its unique context; together, they will work to disrupt SGBV on a global scale.

In 2023, we traveled to Senegal to attend Feminist Strategies to Resist Fundamentalists and Violence in the Names of Culture and Religion partnership with Global Fund for Women. At the conference we gave a presentation entitled: “Building a Global Network: What’s Possible?”. The visit was a great success and allowed us to strengthen our global, collaborative efforts and expand our platform reach.

Through the ‘me too.’ global network, we hope to change the narrative about the role of the U.S. in the global fight to end sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) by convening with fellow organizers and movement leaders — particularly in the Global South — around our intersections in contributing to, and addressing the damage caused by, SGBV both domestically and internationally.

Change must occur at multiple levels. Institutional , interpersonal , policy , and cultural

transformation are all needed.

SURVIVORS’ AGENDA

Through Survivors’ Agenda, we are ensuring that those most closely affected by sexual violence are shaping the agenda and leading the national conversation to tangibly enact change.

Our coalition represents a network of organizations from across a wide breadth of issue areas, all working to end sexual violence. We are proud to continue our partnership with the National Women’s Law Center and Justice for Migrant Women through Survivors’ Agenda, as anchor organizations and with the 60+ who are members.

Survivors' Agenda's steering committee consists of 21 organizations and 60+ community partners who strive to serve survivors first. Survivors' Agenda is committed to accountability of the diverse experiences of those who have experienced sexual harassment, assault, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Survivors’ Agenda Retreat

In April, Survivors’ Agenda successfully hosted a two-day retreat in Washington, DC. This event was particularly significant as it was our firstever and in-person gathering, uniting individuals and organizations who have been instrumental in our journey since our establishment in 2020. Additionally, we were honored to welcome new organizations who have joined within the past year and those who were introduced to our collective for the first time during this gathering. The retreat served as an affirmation of renewed commitment and passion exhibited by all attendees towards the mission of Survivors’ Agenda.

Civic Engagement Retreat

In late November 2023, the members of the Survivors’ Agenda network who expressed deeper interest in participating in collaborative civic engagement work attended a two-day retreat to review a landscape analysis that was commissioned to determine the viability of a short-term campaign focused on mobilizing people who are passionate about ending sexual violence to engage civically through voting and civic education in 2024.

The next phase of Survivors’ Agenda will begin the network’s evolution into a civic engagement branch of the movement to end sexual violence. Survivors’ Agenda will provide training and resources for skills development, political education, and convening programming to organizations within the survivor justice ecosystem and broader social justice movement allies. Our perspective changes, grows, and evolves to ensure a world free from sexual violence. Survivors' Agenda will shift and reimagine continuously to bring about transformation for survivors. Top to bottom: © DESOLA LANRE-OLOGUN, © EHIMETALOR AKHERE UNUABONA

Leaders can help translate

our visions to reality

It is imperative to develop leaders who prioritize respect, empathy, and equity. The Survivor Leadership Training provides a stepping stone for individuals wanting to courageously confront injustice and strive to build a world where everyone, irrespective of gender, feels secure and respected. © ME TOO. INTERNATIONAL

LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPMENT

To build a stronger movement we must also equip survivors with the necessary tools and skills to become community leaders, organizers, and advocates. Strong community leadership has a ripple effect in the movement to end sexual violence.

By cultivating leaders who champion these values, we can keep building networks that stand up against injustice and who focus on creating a world where every individual feels safe and valued, regardless of gender.

Survivor Leadership Training

From February 14 – May 16, 2023, we hosted the second cohort of Survivor Leadership Training, a program for survivors who are finding their voice as organizers. For this year’s cohort, we chose Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA as our regional hubs to allow for more in-person engagement. Our membership recruitment targeted survivors who recognized a need for a survivor justice movement but were unsure of their role in the movement.

We designed the Survivor Leadership Training to take participants through finding their voice as organizers and advocates in their local communities. The 14-week program explored topics such as the roots of sexual violence, public speaking, and the principles of organizing. Program participants were provided with a weekly space to care for themselves and reflect on their healing journey utilizing the Survivor’s Sanctuary platform. After the training, participants wrote and presented their individual organizing manifesto where they introduced a set of guiding principles, theories, and frameworks that support their purpose and propose the processes for ending gender-based sexual violence in their communities.

HBCU Internship

The HBCU internship provides skillbuilding opportunities for two college students in the Atlanta University Center Consortium. Students are offered leadership development skills to grow a network of survivor leaders and advocates for survivor justice on HBCU college campuses. Designed as a semester-longprogram, the interns were guided to create organizing campaigns on their campus while increasing their knowledge through our Essentials workshops. The workshops taught our interns about the roots of sexual violence, organizing basics, and how to support and advocate for survivors on their campus.

The HBCU Internship also included a study circle led by senior interns who participated in the program as juniors the year before. This study circle created the HBCU Reader, a collection of articles and essays that brought the interns a deeper understanding of the theory and principles of what causes sexual violence, its impact and implications on their community, and the solutions to ending sexual violence on campus and beyond.

A culture that doesn't tolerate or make excuses for abuse is crucial for our future

Changing the narrative around sexual violence is about transforming attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to create a safer and more equitable world for everyone. It requires a concerted effort from individuals, communities, institutions, and policymakers to challenge the status quo and actively work towards ending sexual violence in all its forms.

BUILDING OUR NARRATIVE POWER

Survivors of sexual violence not only face the profound challenges of overcoming trauma but often endure the burden of narratives of shame and victimblaming, which are perpetuated by the media and society at large.

As a result, the healing process often becomes a more complex and challenging journey for

survivors, who

must

also

grapple with societal expectations and judgment.

Addressing and dismantling these harmful narratives and cultivating spaces where survivors can heal and thrive in community is a key component of our greater mission to provide a deeper understanding of the impact of sexual violence, create a culture of support and safety for survivors, and end the cycle of sexual violence in our communities and the world.

In alignment with the Social and Political Framework we developed in 2022, we continued to use our narrative power to explore the importance of creating space for survivors to heal in community and providing deeper insight into sexual violence as a public health crisis. Beginning with Black Futures Month in February 2023, our narrative focus over the last year has explored the question: How does healing ourselves into the future look like?

Healing Ourselves into the Future

Throughout February, we celebrated Black Futures Month, a time dedicated to honoring Black history while also envisioning the future. This month encouraged our communities and partners to imagine the possibilities for healing within the social justice movement. It prompted us to take action, in the present, to pave the way for a brighter future.

On Instagram, we showcased content featuring Black healing practitioners sharing their perspectives on the journey towards healing in their respective fields. Additionally, we organized a series of Instagram Live conversations featuring Black healers and activists to promote and raise awareness about the resources provided by the ‘me too.’ Survivor’s Sanctuary. Even more, they shared unique insights as to what healing ourselves into the future looks like from their individual practices. We also hosted a series of Instagram Live conversations featuring Black healers and activists to promote and raise awareness of the resources offered through Survivor’s Sanctuary.

#WhatsAtStake: Sexual Violence as a Public Health Crisis

This past April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was observed in the United States, with a focus on collective resource sharing and action regarding sexual assault and violence. In 2023, our SAAM narrative centered on declaring sexual violence as a public health crisis and delving into its implications at individual and societal levels.

Recognizing #WhatsAtStake urged us to take proactive measures in disrupting, healing, and supporting each other to foster a safer world.

Across our social media platforms, we educated the public on the profound and enduring impact of sexual violence, affirming its status as a global public health crisis. We shared information on toolkits covering disclosure and supporting survivors. Additionally, a webinar titled #WhatsAtStake: A Panel on Sexual Violence as a Public Health Crisis featured Angelica Geter, DrPH, MPH, Executive VP of Strategy & Business at Black Women’s Health Imperative; Jaclyn Friedman, an activist, advocate, and organizer, and the Founder & ED of EducateUS; and David S. Lee, MPH, Deputy Director at ValorUS and Director of Research and Evaluation at the national partnership RALIANCE. The panel attracted over 300 viewers, offering a comprehensive discussion on sexual violence and its status as a public health crisis.

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Through our ongoing social media campaigns, we focused on key issues such as healing, community, education, and the wellness of all survivors. We implemented our Social and Political Framework and highlighted current events related to sexual and gender-based violence and the survivor justice movement.

Mindful Mondays

Our weekly Mindful Mondays campaign highlights wellness tips and healing pathways that people can utilize, ranging from therapy techniques to highlighted practices from Survivor’s Sanctuary. The goal of this campaign is to invite survivors, allies, and practitioners to use Survivor’s Sanctuary as their go-to healing portal and provide the community at large with wellness strategies that they can apply in their own lives.

What’s the Word Wednesdays

What’s the Word highlights relevant terminology related to the survivor justice movement. The terms are chosen from our Social and Political Framework to enrich and educate our community on the language that we use in the survivor justice movement space.

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96.4K+ TWITTER (X) FOLLOWERS

“From the Desk Of”

This series features current events related to sexual and gender-based violence and the survivor justice movement in the news. ‘me too.’ offers a stance on these issues and highlights how survivors and allies are disrupting harm in their communities.

It is a key priority to expand our team and grow funding for the future of this work

BUILDING OUR CAPACITY

We are proud to be a Black-led, survivor-led, survivor-centered organization operating with the great intention of building and embodying a culture of care, compassion, and equity where everyone is committed to creating a world where survivors can heal and thrive safely in a supportive community.

We are committed to fostering an environment that enables each of our team members to bring their full selves to the work and have found that these qualities have brought us continued success as an organization.

Me Too. International meets for team building in New York City, December 2023. © ME TOO. INTERNATIONAL

Despite the progress we have made in survivor justice, there are still challenges that need to be addressed, particularly in terms of funding. The lack of sustainable funding hinders the ability to fully support survivors and create lasting change. We recognize the need to advocate for increased funding and resources for survivor justice work, and we are committed to addressing this issue.

Additionally, as we continue to grow and develop as an organization, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. We recognize the importance of having a team that brings a range of perspectives and experiences to the table, and we are proud that our team is representative of the diverse survivor community. It is a key priority and will continue to be one of our key strengths.

GIVE TODAY This movement needs you. metoomvmt.org/give

‘me too.’ fights to help survivors heal while working to change the status quo. Our work impacts survivor communities by providing access to resources that support survivors along their healing journeys.

Contributions FINANCIALS

FOUNDATION TRUST

77% 12.5% 4% 5.5% 1%

CORPORATE GRANTS & SPONSPORSHIPS

CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS IN-KIND SERVICES

Expenses

80% 12% 8% PROGRAMS ADMIN FUNDRAISING

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS

REFLECTIONS

As seed funders for me too. International, support from the New York Women’s Foundation has been crucial to our growth and development over the years.

“The New York Women’s Foundation is proud to have been an early supporter of me too. International and Tarana Burke’s powerful vision. From their work with college students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to their development of the Survivors’ Agenda during the 2020 election cycle, me too. international has touched countless lives across generations of girls, women, and gender-expansive people. Beyond creating resources for sexual violence survivors’ healing, me too. International has supported a seismic cultural shift. From offices to classrooms to Congress, their work helped set an expectation that survivors should be listened to and their leadership respected. Moreover, they have continued to remind politicians, policymakers, and other decision-makers that safety and healing are something all deserve, while uplifting the resilience and power of often overlooked communities of Black women survivors.

Over the years, I personally have witnessed Tarana’s leadership embody the wholeness of consistency in words and actions. She has moved with integrity and the steadfast commitment that this movement is a collective one. She has remained clear that the me too. International organizations and survivor justice are bigger than any one individual. It is an invitation to shift our hearts, minds, and behaviors to build a safer and just future where women, girls, and all other marginalized survivors can heal and thrive.”

—ANA L. OLIVEIRA PRESIDENT & CEO, THE NEW YORK WOMEN’S FOUNDATION

LEAGUE OF DISRUPTORS

The League of Disruptors is a group of supporters who are empowered to give a recurring monthly donation. As a grassroots organization doing the work of a global movement, the strength of our work is a direct result of the consistent support of our community. When survivors, allies, and other community members feel empowered to give, the rippling impact of our collective power can’t be denied. The ‘me too.’ community has shown up to marches, spoken out against the systems that enable sexual violence, and illustrated political power in mass.

Danielle Ayers

David Bell

Nancy Boyd

Laura Brooks

Kim DeRose

Norm Farley

Karen Feeley

Kristina Gawrgy

Emily Hill

Geoffrey Jackson Scott

Carrie James

S David Kaufman

Meredith Kittle

Lucas Klein

Helen Mallon

Patrick Malone

Tonia McClanahan

Sheri Miller

Dorothy Neagle

Sarah Nusser

Cynthia Pelak

Mariele Ponticiello

Laura Regan

Aidan Todd

Nathan Wagner

Cora Walker

Doug Wells

Michelle Williams Currie

Pang Yang

OUR GRATITUDE

We are grateful for our funders who powerfully lean into our work, and continue to look for ways to support us. We are encouraged by their belief that survivors hold the solutions and deserve resources, trust, and survivor-led advocacy.