Diann Diaz

Bio

Diann Diaz served victims of domestic and sexual violence as the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator in the New River Valley in Virginia and was proudly known for emergency advocacy in the hospitals and police stations. She has also been called upon to speak at local colleges, universities, civic organizations and churches. Additionally, she was the Violence Prevention Educator serving middle and high school aged youth to prevent violence in relationships, helping them build healthy relationships, and informing them where to turn for help.
www.dianndiaz.wordpress.com/about

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PRESENTATIONS:

Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at the Women’s Resource Center, New River Valley, Radford VA Emergency Advocate and public education programs pertaining to sexual assault
Conducted 250+ presentations to approximately 2000 students/community members per year
Recruited and Trained the Emergency Advocate Volunteers
Supervised Emergency Advocates
Provided effective Sexual Assault outreach programs in the community
Responded to request for counseling to victims of sexual assault as needed

Violence prevention education curriculum and presentations throughout the New River Valley schools, 6th - 10th grade on behalf of this domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center
Conducted 500+ presentations to approximately 4000 students per school year
Scheduled presentations in schools and community
Created and updating educational violence prevention material Responded to sexual assault and domestic violence victims in the New River Valley

PUBLICATIONS:

Diaz, Diann, “Enjoy Your Relationships”
The Survivor Manual. 1 March 2010.
http://www.survivormanual.com/2010/03/enjoy-your-relationships/

Diaz, Diann, “Reporting Sexual Violence and Abuse”
The Survivor Manual. 8 January 2010.
http://www.survivormanual.com/2010/01/reporting-sexual-violence-and-abuse/

Diaz, Diann, “Donations”
The Survivor Manual. 26 December 2009.
http://www.survivormanual.com/2009/12/donations/

Diaz, Diann, “The Other Side of Pain”
The Survivor Manual. 25 December 2009.
http://www.survivormanual.com/2009/12/the-other-side-of-pain/

Diaz, Diann, “Words from Survivors – Surviving a Lifetime of Abuse – WRC’s Peaceline Coordinator”
The Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley. July 2008
http://www.wrcnrv.org/howYouCanHelp/wfs_diann.shtml

Diaz, Diann, “Stifle It”
Women Speak Out Minizine, Issue Four. December 2007
http://www.womenspeakoutnow.com/minizine.html

Diaz, Diann, “Enjoy Your Relationships”
The Survivor Manual. 1 March 2010.
http://www.survivormanual.com/2010/03/enjoy-your-relationships/

Diaz, Diann, “Reporting Sexual Violence and Abuse”
The Survivor Manual.  8 January 2010. 
http://www.survivormanual.com/2010/01/reporting-sexual-violence-and-abuse/

Diaz, Diann, “Donations”
The Survivor Manual.  26 December 2009.
http://www.survivormanual.com/2009/12/donations/

Diaz, Diann, “The Other Side of Pain”
The Survivor Manual.  25 December 2009.
http://www.survivormanual.com/2009/12/the-other-side-of-pain/                    

Diaz, Diann, “Words from Survivors – Surviving a Lifetime of Abuse – WRC’s Peaceline Coordinator”
The Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley. July 2008
http://www.wrcnrv.org/howYouCanHelp/wfs_diann.shtml

Diaz, Diann, “Stifle It”
Women Speak Out Minizine, Issue Four.  December 2007
http://www.womenspeakoutnow.com/minizine.html

Diaz, Diann, “A Personal Story”, The Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley, December 2005, Holiday 2005 Newsletter

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Safe Dates: An Adolescent Dating Abuse Prevention Curriculum (Certified Trainer)

Choose Respect:  Healthy Teen Relationships (Certified Trainer)

Project Radar – (Certified Trainer)

Exploring Ethics in the Prevention Field

Forensic Look at Every Day Heroes

Columbia College, Columbia MO (Sociology)

Darkness to Light

Basic Advocacy Training:  Sexual Violence

Basic Advocacy:  Child & Youth Advocacy

Community Advocacy and Leadership Development for Rural SV Providers

Mentors in Violence Prevention- (Certified Trainer)

CARE Companion Training/Emergency Advocate

Crisis Intervention Training

University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine (Criminology)

Westbrook College, Portland, Maine (Business Administration)

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Testimonials

“Thank you very much for giving presentations at both of our regional domestic violence conferences.  Your workshop, “Domestic Violence Victims, Why Do They Stay?” helped us offer a rich mix of workshops on a wide range of subjects.  I heard many positive comments about your workshop during the day.  And a number of people, when asked “What did you like best? mentioned your presentation!

Buckey Boone ~ Director of Development, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc.

“Thanks for your powerful presentation at the Domestic Violence Conference.  It was so powerful.  I am a mature graduate student in the Social Work program.  The timing for me to hear your story could not have been better for me.  As a result of fear-based attitudes, I was forced to leave my home and community of 35 years overnight.  The exhibit has been used as a teaching tool for psychologists, therapists and as a tool for individuals who are working with the issues of “who I was, who I am and who I may become”.  It is the story of resilience and pursuing education and the changes that happen when people choose or are forced through life circumstances to individuate and/or change their world-view”.

Graduate Student ~ Radford University

 “I had heard Ms. Diaz speak before at the Women’s Resource Center training and both times I felt captivated by her words and was moved by her experiences. I thought it brought the subject matter home to be able to hear from a survivor and see her strength and hear her story. I thought it was interesting to hear her advice for us if we end up in an abusive relationship or even if a close friend does. She had said nobody could have said anything to change her mind, however just offering the resources, such as the phone numbers, somewhere where she definitely would have seen would have helped her to start thinking about leaving. I thought that was a great non-intrusive way to help someone”.

Radford University Student

“I completely agree with the comment about how each person has her own breaking point and that was to you. I found it helpful to present that information so the women in the class can think about what their breaking point is.”

Virginia Tech Student

“Your presentation was very effective in showing that abusive situations often affect more than just one person.”

Virginia Tech Student

“I found your presentation extremely interesting and moving. Being in a class where we learn about violence from all aspects, from the perpetrator, to victim, to prosecutor, it was extremely interesting to hear a personal account and how you dealt with the experiences.”

Virginia Tech Student

“It was very heartfelt and touching, I greatly appreciated it”

“I liked the story she told.  Showing and expressing what happened to her.  Her experience, why people stay.  Thank you for telling us your story”.

 “Thank you for sharing and helping bring awareness to others”

“Was very touching and thank you for sharing.  It means a lot.  I am speechless.  Thank you.

“I learned victims point of views”

“This was very heavy, but it helped me toward wanting even more to serve women in need!”

“I learned how each victim has a different reason for staying or leaving”

“I liked her honesty and willingness to tell her story, strengths, weaknesses.

“I learned the effects of trauma”

“I really admire you for having the strength to tell your story and to speak so openly about it”

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Photos

From left to right: Angela Shelton, Diann Diaz, Mackenzie Phillips (in So Carolina during Darkness to Light Gala weekend when Mackenzie won the Voice of Courage award!)

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Diann Diaz ~ presenting at Healing through Creativity in West Virginia. (2008)

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Diann Diaz ~ presenting at Clothesline Project in Pembroke Pines, Florida (2004)

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Diann Diaz ~ presenting at Citizens Against Family Violence (2008)

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From left to right: Angela Shelton, Angela Rose, Wendy Murphy, Diann Diaz (in Chicago after a PAVE presentation)

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From left to right: Angela Shelton, Diann Diaz (in Virginia during one of Angela’s awesome presentations!)