Rosemont, IL played host to the 54 STOP Administrators and 85 Coalition Directors (representing dual, sexual assault, and domestic violence coalitions) who attended the Office on Violence Against Women's biennial joint meeting for the agencies, which oversee STOP Formula Grant funds in their states and territories.  STOP  Violence Against Women grants "enhance the capacity of local communities to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women" (OVW).

This year's theme, Working at the Intersections: Promoting Access and Accountability,  focused on the statutory, just, and humane imperative to think and work intersectionally by both making our systems more transparent and accountable and power-sharing with underserved communities in order to better meet the needs of all survivors.  The two days featured plenaries and breakout sessions by invited speakers and select STOP Administrators and Coalition Directors on a variety of topics pertinent to STOP work, including federal grants management guidance, managing subgrantees, and sexual assault on campuses and in prisons, as well as sessions that deeply engaged the joint meeting theme. 

In an evaluation, one participant expressed: I "appreciate being reminded that sometimes it takes a fresh perspective on an existing system to initiate positive change.”

ALSO, on behalf of the Office on Violence Against Women, Resource Sharing Project, and National Network to End Domestic Violence, extends deep thanks to the many speakers and participants who shared their time and expertise to assist STOP Administrators and Coalition Directors in their important work. 

To view more pictures from the 2016 Joint Meeting, visit the Flickr album.