Upcoming events, webinars, and news from the field
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MAC members and stakeholders,
Please join us in welcoming our new Director of Operations, Jessi!
Hello! My name is Jessi McKinnon and I am so excited to be joining the MAC team as the Director of Operations! Before starting here, I worked for a number of years atSouthern Valley Allianceas the Office and Volunteer Manager, working with staff, Board members, and a robust volunteer team in the domestic violence field. In my role at MAC, I'll be supporting much of the "behind the scenes" work to keep things running smoothly for MAC staff, Board, and all the MAC members throughout the state.
Get to know Jessi:
I have a degree in classical music and work as a professional choral singer - I sang backup for The Eagles a few years ago.
I love hiking, bird watching, and foraging. It's almost morel season!!
I enjoy crafting, like embroidery and hand-sewing. I also just got a wood burning kit - we'll see how that goes.
I have a 2 year old mini-bernadoodle, Daisy, who thinks she's a human child. She gets confused every morning when my kids go off to school but she has to stay home 🙂
I'm looking forward to getting to know the MAC community in the coming weeks and months!
Save the Date!
All 6 statewide victim services coalitions are proud to announce that they will be hosting a 3-day joint annual meeting and training event for all members.
From the National Center for Victims of Crime: “We're beyond excited to announce NCVC's Advocate Academy! This one-day session on Tuesday, September 2 in Orlando, FL (prior to the NTI) is specifically for victims of crime who want to become advocates for themselves and other survivors. This training (and the lodging) are free for participants. Due to space restrictions, we can only accept a select group. Applications are open now through May 16. If you're a victim or survivor who would benefit from this training, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you're an advocate or allied professional, we encourage you to share this news with your network."
The Better Business Bureau Institute for Marketplace Trust has published its annual BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report. This new research highlights key trends based on reports submitted toBBB Scam Trackerin 2024. This year’s three riskiest scams include:
NOVA has created a Military-Connected Survivors Resource Guide. This resource offers tools, strategies, and connections to better support military-connected survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS).
The Center for Victim Research hosted a great training, The Science of Hope: An introduction for victim service providers. Check out the recording here.
Public Comment on K-12 Academic Standards in HealthPublic comment period: March 19 – April 9, 2025. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is leading a group to create statewide Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Health. The first draft of these health standards is complete and MDE is seeking public review and comments through a survey. This survey has 26 questions and may take 10 – 20 minutes.
Transgender 101
Free Webinar
Thursday, April 17th
11:30am-1:30pm CT
What steps can professionals working with crime victims/survivors take to make trans and nonbinary people feel welcomed and accepted? What actions or words should they avoid? How does “passing” or not “passing” or the absence of legal rights in many states play into a transgender person’s daily life? And what are the mental health effects of the President of the United States attacking trans humans?
Join national speaker, diversity consultant, author, and retired civil trial lawyer Ellen “Ellie” Krug as she shares what it means to be transgender and offers tips on how to be inclusive toward anyone who identifies as trans or nonbinary. The talk will include some brief sharing of Ellie’s personal story, along with basics about pronouns, “passing,” and other issues. Come with questions!
This webinar is free for all to attend. The webinar will be recorded and the recording will be made available exclusively for MAC members.
Navigating Stress and Creating a Plan for Wellness
Wellness Workshop
Wednesday, April 23rd
12pm-1pm
In many ways, we have internalized the belief that our value and worth are tied directly to our productivity and what we can do for others. To combat the association of self-care with privilege, we must be intentional in our practice as we journey toward wellness. This course helps participants understand the distinctions between chronic and acute stress and burnout, identify contributing symptoms, and recognize the impact of stress on overall wellness. We will navigate through the seven domains of self-care and create a manageable plan to increase wellness and prevent burnout in the workplace to foster a healthy work-life balance.
Participants will:
Distinguish the key differences between stress and burnout
From NOVA: Navigating the evolving Post-Conviction Landscape: Ethics and Challenges in Supporting Victims. Gain valuable insight on how to uphold ethical standards while ensuring victims' voices remain central in the post-conviction. June 10th, 2025, 1pm CT. Click here to register.
From the Minnesota Department of Health: Labor Trafficking in the Cannabis Industry. A 2-part virtual series on May 28th and June 2nd, 10-11:30am.
For Crime Victims Rights Week: NOVA Deep Dive: Tools for Community Kinship, Connection and Healing. April 7th from 12pm-1pm CT. Click here to register.
From MDH: Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) with The National Tribal Sexual Assault Resource Center. Tuesdays in April (April 1, 8, 15, 22, 28) Registration link: Sexual Assault Awareness Month Conversations
2025 Annual MIWSAC Conference. April 22nd-24th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bloomington, MN. The Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition (MIWSAC) is hosting the 2025 Restoring the Sacred Trails of Our Grandmothers Annual Conference in Bloomington, MN on April 22 – 24, 2025. This year’s theme is Seven Generations Ending Sexual Violence. The event will also include a Self Care Carnival and “Honoring Our Survivors” Pow-Wow, both of which will take place in the evening and are open to all ages.
From NOVA: The Incest AWAREness Movement: Join Us Thursday, April 17th, 1:00-2:30pm ET. Learn about the causes and consequences of The Incest Gap, or the lack of effective methods of incest prevention, intervention, recovery, and justice. Then, dream alongside other anti-incest activists to create solutions that keep children safe in their homes, survivors and families supported through their recovery journeys, as well as end recidivism by people who harm.
Standpoint is hiring a project attorney for the Legal Assistance for Victims project. Salary is $70,000-$78,000. Click here to learn more.
MNCASA is hiring for an Executive Director, a Business Administration Manager, and a National & State Program Manager. All job postings are listed here.
The Bush Prize: Minnesotacelebrates organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of successful community problem-solving. Bush Prize grants can be used to build up reserves, test that next big idea, or whatever else would best support the organization's ongoing good work. The grant amounts are up to 25 percent of an organization’s most recent fiscal year expenses, with a maximum of $500,000.
Each year, the Smart Family Fund makes several grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. When it finds an organization that is making significant advances, it works with them to grow their programs and get them ready for more significant funders who can support them through the growth phase.
Diversity and Inclusion for Small Employers: The Office of Adult Career Pathways, an office within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, is soliciting applications for funding Diversity and Inclusion training to eligible Minnesota small businesses to increase their ability to engage, hire, and retain people of color in a variety of roles. Please click here for full RFP and here for Application Packet.
MAC is a membership coalition of more than 90 crime victim service providers in Minnesota, including prosecution-based victim/witness programs, community programs, law enforcement agencies, and individuals committed to supporting crime victims. We support our membership through training, technical assistance, resources, public policy and legislative initiatives, and networking opportunities.
To join our coalition of Minnesota crime victim service programs, click here.
Want to share something in next month's newsletter? Email Becca!
The Minnesota Alliance on Crime advances a collective movement to eliminate the systemic barriers experienced by people impacted by crime.
VISION
The Minnesota Alliance on Crime envisions a world where people impacted by crime, particularly those who are historically marginalized, can heal, achieve justice, and restore balance to their lives.
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