Uplifting Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM): Addressing the Impact of Violence on Native Teens

February marks Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM)—a time to shed light on the violence impacting Native youth and to stand in solidarity with our young relatives in fostering relationships built on respect, safety, and empowerment. For generations, Native communities have thrived through kinship, respect, and collective care. Yet today, many Native teens experience dating violence, coercion, and emotional harm at disproportionately high rates.

These experiences don’t just affect individuals—they impact our families, communities, and future generations. At Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW), we recognize the strength of our youth and their power in reclaiming healthy love. Through education, advocacy, and culturally grounded support, we are committed to breaking cycles of violence, amplifying youth voices, and equipping Native teens with the tools to build safe and healthy futures.

This Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), we call on our families, educators, and leaders to uplift Native youth voices, provide safe spaces, and continue the teachings of respect and care. By listening, advocating, and standing together, we can ensure that Native teens experience relationships that honor their worth, identity, and future. Join us in raising awareness and fostering change. Healthy relationships start with us.

#TDVAM #HealthyNativeLove #ProtectNativeYouth #SafeLove #CSVANW 

CSVANW Celebrates 30 Years!

The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women is excited to announce 30 years of service. We honor and celebrate three founding Native women, Peggy Bird (Kewa), Darlene Correa (Laguna Pueblo) and Genne James (Navajo), the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) was created to provide support to other Native advocates working in domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and sex trafficking in New Mexico’s tribal communities.

Their single goal: to eliminate violence against Native women and children.

We thank you founders!

11th Annual Tribal Leaders Summit 2025

The New Mexico Tribal Leaders Summit is a convening of tribal leaders that focuses on the federal, state, and tribal laws addressing and responding to violence in New Mexico tribal communities. The summit highlights the unique tribal, state, and federal perspectives and challenges tribal communities face regarding the response to violence, specifically violence against women.

MMIWR Search & Rescue Training 

CSVANW will be hosting a community gathering for advocates and family members of missing and murdered relatives. The community gathering will focus on MMIWR Search & Rescue Training presented by Bernadine Beyale of 4 Corners K-9 Search and Rescue.

January 2025 - CSVANW hosted the 3rd State Planning Meeting for CYFD and its partners. Attending the meeting were Mary Ellen Garcia, Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NMCADV), along with her staff member Mica Reagan. We were also joined by leadership of New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (NMCSAP) Alexandria Taylor, Executive Director, and Rachel Cox, Deputy Director of Programs.

January 2025 - CSVANW came together in Santa Fe, NM for the yearly staff retreat. Staff gathered for self-care, learned how to resolve conflict, and strategic plan for 2025 initiatives. Facilitator Stephanie Ortiz lead the discussions and provided insightful guidance to the staff allowing for informed and thoughtful decision making that would in turn support the members and service area of CSVANW. Staff worked hard and put their minds together to make these valuable decisions that will support CSVANW's future.

January 2025 - CSVANW staff attended the Implementing Trauma-informed Care in Southwest Communities training. A wonderful event full of useful tips and skills. Educating CSVANW staff to be trauma informed, especially when CSVANW is in community. CSVANW looks forward to implementing some of these skills into our work.

January 2025 - CSVANW staff hosted a panel and luncheon for National Trafficking Prevention Month. Dozens of advocates, service providers, and community members joined us at our CSVANW conference space in Albuquerque to listen to the incredible stories of three survivors of trafficking. Their insight allowed participants to expand their knowledge on the real experiences of survivors and the best ways to support them in advocacy and social service work.

CSVANW collaborated with First Nations East Program and First Nations Community Health-source to put on the event. These organizations expressed their joy at having a collaborative event in which everyone could come together and talk about the issues of trafficking in tribal communities directly with survivors. One participant said that they left the event feeling "more empowered than ever before," citing the strength and resilience of the panelists as an inspiration in their work as an advocate. CSVANW is excited to continue the work in community to increase awareness around Trafficking prevention initiatives.

January 2025 - CSVANW’s Policy and Advocacy department attended the women’s action day and Paid family medical leave advocacy day on January 28th. Here we were able to connect with various organizations and uplift their advocacy efforts. Keep a look out for other action days CSVANW will be a part of!

January 2025 - CSVANW staff presented at the Tribal Judicial Institute on Child Sex Trafficking Conference for tribal court judges from across the nation. CSVANW staff presented on the risk factors for native youth, how trafficking uniquely affects native communities in New Mexico, the seriousness of the Missing and Murdered crisis in New Mexico and its connection to trafficking, and a CSVANW staff's personal experience with navigating the judicial system as an impacted family member. 

CSVANW staff left participants feeling connected directly to the work of our survivor-led organization, and many expressed their heartfelt desire to deepen collaboration between CSVANW and tribal courts to better accomplish the work of supporting survivors of trafficking and community members impacted by MMIP. CSVANW is deeply grateful to the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) for their invitation to this event, and CSVANW is excited to continue working with them in supporting native survivors of violence in all aspects of our judicial system.

General contributions and donations from individual supporters and organizational partners are essential for CSVANW's sustainability and effectiveness.

Your donation helps make it possible for us to cultivate and strengthen our ability to advocate for Native women and children and breaking of cycles of violence.

CSVANW is seeking an Administrative Office Assistant

The CSVANW Administrative Office Assistant is responsible for coordinating and strengthening the Coalition’s strategic operational and administrative performance. Coordinates and oversees the Coalition’s office functions for adequate cost control, smooth financial processes, and billing. Coordinates a variety of day-to-day office and clerical tasks to ensure that office operations are efficient and add maximum value to the organization. Provides strategic administrative solutions and processes that support the mission, goals, and objectives of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW).

#TDVAM #HealthyNativeLove #ProtectNativeYouth #SafeLove #CSVANW