Beverly Gooden Speaker Biography
#WhyIStayed Creator, Domestic Violence Activist, Consultant & Writer
Beverly Gooden is an award-winning social activist, speaker, women’s health advocate, content creator, and originator of a viral Twitter movement. #WhyIStayed was named by TIME as one of the Top 10 Hashtags That Started a Conversation and is one of 8 Hashtags That Changed The World according to CNN affiliate, HLN.
Media
Her on-air appearances include Good Morning America, The Dr. Phil show, Inside Edition, CNN, NPR, and NBC Nightly News. Beverly’s story and social media impact have been featured in the Washington Post, Marie Claire, USA Today, CNN Money, Bloomberg, BBC News and many more.
Publications
She has contributed original content featured in TIME, The New York Times, the TODAY Show online, and the U.S. Office on Women’s Health Blog. She served on a panel at Verizon’s 2014 Domestic Violence Summit. She is also the co-author of Deby Lyn & The Big Ouch!.
Accolades
Gooden was featured in the short film “Why We Stayed” by the Emmy-nominated producers of Private Violence. In October 2015, Beverly was honored by Investigation Discovery and Glamour Magazine as their 2015 Inspire A Difference “Everyday Hero.” She has recently been featured in the August 2016 issue of Glamour Magazine and the December 2015 issue of Redbook Magazine.
Ella Mae Foundation
Beverly appears in a Toyota commercial discussing her work with the Ella Mae Foundation, a not-for-profit she founded to provide practical support, guidance and services to victims of domestic violence. Investigation Discovery provides valued support and partnership.
Keynote Speaker
Passionate about changing lives for the better, Beverly is committed to empowering others by sharing her emotional and gripping personal story in keynote speaking engagements around the country.
Beverly Gooden Speaking Topics
Why I Stayed: The Complexity of Domestic Violence
"Why I Stayed" is a revolutionary speech by Beverly Gooden, renown social activist and creator of the #WhyIStayed hashtag and global movement. In this radical talk, Gooden challenges the question “Why did he/she stay?” and reveals how the current way we interact with survivors is a house of cards. From faulty blame attribution, to designating only men as abusers, it’s easy to overlook the sheer volume of domestic violence when the issue has historically been framed as “them” and not “us”. That’s why, as Beverly argues, domestic violence is a community issue. Victims of violence can be women and men, LGBTQ and heterosexual, or even children. Victims of violence may have fought back, or remained silent. There is no perfect victim and no specific type of abuser. Beverly discusses her personal domestic violence story, reveals the most important questions to ask victims, and outlines how we all can help.
Race and Domestic Violence: A Closer Look
The #1 killer of black women ages 15-34 is homicide at the hands of a current or former partner. Young black women - whom statistics say are disproportionately murdered by the men they date, marry and with whom they share children - are often hesitant to call for help. Why? In this talk, Beverly delves into intimate partner violence using an intersectional lens. She describes how racism and sexism are the biggest obstacles for black women, how the American history of brutal violence towards black people contributes to non-reporting, and how the silence regarding intimate partner violence in the black community sends a negative message to black women – that their lives do not matter.
Beverly Gooden Books
Surviving: Why We Stay and How We Leave Abusive Relationships
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Deby Lyn & The Big Ouch!
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Beverly Gooden Speaker Testimonials
Beverly was incredibly generous with her time, took photos with new “fans” afterwards, and provided much needed information to our audience on this difficult and painful subject. She was an absolute delight. Such a warm and friendly person that I enjoyed having at our conference.
- | Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana