Allison Mahoney Speaking Topics

• The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence

  Discussions about intimate partner violence usually focus on what the cycle of abuse looks like and how to escape the immediate threat. But what happens to survivors after they have left an abusive relationship? How does society view them? How does the legal system treat them? And what can survivors—and their support networks—do to promote healing and growth? Allison will encourage people to reframe how we think about survivors and emphasize that more attention needs to be paid to supporting survivors in the aftermath of abuse.

• Civil Rights Investigations & Class Actions

  Have you seen injustices in your community? Does your legal organization want to address a systemic flaw? Allison will describe how investigations into large-scale civil rights violations are formed and what changes are possible through civil rights class actions.

Child Welfare System Reform

Approximately 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States, a staggering number. All too often the systems charged with protecting those children fail. But child welfare systems can be reformed—from the inside out or through litigation, if necessary. Allison has spent several years investigating child welfare systems and launching class action lawsuits against state actors, alleging violations of children’s civil rights. She will highlight some of the common issues facing child welfare systems in the United States and ways in which they can improve.

Leveraging Public Relations and Communications Strategies for Lawyers and Advocates

Lawyers and advocates often shy away from proactive interaction with the media for fear that engagement risks having a negative impact on their cases. But, if done correctly, informing the public can be a powerful tool, put pressure on the opposing side to engage in settlement negotiations, and establish a supportive audience for their clients. Allison explains how lawyers can do this while being mindful of their pending court cases.

Trauma-Informed Storytelling for Organizations and Advocates

Organizations and advocates working with survivors of abuse, injustices, and crimes often struggle to tell their clients' sensitive stories. They want to protect their clients from potential harm and require permission to tell clients' stories. Those stories are necessary, however, for organizations to promote their work, attract new clients, and increase fundraising. And, for survivors, stories are also powerful catalysts for healing. Allison explains how how to communicate stories from a trauma-informed perspective and develop effective, safe, and meaningful communications and public relations strategies and content.