Speaking Topics

As a content expert on victims’ rights issues, a survivor of sexual assault, and an outspoken advocate, Jennifer Storm is no stranger to the media. She is often the first call they make when stories break. Book Jennifer Now! (In light of COVID0-19, Mrs. Storm can provide any content virtually)here is a link to a recent presentation.

Jennifer’s presentations have won her much praise as she presents an interactive program that looks at one woman’s recovery from addiction, trauma, and adversity and identifies critical components of what can help a person turn their lives around. Jennifer Storm is the ultimate survivor turned thrive, having chronicled her own story of victimization and recovery in six critically acclaimed books. As a child and teen survivor of sexual assault as well as a woman in recovery from addiction, Jennifer Storm can speak firsthand about the complexities of biological and emotional responses to trauma, understand sexual identity and the effects of substance abuse, and discuss how to obtain and maintain long-term recovery, and victim’s rights. She is a widely sought-out expert speaker on the subjects of trauma, addiction, and victim’s rights. She has worked on several high-profile cases, including the Jerry Sandusky case, Bill Cosby, and the Archdiocese of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Storm will discuss issues related to alcohol-facilitated sexual assault, trauma associated with the aftermath of sexual assault, addiction as a coping mechanism, and finally, how to heal as a survivor.

The learning environment will be interactive, fun, and educational. Questions and discussions will be encouraged. Ms. Storm has a unique story that can be presented in various ways to various audiences.

She has given thousands of lectures, keynote presentations, workshops, book readings, etc.

She has over 22 years of experience in non-profit management, governmental relations, and higher education and can lend her expertise on the following topics:

• Vicarious Trauma Workshops-Bearing Witness to Pain, Grief, and Violence Without Owning It All
• First Responder Wellness Training
• How Do You Squeeze Out Your Trauma Sponge?
• Receive, Rinse, Release, Repeat: The Healthy Cycle of Processing Work-Related Trauma
• Marketing and Media
• A Trauma-Informed Approach
• Strategic Planning and Gap Analysis
• Building a Trauma Informed Community
• Freshman Orientation on Alcohol Awareness and Sexual Assault Consent
• Consent Should be Given, Not Taken. An in-depth look at consent and alcohol as it relates to your specific state.
• Band-Aid on a Bullet Hole: Understanding Why Traditional Treatment Does Not Work With Trauma
• The First 48 Hours: Response to Homicides
• Victims Services and Police Partnerships, Making Collaborations that benefit victims most.
• How to Recruit, Retain and Sustain Employees in a high Turnaround field.
• Writing Your Own Story & Getting Published
• Trauma, Addition, and Victimization – The Unspoken Cycles
• Recovery and Resiliency-Jennifer Storm’s personal story
• Sexual Assault & Consent Educational Program with Laws Tailored to Your State
• Sexuality, Bullying & Hate Crimes
• Suicide Prevention
• Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault
• Trauma, Victimization, Substance Abuse
• Victims’ Rights & Navigating the Criminal Justice System
• Homicide Response, the First 48 Hours
• Healing in the Aftermath of Crime & Substance Abuse
• Management of Non-Profit Organizations
• How to write, speak, and publish your personal story
• Victim’s Rights & Enforcement
• Criminal Justice Reform
• LGBTQ Inclusion 
• Leadership & Development
• Developing Model Standards for Victim’s Services
• Ethics and Codes of Conduct

Jennifer’s content can be modified to fit all audiences and age groups. She is also available to facilitate focus groups and create plans for agencies. Below are just a few targeted communities Mrs. Storm can speak to and why she is a perfect fit.

Athletic Departments

Every issue Jennifer Storm touches upon in her book has directly and numerously impacted student athletes; and they deserve to hear her story of survival. Coaches often prepare young women to be invincible and resilient, forgetting the unfortunate reality that they are vulnerable to abuse.  Jennifer’s story hits home with one in four athletes as survivors of assault, one in ten athletes who are struggling with their sexuality, countless others who have survived an alcoholic and/or chemically dependent family, and many who are struggling with or in recovery themselves from addiction, be it alcohol/drug related or disordered eating. Mrs. Storm is an approved NCAA speaker, and universities and colleges are able to apply for a $500 scholarship through the NCAA towards her fees when bringing her to campus.

Sexual Assault Specific

The #MeToo Movement has dominated the headlines, and the topic of sexual assault is more prevalent now than ever.   As a child and teen survivor of sexual assault, Mrs. Storm talks about her struggles and how she made the decision one day to end her silence and use her voice to help others. She can speak specifically about the trauma victims of sexual abuse often endure during the abuse and the aftermath of public scandals. She is also a Penn State graduate and has been looked upon as the victim’s rights voice inside this horrific victimization.    Ms. Storm is a member of the RAINN Speakers Bureau. RAINN is; The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. It is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

Teens/Suicide Prevention

Jennifer Storm knows what it is like to feel ashamed and keep secrets from herself, her parents, and her friends. It was those very secrets that almost killed her and kept her sick in her depression, drug abuse and binge drinking. After over 23 years of sobriety and healing from her past traumas, Ms. Storm can share openly and honestly with teenagers about the importance of talking about their feelings and finding productive ways to process traumatic events. Jennifer has experience dealing with eating disorders, depression, addiction, suicide (her attempts and her best friends’ completion) and dealing with her sexuality. Her story is vivid and relatable for teenagers and while the content is heavy, Jennifer provides a light, fun and interactive session for young people.

Parents

Jennifer Storm has dealt with many experiences; many common among adolescents and teens, and most that of a parent’s worst nightmare. Suicide, drugs, sexual assault, alcohol and self-mutilation were Jennifer’s reality growing up.  Ms. Storm can give a keen insight into the thoughts, feelings, and actions of a traumatized teenager and help encourage parents on how to approach their children and create a much-needed– and possibly life-saving– dialogue. Ms. Storm offers a vivid and brutally honest account of her actions.  Hers is a cautionary tale that every parent must hear. She receives countless weekly emails from parents seeking assistance. Jennifer can offer a lens with which parents can view their children better.

As a foster and adoptive parent herself, Ms. Storm has lent her parenting advice on issues like prevention and consent in articles published in Parenting Magazine She can speak on the concept of trauma-informed parenting and how to speak with your children.

Recovery

Jennifer began drinking at the ripe age of twelve and drank alcoholically from the first drink she ever took a sip. Drinking quickly lent itself to recreational drug use, which turned into a dark addiction to crack cocaine in her teenage years.  Like many addicts, Jennifer used substances to avoid dealing with past trauma and victimization.  Her addiction reached a pivotal turning point when she tried to take her own life in sheer desperation and hopelessness.  Jennifer came through untold darkness to create a life of accomplishment and joy by working a twelve-step recovery program. She has been clean and sober for over 23 years and shares her experience, strength, and hope so that others may find recovery and understanding of addiction. Ms. Storm is currently developing a curriculum for survivors of sexual assault who have co-occurring substance use disorders as a coping mechanism. Based on her experience and her book Awakening Blackout Girl, her ten-week course will guide survivors toward hope and healing.

LGBTQ Community

Jennifer knew at a tender age that her primary attraction was towards other girls and never thought any different of this until her fourth-grade teacher told her she was abnormal for sending valentines to a female classmate. At age 10, Jennifer was chased out of her best friend’s house while being told she was going to hell after her father walked in on them dancing together.  After those negative experiences and other societal messages, Jennifer quickly learned to hide her sexuality and turned to drugs and alcohol to help quell the confusion.  It took Jennifer over a decade to finally come out of the closet and accept her sexuality. When she did, she became a victim of a hate crime via cyberstalking.  Since that time, she has become an advocate for the gay rights movement and was pivotal in the passage of one of Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive hate crimes laws in the country.

Victim Services Community

Jennifer has over 20 years in the victim services field and has traveled the nation training others on victims’ rights and victim services. She can offer workshops, keynotes, plenary sessions, be part of panel discussions, provide multi-day workshops on the following topics and more:

• Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue
• Creating a Trauma Informed Agency & Response
• Victim’s Rights & Enforcement
• Media Engagement
• Crisis Response
• Leadership & Development
• Model Standards for Victim Services
• Ethics in Victim’s Services
• Criminal Justice Reform

Ms. Storm is a certified OVC TTAC instructor and her trainings can be fully funded by applying online at the Office of Victims of Crime website.

To bring Jennifer to your community, fill out the form or contact Jennifer via the email below.

Contact Ms. Storm at jenniferstorm119@gmail.com for availability and pricing. Ms. Storm will work with your budgetary needs and is incredibly flexible.