View the Utah Sexual Violence Conference Agenda HERE! 

The Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA) is excited to announce the 9th Annual Utah Sexual Violence Conference! This year's theme is "Step Up! Moving Together to End Sexual Violence."

UCASA chose this theme because we believe it is time to move beyond dealing with the impact of sexual violence. It is time that we do more to prevent sexual violence in our state. We know that together we can create healthier communities free of sexual violence.

The conference will take place from September 21st through the 22nd at the Jordan Commons Megaplex theaters in West Jordan, Utah. It will bring together survivors, advocates, and professionals to share best practices and learn about new ways to prevent and respond to sexual violence.

We hope you will join us for this important event. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of survivors and create a safer community for all.

Here are some of the benefits of attending the conference:

• Learn from experts in the field of sexual violence prevention and response
• Network with other survivors, advocates, and professionals
• Share your own experiences and learn from others
• Get involved in the fight to end sexual violence

We are proud to announce our first plenary speaker, Liz Owens, the CEO of YWCA Utah!

Liz is a womanist, feminist, multi-racial, multi-cultural woman of color from Provo, Utah. She serves as a
community educator, gender justice and racial justice activist. Her multi-issue work is firmly rooted within a
human rights and social justice framework with a focus on the intersections of power and privilege.
Liz has experience working with women on the intersecting issues that disproportionately impact women
and historically underrepresented individuals and communities including: women of color, transgender
folks and their loved ones; refugees and immigrants, queer youth; and women involved in the criminal
justice system, gangs and/or drugs, drug trafficking, sex-work and prostitution, and survivors of domestic
and sexual violence, among many others. She currently serves as CEO of YWCA Utah where she leads the
organization in meeting their mission of "eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace,
justice, freedom and dignity for all."

Liz has a BS degree in Sociology from Utah Valley University, an MA degree in Human Rights from the
University of Essex in the UK and was a visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics
and Political Science. Liz has taught sociology and other courses including Race, Gender, Social
Inequalities and Social Problems at Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College. She has
also taught Program Planning and Evaluation in the Master of Arts in Community Leadership at
Westminster College. Liz previously worked at Women in Prison (London, UK), the Utah Pride Center,
the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and the Utah Coalition
Against Sexual Assault.

Liz grew up in Provo, Utah and once walked the last 100 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago in
Spain. Liz and her partner Brad are the proud and devoted parents to two little humans named Fox and Jett
and pet-parents to two doggies, Flynn & Fia.

We have great news! Our Second plenary speaker is Rabbi Avremi Zippel.

Rabbi Avremi Zippel was born in Toronto, Canada and moved to Salt Lake City with his parents, in July of 1992.

He attended a Jewish High School in Chicago, and attended Rabbinical College in London, England.

Avremi participated in Jewish outreach and humanitarian missions, in Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Wales,

and numerous cities throughout the U.S. He was ordained at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown,

NJ by the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi I.M. Lau, in December of 2013. He married Sheina in January of 2014,

and together they moved to Utah later that year, when they created Young Jewish Professionals Utah.

They are the proud parents of three adorable little boys.

In February of 2019, Avremi publicly came forward about the decade of sexual abuse he had endured at the hands of a childhood caretaker.

He is believed to be the first Orthodox Rabbi to publicly speak out about sexual abuse in his past.

Since then, Avremi has taken a leadership role in combating sexual abuse in religious communities around the world,

and advocating for survivors. Avremi serves his community as the Chair of the Utah Council for Victims of Crime, a Legislative-appointed committee.

His acclaimed memoir, Not What I Expected, was released in May 2023, and was quickly recognized as an Amazon bestseller.

He is a sought after author, lecturer and mentor to communities around the world.