In a powerful and timely episode of Elation’s Inclusive Communications Podcast, host Jerrica Thurman sits down with two leading voices in sexual violence prevention—Laura Palumbo and Jayla Murdock.
Their conversation moves beyond awareness into something deeper, exploring how communication can drive cultural change, empower communities, and ultimately prevent harm.
Laura Palumbo is Communications Director at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), a division of Respect Together. She brings more than fifteen years of experience leading national initiatives and award-winning public awareness campaigns. Her work has made her a trusted voice among journalists seeking accurate, responsible coverage of sexual violence. With expertise spanning strategic messaging, media engagement, and crisis communications, Laura has helped shape how these issues are understood at a national level.
Jayla Murdock, Prevention Campaign Specialist at the same organization, leads the national Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign. Her work bridges public health and communications, using storytelling and strategy to promote prevention, accessibility, and survivor support. Jayla’s approach reflects a deep commitment to creating meaningful, lasting change.
At the heart of the conversation is the work of Respect Together and its National Sexual Violence Resource Center—an organization that has helped transform Sexual Assault Awareness Month, celebrated in April, into a unified national movement. What began as a series of grassroots efforts has evolved into a coordinated campaign that still honors local voices while amplifying national impact.
That balance is intentional. Real change doesn’t happen from the top down. It happens when communities are invited, equipped, and empowered to lead in ways that reflect their own realities.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, centered on the theme “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward.” As Jayla explains, the theme is both reflective and forward-looking. It honors the legacy of survivors and advocates—especially those from marginalized communities—while emphasizing the urgency of the work still ahead.
Progress has been made, but the mission continues.
A key theme throughout the episode is how communication around sexual violence has evolved. For many years, the narrative was narrow, often excluding the full range of lived experiences. Today, that narrative is expanding to better reflect the diversity of those impacted.
This shift prioritizes inclusive, trauma-informed language and ensures that messaging resonates across communities. It acknowledges that sexual violence affects people of all identities, and that historically marginalized groups have often been both disproportionately impacted and underrepresented in public discourse. Inclusive communication, as the conversation makes clear, is not optional—it is essential to building trust and creating real impact.
For communicators, the episode offers a clear and compelling challenge: words matter. Communication is not just a strategy—it is a responsibility.
Jayla underscores the importance of using language that is clear, accessible, and respectful. It means centering survivors with dignity, avoiding harmful myths, and shifting the focus toward prevention. When done thoughtfully, communication becomes a powerful tool for justice, shaping how people understand issues and whether they feel empowered to take action.
One of the most powerful insights from the discussion is that prevention is not abstract—it is deeply personal. It shows up in everyday moments: in conversations, relationships, and the ways people treat one another.
Change is not driven solely by institutions, but by individuals who choose to show up differently—who listen, check in, and create safer spaces in their own communities. This perspective reframes prevention as something practical and achievable, rather than distant or overwhelming.
Perhaps the most inspiring takeaway is that everyone has a role to play. The movement thrives because it is inclusive, not only in the voices it represents but in the people it invites to participate.
This is not a closed conversation. It is an open invitation—to students, professionals, advocates, and community members alike—to engage, learn, and contribute.
This episode of Elation’s Inclusive Communications Podcast is more than a conversation—it is a call to action. It challenges us to communicate with intention, lead with empathy, center diverse voices, and turn awareness into meaningful action.
Because in movements like this, communication is not just part of the work—it is the work.
Listen. Learn. Act.
Because creating safer, more inclusive communities doesn’t start someday—it starts with how we show up today.
To explore more about the work of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and stay connected, visit:
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