TALKS
Lawanda Ravoira | Giving Voice to the Invisible
Each one of us has been given a superpower that can end the cascade of violence and injustice that engulfs young girls in our communities. That superpower is our voice. Lawanda Ravoira argues that each system failure started with a personal choice NOT to get involved, NOT to speak out on behalf those who needed our help. Ravoira asks us to be brave, so that our girls may live in the land of the free.
Dr. Lawanda Ravoira is a national expert, author, researcher and trainer on issues specific to justice-involved girls and young women. She is the President Emeritus of the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center in Jacksonville, Florida. The Policy Center provides cutting-edge advocacy, research, training/technical assistance and direct services to bring about unprecedented systemic reform for girls and young women in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice and child welfare systems in Northeast Florida. The Center's Justice for Girls Campaign, in partnership with Children's Campaign, Inc., is devoted to improving public policy and making children a top priority in the State of Florida and nationally.
Dr. Ravoira was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to serve as the Co-Chair and special advisory to the State of Florida Blueprint Commission. She also has served as a member of the State's Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, and is co-chair of the State's Girls Advisory Committee.
She holds a Doctorate in Public Administration, Master's degree in Allied Health, and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology.
