Domestic Violence Prevention Summit Agenda
Take a look at what we have planned for the 2026 Prevention Summit. From a powerful opening survivor story to interactive breakout sessions and expert insights, the day is designed to inspire meaningful dialogue, connection, and action in the work to prevent domestic violence.
To support your experience, all registered attendees will receive a guided digital workbook in advance of the summit to help you engage more deeply with the sessions and apply what you learn.
Opening Session
9:00 – 9:15 AM
Welcome Remarks
9:15 – 9:45 AM
Opening Session: A Survivor’s Story – Pastor Michael Neely, Survivor, Author, and FPEDV Board President
Morning Breakouts
9:45 – 10:45 AM
- Behind the Chair: When Awareness Becomes Action – Shay Edwards, Boss Up Braiding
- From Sacred Space to Safe Communities: Strengthening Faith-Based Responses to Prevent Domestic Violence – Dr. J.R. Thicklin, J.R. Thicklin Consulting & Training, LLC
10:45 – 11:00 AM: Break
11:00 – 12:00 PM
- Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Violence Prevention Through Rejection-Focused Messaging – Emily Stoinski, Safe Connections
- Hard Questions, Safer Answers: Strengthening Faith and Community Responses to Prevent Domestic Violence – Dr. J.R. Thicklin, J.R. Thicklin Consulting & Training, LLC
Midday
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 1:15 PM
Welcome Back
Afternoon Breakouts
1:15 – 2:15 PM
- What Surrounds Us, Shapes Us: Exploring Safe, Stable & Nurturing Relationships & Environments – Stephanie Solomon, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- A Public Health Perspective on Reimagining Coordinated Response to Addressing Domestic Violence in Florida Families – Dr. Pooja Ichplani, Florida Institute for Child Welfare @ Florida State University
- Attempted Strangulation: What You Need to Know – Lyndi Bradley, Florida State University
2:15 – 2:30 PM: Break
2:30 – 3:30 PM
- Low Cost, Community Led Strategies for Strengthening Families and Preventing Violence – Jeanelle Artherhults, Radiant Health
- Listening Earlier: How Survivor Insight Strengthens Community Prevention – Cynthia Hale, FFT Helping Others
Closing Session
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Closing Session: From Awareness to Action: Building a Collective Care Framework to Prevent Domestic Violence,
Arlene Vassell, TooREL Institute for Social Change
4:30 – 4:45 PM
Closing Remarks
Meet Our Expert Speakers
Dr. J.R. Thicklin is a nationally recognized leader in domestic violence prevention with over 30 years of frontline experience. As President and CEO of Destiny By Choice, Inc., he is dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals impacted by abuse through advocacy, training, and community engagement.
A sought-after speaker and subject matter expert, Dr. Thicklin has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, and has worked extensively with faith based and community organizations nationwide. His work focuses on bridging the gap between faith and domestic violence prevention.
Michael Neely is a survivor, pastor, and advocate who believes faith should never be used to justify abuse.
With over 20 years of experience, he works at the intersection of faith and justice, educating survivors, equipping faith leaders, and challenging harmful narratives.
Emily Stoinski is passionate about empowering communities to respond to relationship and sexual violence and to uplift those not often recognized as survivors. With nearly ten years of experience working directly with survivors and providing community education, she believes everyone has a role in preventing violence through curiosity and compassion.
She has served on the FUTURES Without Violence CATAPULT Advisory Council and as Chair of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Panel for the City of St. Louis.
Jeanelle Artherhults is the DELTA Ahead Project Coordinator for Grant County, Indiana with Hands of Hope, a division of Radiant Health. With over a decade of experience in community focused work, she is passionate about mental health and violence prevention.
In her current role, she has led the development of community greenspaces, supported father engagement initiatives, and contributed to organizational policy improvements.
Stephanie Solomon is the DELTA Coordinator working in Primary Prevention with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV). She joined ICADV’s prevention team in 2021 and currently focuses on state and community violence prevention strategies. She is a graduate of Indiana University with 20+ years of experience working to affect the social determinants of health and holds a master's in public health. Stephanie is passionate about co-building spaces and strategies that promote safety and social connection.
Dr. Pooja Ichplani is a Community Engaged Research Specialist at the Florida Institute for Child Welfare. She brings global experience in public health evaluation, domestic violence response, and community engagement, including work with underserved communities in Florida and multi agency efforts internationally.
Shay Edwards is a salon owner, educator, and founder of Boss Up Braiding Studio with over 20 years in the beauty industry. She is dedicated to helping beauty professionals build successful careers while using their influence to create safer communities.
As a survivor and advocate, Shay integrates domestic violence awareness into her work, training beauty professionals to recognize signs of harm and respond safely. Through education and outreach, she empowers others to use their roles as trusted community spaces to support prevention and positive change
Cynthia Hale is the founder of FFT Helping Others, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Inspired by her own experience with military domestic violence and her response to disaster recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, she is passionate about addressing trauma through community based, trauma informed approaches.
Arlene Vassell is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and thought leader with over 25 years of experience in the domestic and sexual violence movement. She is the Founding Director of the TooREL Institute for Social Change and serves as Executive Director of the Association of VAWA Administrators. She specializes in healing-centered programming and has led numerous national initiatives to prevent violence and foster survivor-centered systems. Arlene is also a certified transformational coach, helping individuals and organizations create meaningful change.
Register Today!
Registration is free and open to all, but spaces are limited. Advance registration is required—no same-day registrations will be accepted.
Joining Florida’s domestic violence coalition means you’re part of a statewide movement advancing prevention, strengthening communities, and supporting survivors.
