Ask the Expert:  “I get nervous when I have to prepare a speech.  What pointers would you give me to write a great speech?”
There are many different approaches to writing a good speech.  Some people focus on establishing eye contact with the audience, others talk about your physical presence, for example are you dressed appropriately, or do you have good posture.  Some talks require 3-5 minute speech, or  TED Talks they require 18 minutes.  Ask “How much time do I have?”, “Who will be attending?”, “Is there anything specific you would like for me to focus on?”, “What is it that you would like for the audience to walk away with?”
I learned the WIIFM principle (What’s in it for me?) from William B. Cole, a speaker, trainer, and consultant. He stated, “People are really only interested in material that affects them…it doesn’t matter how brilliant the speech, apply WIIFM principle and judge if your audience will care about it and use it.” Identify your WIIFM principle before you start to write.  Do research and then choose something that’s of personal interest to you.  The more personal the story, the better you are to motivate the audience.  Remember that stories do matter, and when you are authentic and vulnerable, your audience will trust you.  Your struggles, your wins or challenges may be personal, but may speakers find a lot of power in sharing their story.  Share the stories of your own life and career that shaped you and led you to that moment of sharing. Lastly, remember people take mental notes or written notes during a speech.  Identify the main notes you want them to take away—no more than three.  Use those three points to reflect the answers to the first actions listed above. 
It also helps to practice, practice, practice!  Be thoughtful, honest and share your stories.  When you are the audience will carry you with them.  Good luck on your next speech!

​For the last three years the Alliance Board of Directors and Staff have gathered annually to share historical context and review the strategic plan.  The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the way we meet.  Yet even with these challenges, the Alliance team and Board of Directors recognize the importance of meeting operational goals.  Studies show 67 percent of companies do not meet their strategic goals.  Some reasons why poor goal setting can be resources and clarity of goal setting is poor.  When goals and staff are in conflict this can cause lack of alignment, not knowing who does what. The inability to report progress or show results can weigh staff from reaching their full potential.  If your employees are not connected to the strategy this may limit their ability in supporting organizational strategic goals. 
   This past week the Alliance held a three-day staff training to empower team members.  Each day started with wellness and centering activities to help promote resilience, such as digital story telling.  Staff discussions centered on the historical context and role of the Alliance within the community—allowing for the staff to identify supporting roles, emergent roles to understand their distinct parts.  We used an outside consulting firm, to guide discussions about our strategic plan—developing conversations on what is currently working, changes to be made, and Board reporting. 
After three days of meeting the team was able to recognize critical roles in the organization.  Staff were able to identify the potential in their ability to create winning strategies to support the work of the Alliance.  The past weeks discussion will be to inform the Board of challenges and successes.  These discussions will help to strengthen, implement, and guide the work of the Alliance for the next three years.  

​Written by: Kathy Fitisone, Alliance Staff
       There’s a magical feeling about the holiday season and we get all warm and cozy just thinking about it.  We can’t wait to have friends and family over and we anticipate the wonderful reception of all the places we will visit.  Our trains of thoughts travel at warp speeds as we envision all the decorations, fun, laughter, food, parties, singing, gift giving and receiving that will soon be upon us.  It’s a time of happy families and joyous occasions.
       For many of us, but not all. 
There are many people out there who do not or cannot experience the festiveness of holidays due to Domestic Violence and or Sexual Assault (DVSA) or past trauma associated with the societal illness.  For those who dedicate their lives to advocating for victims of domestic violence the season takes a heavy toll on them.  On one hand they want to be celebrating, on the other hand they realize the people they serve are very vulnerable at this time.  How can you help lessen the stress of DVSA advocates during the holiday season? By being aware of subtle signs and by knowing what to do during abusive situations.
        If something seems off with someone or their demeanor and actions are troubling you, you may be able to find time to speak to them alone.  Please be supportive and not judgmental.  Ask if they are ok and if they need help with anything.  Do not get upset if they do not respond, sometimes just being there for them and listening to them might be what the victim needs to break away from the violence.
        You may be the person to approach the abuser because he or she looks up to you or will listen to you.  You want to get across that his/her behavior is not acceptable and that services to help correct his/her behavior are available.
     It is important to know that the relationship of the victim and abuser is dominated by power and control of the abuser.  So, you want to approach situations in a way that will not cause additional harm to the victim.  But it is crucial that if you see something, you should say something, you should do something.  Remember that not all relationships are worth saving.  Also remember that if the situation has escalated beyond your control, the right thing to do would be to involve the proper authorities.
        For those who are recovering, holidays may trigger traumatic experiences.  As an advocate, be there for them.  Find out what would make their holidays lighter for them.  Maybe they only want to go to small gatherings, maybe they want to be at places that are filled with family and friends.  Grab a cup of coffee or watch a movie.  Be a positive reinforcement for them with your words and actions.
      We hope you find joy, strength, and purpose in being an advocate during this holiday season.  We hope you continue to advocate after the holidays for those who are victims of domestic and sexual violence.  We hope one day we will no longer have victims nor the need for victim advocates and we can all simply enjoy the beauty of the holidays.

Written by: Kathy Fitisone, Asst. Office Mgr.
​Given today’s multimedia technologies and the Internet that can give us access to anything from ancient history to breaking news, we are almost guaranteed a “world at your fingertips” lifestyle.  As advocates, as stewards, and as educators, having access to multimedia is a vital part of our daily work here at the American Samoa Alliance against Domestic and Sexual Violence. 
 
We have several different social media platforms in place including the ever-popular FaceBook, Instagram and YouTube.  We maintain an active website with high quality resources and publications.  We produce a monthly newsletter providing great insight and valuable information, it also serves to highlight past, current, and future events of the Alliance.  In the multimedia realm, we offer access to numerous podcasts, webinars, video conferences, and pre-recorded events.  We are also proud to say that we were the first organization in American Samoa to host a live, fully-virtual proclamation signing for the opening of this year’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
 
We work tediously to incorporate our Mission and Vision in to our social media and multimedia platforms.  Our projects and programs are planned well in advance so that we can roll out our media campaigns.  The campaigns include creating slogans, promoting activities, and highlighting events throughout a project period. 
 
For example, based on input from several different sects of the community, it was noted that often times in response to violence, people are quick to say “that’s just how we are” or “it’s part of the fa’asamoa” and so we were determined to “Reform the Norm” to educate people that violence has no room in us as people or within our beautiful culture.  We promoted #reformthenorm with our Youth Summit as well as DVAM events.  
 
We recently partnered with several agencies, Government departments, and organizations to promote our DVAM activities.  It was an awesome partnership that pushed a Purple Thursday campaign of wearing purple on Thursdays in support of Domestic Violence Awareness.  If one were to look at the pictures on our FaceBook page, we had tremendous support from our schools, the business community, and the faith-based community as well.
 
Some may ask if this is media overload.  The answer is NO!   The more people are given access to positive, constructive information the more opportunity we have to change mindsets.  The sayings “See something, say something” and “Silence Hides Violence” need constant presence in a space that is accessible and all over the world to both victims and perpetrators, to those who stand by and those who stand up and stand out. 
 
Some may ask if having that large of a social media and multimedia presence is really that important?  The answer is YES!  Why?  Because it allows us to continue the dialogue.  It allows us to share info through a cultural lens.  It allows us to bring about awareness of current community attitudes.  Our media presence pushes social norms and stresses the call to action and social change. 
 
So, with the world at your fingertips we encourage you to browse all we have to offer on the World Wide Web.  Follow us and like what we have to offer.  We encourage you to broaden our community by joining us, sharing our pages and posts, disseminating our information and resources, and getting involved in changing community attitudes in order to reduce domestic violence.  Above all stay connected, continue the dialogue and comment, we are listening!

Written by:  ProVision;
Photo Retrieved from:  https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/domestic-violence
​We read and hear of stories of young girls being molested by people in their own homes, at school, in the church, and the community.  It is evident that living on an island, our women and young girls need to be educated that not everyone can be trusted.   They are told to not tell anyone what is happening or there will be consequences for them or their loved ones.  Some girls have watched as their mothers are being physically, verbally, or emotionally abused and think it’s normal. As a community we have “normalized” these actions of abuse and accepted them as normal.  We are told that it is our fault we are abused.  Our abusers tell us, “If you listened to me, I wouldn’t have beat you,” or “If you would have just stopped yelling at me, I wouldn’t have hit you.” This mindset must be broken for the cycle of domestic violence to change.  People need to realize the power and control wheel that is used by abusers.  They use isolation as a form to keep family members apart.  They use financial control to ensure that victims cannot leave.  Abusers will also tell victims they are not worthy, and no one will ever love them, which is why they stay.  It is not only physical abuse.   This mindset must be broken.  If you know someone who is abused, or suspect is being abused, here are some things you can do. 

1. Listen to them and believe them when they come to you.  Once they share with you that is the first step of breaking the cycle of abuse.  Give them a safe space to speak and be heard.  Remember to not pass judgment on the victim, don’t say things like, “why didn’t you leave?” But, tell them, “I hear you and I believe you.”
2. Get them in contact with available resources to begin healing.  Services for survivors are an important step.  Give them information on shelters, hotlines, and any counseling available to support them.
3. Don’t say phrases like, “she was asking for it” or “boys will be boys”.  That blurs the lines around sexual consent, placing blame on the victim and excusing perpetrators from the crimes they’ve committed.  When it comes to consent, there are no blurred lines.  No means No!
4. There are many forms of abuse and all of them have physical and emotional effects on individuals.  If someone comes to you or you are concerned for someone who could be experiencing abuse, help them find safety and support.  Start a conversation with them and listen.  Violence against women is a human rights violation that’s been around for generations.  We can’t be silent anymore and need to help them be heard.
5. Violence can take place in many forms, including sexual harassment in the workplace and public spaces.  Take a stand by calling it when you see it:  cat-calling, inappropriate comments, and sexist jokes are not okay.  Create a safe environment for everyone by challenging your peers to speak up when someone crosses the line and always listen to survivors and be sure they have the support needed.

 
Every year, the 16 days of Activism campaign calls for united, global action to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Please follow the Alliance Facebook Page to learn more.  It starts on November 25 through December 10.  You can be the change to make a difference in your community!

Written by Jennifer Tofaeono, Executive Director ASADSV
Domestic violence Awareness Month (DVAM) has come to an end.  Our office, American Samoa Alliance against Domestic & Sexual Violence and our partners work every month to increase awareness while working towards creating healthy families.   We gather as individuals and organizations to help raise knowledge of issues and support domestic violence victims and survivors.  For the past several months the newspaper has been beset with stories of domestic violence.  Someone stated, “I don’t like reading those stories, I wish they wouldn’t share them.”  Instead, I pose the following question, “What would American Samoa families look like if there was no domestic violence?”
There would be no more stories of abusers who beat victims with pipes or punch the victim in their face in the presence of their young children. These children would not have post-traumatic stress.   Abusers would not state, “they took drugs to become strong and untouchable by the victim as they planned murder”.   We would not read the heinous ways victims were killed by their abusers - strangulation, severe beatings, stab wounds and/or set to fire.  There would not be an increased use of victim services if we did not have domestic violence.   
Domestic violence excessively affects women as victims.   If there was no domestic violence in Samoa, two of every three women in Samoa who have been or are being abused by intimate partner violence would cease to exist.  Those same women would not have to report either physical or sexual violence.  If there was no domestic violence in American Samoa, women would not be 85% of all domestic violence victims.  Victims would not be beaten, stalked, or murdered.  There would be no need for domestic violence hotlines, shelters, and emergency room visits. Victims of violence would not carry shame and the secret of abuse, making them stay away from their support systems.  We would have healthier families.
We share stories of domestic violence, but victims continue to suffer in silence in a way that takes your breath away.  The growth of substance abuse on our island will cause a heightened reporting of domestic and/or family violence in our community.  Nearly 80% of domestic violence crimes are related to the use of drugs[1].  The increased usage of drugs can cause irrational, violent or controlling behavior within a relationship. If the abuse continues, the risk of domestic violence increases, as the drug addiction and abuse will worsen over time. 
I know that we have a long path before us.  Eradicating violence is no easy feat.  For it to change the way we view violence in our homes, and families MUST CHANGE.  We can do this by breaking the cycle that keeps us silent.  Share our stories because we learn from each other.  We can make a difference, one person at a time.  We can demand for new services in our community that can help to battle substance abuse to lessen violence.  We can come together in our homes and learn that abusers wield power and control as weapons of mass destruction for families, and there are ways we can make a difference.  We can learn about safety tips that will help us to stay protected from abusers.  To learn more follow us on Facebook, call our office for more information, contact DHSS for assistance as victims of violence. 
Looking forward to an American Samoa with healthier families.  Join us!


[1] Addiction & Violence (2021) website:  Addiction center retrieved: https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/domestic-violence/