Christina Love learned to keep a lifetime of violence a secret for over two decades. Like many survivors, she turned to alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with trauma. As an adult Christina experienced homelessness. She found herself a shell of the human she once was and unable to recognize her reflection in the mirror. She was often denied access to the services that were designed to help. This form of systemic abuse not only retraumatized her but was its own trauma.

Through the art and tradition of storytelling, Christina Love will recall harmful events as a child and adult. She will also tell stories of what services, practices, and words empowered healing and hope.

In this fifth segment of our ongoing series, Christina will weave together each of the previous topics, that include: the importance of understanding how our history of violence has laid the groundwork for the injustices we see today, the multiple layers of trauma that each survivor can experience, the intersection of substance use and trauma, the liberation of education and the power of community and connection.

Christina wants the world to know that recovery is possible “NO MATTER WHAT” and that each life is worthy of our time and efforts!

​The topic of violence can be a sensitive issue for survivors. This webinar deals with very sensitive issues and may be disturbing, triggering memories or repressed feelings.

1. Attendees will gain perspective on the barriers survivors face every single day.
2. Participants will also have a better understanding of the possibilities of transforming services to better fit survivors rather than asking survivors to change to fit services.
3. Viewers will be able to articulate the importance of the history of violence and how it lays the groundwork for injustices in a wide range of care.

Advice: The topic of violence can be a sensitive issue for survivors. This webinar deals with very sensitive issues and may be disturbing, triggering memories or repressed feelings.

Christina Love (she/her/hers)
Senior Specialist, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Christina Love is an Alaska Native from Egegik village who was raised in Chitina, Alaska. Christina is a consultant, Recovery Coach and civil and human rights activist. Christina has dedicated the last 7 years to systems change for targeted and marginalized populations in Alaska. She is a formerly incarcerated person in long term recovery who currently works as a Specialist for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), the state’s coalition of domestic and sexual violence programs. Christina’s role focuses on intersectionality with an emphasis on trauma and substance use. At ANDVSA, Christina works with programs, agencies, and communities state and nationwide to address the continuum of care for support services through strategic initiatives, substance use screening, training and technical assistance, community-based organization, integrated services, curriculum development, evaluation, assessment, and organizational and community healing.

Christina is part of a collective movements that work to end violence, oppression, shame, and stigma through the liberation of education and community healing.