In these special episodes highlighting SFU’s Sexual Assault Awarness Month, we learn from counselors, mental health professionals, academics, and educators who remind us that healing and justice can take many forms - and that we all play a role in shaping spaces that support survivors. As Afro American author, Prentis Hemphill asks in their book, What It Takes to Heal: “What would it do movements, to our society and culture, to have the principles of healing at the very center? And what does it do to have healing at the center of every structure and everything we create?”

In this first episode of our podcast series, Salomé Mengo, an SFU alumna, sits down with Dalya Israel, Executive Director of Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre, for a powerful conversation about the role of community in healing from sexualized violence. Together, they explore why creating time and spaciousness is essential for processing legacies of harm and how these practices support long-term resilience. Dalya shares insights on the often-overlooked dimensions of grief and spirituality, inviting listeners to consider how these elements can deepen healing. This episode offers thoughtful reflections drawn from Dalya’s and Salo’s experiences within the gender-based violence sector, emphasizing that healing is not a solitary journey but one rooted in connection and compassion.

This conversation includes references to sexualized violence. We encourage you to care for yourself and reach out to support resources if needed.