Becky Fein
Adversity: Sexual assault
Advocacy: Co-founder and director of The Powerful Voices Project; Executive Director, Verity (Sonoma County’s Sexual Assault Prevention, Intervention, and Healing Center)
“Talking about my experience of sexual assault with others, and hearing about theirs, has allowed us to create strength out of an experience that had been deeply disempowering. Through this work, I have come further in my healing and recovery process than I ever thought possible.”
Becky Fein was a young adult traveling on her own when she was raped by a person who worked in a hostel where she was staying. This experience led to deep confusion, depression, and self-blame. It wasn’t until years later that Becky was speaking with a close friend and the two shared their experiences of sexual assault with one another – the first time that either had shared this experience aloud. They found their local rape crisis center and went through training to be crisis line counselors to serve on a 24/7 sexual assault crisis and support line. From there, they set out to create a documentary film series called the “Powerful Voices Project,” uplifting stories of resilience and recovery after experiencing sexual assault. Today, Becky serves as the executive director of Verity, Sonoma County’s Sexual Assault Prevention, Intervention, and Healing Center – the same center where she volunteered as a crisis line counselor many years before.