Missouri State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is co-sponsoring the annual Stop the Violence Conference 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Plaster Student Union (PSU).

The conference can be attended either in person or virtually, according to Paula Rector, senior instructor of criminology.

Space is limited to 300 attendees.

“We’ll offer a Zoom feed with closed captioning and ASL interpreting for the sessions located in the PSU Theater,” Rector said.

Register online to attend the event in-person or via Zoom.

About the conference

The Stop the Violence Conference is sponsored and coordinated by MSU, Abilities First, the Greene County Family Justice Center, Springfield Police Department and Harmony House.

“It’s an annual and free event that addresses domestic violence, its prevention and how to better serve domestic violence survivors,” Rector said.

The conference is a community call to action to stop interpersonal violence by providing information and resources for those who work with both victims and perpetrators.

The conference started in 2013 while the Greene County Domestic Violence Task Force was active and has been held every year since except in 2020.

“This task force did several activities before its dissolution, and there are stakeholders who continued with the conference,” Rector said.

Apart from the knowledge gained, this event also offers continuing education credits to all students who attend.

The conference brings in new and dynamic speakers from across the country.

“We try to bring in speakers who can address issues that are prevalent in our community,” Rector said. “I’ve presented several times over the years and in the last couple of years, I’ve been moderating a panel that addresses a different topic each year.”

Kate Ranta to be keynote speaker

Kate Ranta is a public figure in the gun reform and violence against women movements with her own compelling story.

After leaving an abusive marriage in 2012, Ranta’s ex-husband shot her and her father twice in the presence of her then 4-year-old son.

In the years since the shooting, Ranta has shared her story in the media and with the public. She has participated in many panels nationally.

As a survivor, Ranta aligns with many national and local grassroots gun violence prevention groups, focusing her work on raising awareness about the deadly intersection between guns and domestic abusers.

Besides Ranta’s presentation, there will be a panel on the intersection of substance abuse and domestic violence.

“The panel features a domestic violence survivor, an officer who heads the Domestic Violence unit at the Springfield Police Department and the executive director of Lafayette House,” Rector said.

Lafayette House is a shelter in Joplin, Missouri, that houses domestic violence survivors and those with addiction issues.

Event presentations and panel schedule

8:45-10 a.m.

“I am the Warrior” — Kate Ranta

10:15-11:30 a.m.

“Domestic Violence and the Faith Community” — Dan Boeck and Lynn Sutherland

12:30-1:45 p.m.

“College Domestic Violence and Technology-Facilitated Abuse” — Kristen Snell, Kristi Kliewer and Erin Comstock

2-3:15 p.m.

“Preparing for the Unknown: Learn how premise alerts can improve outcomes for your community and make situations safer for first responders” — Chief Rich Lockhart

3:30-4:45 p.m.

“Intersection Between Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Panel” — Paula Rector, Cyndi Spaethe, Chris Rasmussen, Susan Hickam and Stephany Jones

Past speakers

Over the years this conference has featured many compelling and informative presenters, including the following speakers:

Jeffrey S. Bucholtz — Bucholtz is the director of We End Violence. He works as a public speaking consultant with Speak for Success and teaches courses on violence against women and popular culture and identity at San Diego State University.

Wambui Bahati — Bahati has over five decades of experience in professional theater and public speaking. She presented strategies to avoid funneling people with disabilities or mental health issues to programs designed for children or other populations.

Dr. Chan Hellman — Hellman is a professor in the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work and founding director of the Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma.

Lisa Saylor — As a survivor of sexual and domestic violence, Saylor uses her journey to ease changes in legislation and encourage community involvement to stop domestic violence. Her session focused on post-separation abuse and the obstacles survivors face after leaving a violent relationship.

Register for the 2023 Stop the Violence Conference