Halle Nelson

RALIANCE (For Whom I Regularly Wrote About Workplace Equity and Sexual Violence Prevention)

Filters & Sorting
RALIANCE •

They’re Not “Bad Apples”—They’re Bad Systems

Photo Credit: Samuil_LevichFeminist author Rosalie Maggio once said, “Language both reflects and shapes society. Culture shapes language and then language shapes culture.” The words we use to talk to and about each other directly influence how we perceive and handle the problems in our world. When terms and phrases are misused, particularly when discussing matters of abuse, we unknowingly cause harm. In the past, we’ve discussed how language shapes public and organizational understanding of sexu...
RALIANCE •

Support Survivors and Staff at Rape Crisis Centers this Winter

Photo Credit: flyparadeRape crisis centers are often the unseen heroes of our communities. Throughout the year, they work tirelessly to meet the needs of survivors and their families, as well as implement prevention strategies and education in the areas they serve. The winter months can prove especially difficult for survivors and for center operation, which is why we’re focusing this week’s blog on what rape crisis centers need this winter and how community members and businesses can help meet...
RALIANCE •

RALIANCE Reading: 5 Nonfiction Books for HIV/AIDS Awareness Month

Photo Credit: mizar_21984Last week, we recognized HIV/AIDS Awareness Month with our article, “HIV/AIDS Awareness Month: How Employers Can Combat Stigma for Survivors with HIV/AIDS.” With many employees taking time off for winter break, we want to recommend some reading material that builds on the lessons from our last blog. This week, we’re sharing out some nonfiction recommendations that tell the real stories of people impacted by HIV/AIDS. Book Summary: “The AIDS Generation: Stories of Surviva...
RALIANCE •

HIV/AIDS Awareness Month: How Employers Can Combat Stigma for Survivors with HIV/AIDS

Photo Credit: BojanMirkovicAs experts in gender-based violence, one of the top cultural issues we try to combat is the stigma surrounding sexual violence. We also know that survivors can hold multiple identities, and these identities contribute to further stigmatization. For survivors with HIV/AIDS, they face a double stigma for their experience and HIV status. This is why during HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, we’re exploring these overlapping stigmas and what employers can do to reduce stigmatizatio...
RALIANCE •

Give to Rape Crisis Centers This Giving Season

Photo Credit: CatLaneEarlier this year, we addressed the business case for preventing sexual violence and protecting survivors amid a series of federal actions that cut budgets and impeded sexual violence prevention work. Since then, the landscape for rape crisis centers and other victim services organizations has further devolved for so many of these centers due to more proposed cuts and shutdowns at federal and state levels.In a climate that seems increasingly unsupportive to victim services a...
RALIANCE •

RALIANCE Reading: #MeToo Books for Native American Heritage Month

Photo Credit: Raul Llopis MartinNovember is Native American Heritage Month, a time where the United States must shift its focus to the history of Native Americans in this country, amplifying the voices and partnering with Native American leaders, and asking ourselves how we can better understand and advocate for solutions to issues facing this community today. One of these issues is sexual violence, a form of violence disproportionately impacting Native American and Alaska Native people. This Na...
RALIANCE •

Unpacking the Challenges of Hospice: How Employers Can Support Working Caregivers

Photo Credit: National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI)In the best of times, employees leave the stresses of their jobs and unwind at home. What if home brings its own though? For employees providing home care, and particularly hospice home care, there is little reprieve from mental and emotional strain. This National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we are discussing the challenges of giving this care to a loved one and what employers can do to ease that burden on empl...
RALIANCE •

How Employers Can Champion Accessibility and Equity this Blindness Awareness Month

Photo Credit: FluxFactoryAccording to the CDC, “Approximately 7 million people in the United States have vision impairment. This includes 1 million with blindness.” Yet, the struggles they experience are often unseen and unacknowledged in the business world. It must be the priority of every organization to create an environment that makes all applicants and employees feel included, safe, and respected. This week, we’re discussing blindness/visual impairments in the workplace and the changes empl...
RALIANCE •

What Employers Should Know About How Sexual Violence and Depression are Linked

Photo Credit: simpson33Over the years, advocates have worked tirelessly to destigmatize poor mental health. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions are debilitating to experience and challenging for others to understand. As an organization combatting sexual violence, we know this form of violence is also frequently misunderstood. For National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, we’re investigating how sexual violence and depression are interconnected and what employers can do t...
RALIANCE •

RALIANCE Reacts: Severance, Workplace Exploitation, and Sexual Assault

Photo Credit: AdrainHancuSpoiler Warning: The following blog contains spoilers for seasons 1 and 2 of Severance.Apple TV+’s hit series Severance has gripped viewers and sparked conversation about toxic workplace environments, prompting viewers to consider concepts like identity, autonomy, sexual agency, and assault. In this week’s blog, we’re examining Severance’s fantastical storyline and the learnings we can take from it to make our own workplaces safer and healthier for all.The series’ genera...
RALIANCE •

Tilly Norwood: A Discussion about Sexual Scenes and AI “Actors”

Photo Credit: blackdovfxIn late September 2025, a new “actress” entered the chat. Tilly Norwood is the first AI creation to be marketed as a performer. She is a photo-realistic depiction of a young woman, and her existence has sparked discussion about what repercussions this could have for the film industry. At RALIANCE, we’re taking this story to open a larger discussion about what AI “actors” could mean for the way stories about sex and sexual abuse are told on screen.When news about Tilly Nor...
RALIANCE •

RALIANCE Listening: Our Favorite Podcasts about Workplace Sexual Harassment

Photo Credit: PeopleImagesIn the past, we’ve been proud to show you what we’ve been watching and reading. Today, we thought we’d share with you what we’ve been listening to. This week, RALIANCE is launching its first in a series of blogs, “RALIANCE: Listening” and uplifting some of our favorite podcasts about workplace sexual harassment.Official Podcast Description: Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker talks with former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson about her experience as a leading news...
RALIANCE •

Workplace Supports for Employees with a History of Addiction

Photo Credit: m_pavlovOne of the greatest challenges that a person can take on in their life is overcoming addiction. Getting help, getting sober, and staying healthy after becoming addicted to alcohol or other substances is a tremendous undertaking. The struggle to take those important steps is all the more challenging if they don’t have people or resources in their lives to support them on their journey to recovery. This is why it is so important for all parts of a community to do what they ca...
RALIANCE •

Making Work Conferences Safe from Sexual Misconduct

Photo Credit: izusekConferences can be an amazing setting to connect with people within an industry. We have been so proud to act as a sponsor for the National Sexual Assault Conference because we believe in the power of networking to educate and find solutions, particularly as it pertains to sexual assault prevention. However, conferences can also be unfamiliar settings that may pose an increased risk of sexual misconduct for employees. In the past, we have written about workplace harassment ou...
RALIANCE •

Ways to Keep Students Safe from Sexual Violence While Studying Abroad

Photo Credit: martin-dmIt is officially September, and the school year is in full swing! Students from across the country are sharpening their pencils, cracking open their textbooks, and eager to learn from the semester ahead. For students gearing up to study abroad this year, they have even more to prepare for and get excited about. Travel should be a positive experience for everyone, which is why we want to see study abroad programs be as safe as possible for the students participating in them...
RALIANCE •

Protecting Students in Music Programs from Sexual Harm

Photo Credit: AnnaStillsIn just a matter of weeks, students across the United States will be headed back to school. For students in music classes or programs like band or orchestra, they are gearing up for an exciting season of learning and honing their talents. Music spaces in school can be a valuable escape, channel for artistic expression, and personal enrichment. However, sometimes perpetrators use these spaces to sexually harm students. It is the collective role of all adults in the communi...
RALIANCE •

Dress Codes Contribute to Sexism, Racism, and Weight Discrimination

Photo Credit: trioceanWorkplace dress codes have been a point of contention for decades. In the 50s, America saw an increase in gender-integrated workplaces. As women’s roles and fashion have evolved, so have employee perceptions about professional attire. For women and gender non-conforming employees, dress codes have been the vehicle for sexual harassment and discrimination. In this week’s blog, we’re investigating how workplace dress codes contribute to sexism, racism, and weight discriminati...
RALIANCE •

RALIANCE Watching: YouTube Videos About Workplace Sexual Harassment

Photo Credit: 5./15 WESTOver the years, we have used our “RALIANCE Watching” series to amplify films and TV shows we felt were useful to our audience to learn more about the many dimensions of sexual violence. Some of the media we’ve shared is, admittedly, a time commitment, which is why this week we thought we’d share some of our favorite YouTube videos! All of these videos are freely available online and may serve to elevate your trainings and ongoing conversations about workplace sexual haras...
RALIANCE •

Making Park and Campground Employees Safer from Sexual Harassment and Abuse

Photo Credit: kellyvandellenThere’s no time like summer to enjoy the great outdoors! National parks across the nation see an increase in staffing and attendance as people flock to their sites for hiking, camping, and all sorts of summer fun. However, national parks have had their share of controversies…particularly from their employees. Sexual harassment and assault occur across fields and sectors, and national parks are no exception. For National Park and Recreation Month, we’re discussing the...
RALIANCE •

Happy Anniversary to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act!

Photo Credit: WirestockThe American workforce has seen dramatic, transformative changes over the past century. Unions and grassroots organizers have been at the helm of worker’s rights initiatives and inspired change in legislation and across industries. Arguably the most significant of these achievements was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which, among other things, prohibited employers from multiple forms of discrimination and retaliation against applicants and employees. In the past, we have wri...
Load More Articles