Our guest: JESS MICHAELS is an accomplished dancer with 30 years of experience as a dance industry professional, educator, and entrepreneur. She is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and a 1991 rape by Jeffrey Epstein. Her healing journey began unexpectedly, over twenty years later, after her hometown of Newtown, CT was devastated by the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In 2015, Jess joined Dylan’s Wings of Change, a foundation dedicated to Dylan Hockley, one of the first-grade victims in the shooting. It was there, in her hometown, teaching dance classes and working alongside the brave parents who had lost their children, that Jess began to connect the value of shame-free, community-based, early trauma intervention to the needs of sexual assault survivors. Her message normalizes a proactive, empowered emergency response to SA equipping us to effectively prepare for—rather than react to—one of society's most common, catastrophic crimes while advancing healing, justice and prevention.

Connect with Jessica:

Website jessmichaelsspeaks.com

Instagram @jessmichaelsspeaks

Facebook jessmichaelsspeaks

TikTok @jessmichaelsspeaks

Jen holds space for women who want to elevate and amplify their voice. If you desire support in speaking your truth and want to explore the ways you can work with Jen, let's connect:

email: Jennifer@beingREAL.me

website:www.beingREAL.me

Instagram@beingREALjen

TikTok @beingrealjen

Join us next week for the second half of this conversation and until then…keep communicating, connecting, and listening for REAL. It matters.

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen Oliver at beingREAL.

About Jen Oliver:

I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I’m designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that’s my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.

REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:

email: jen@REALjenoliver.com

podcast website: ListenForREAL.com

website: REALJenOliver.com

LinkedIn:@realjenoliver

Instagram: @realjenoliver

Facebook: @realjenoliver

If you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.