Stepping Into Truth: Conversations on Race, Gender, and Social Justice

Talking Shifting Rape Culture and Bringing Agency to Survivors with
Nikki Patin

Season 3 Episode 4

Nikki Patin

In a conversation that predates the pandemic Nikki Patin and I talked about what it takes to change both public perception and policy as it comes to rape culture.

Using her experience as a rape crisis counselor and in her current position as Community Engagement Director at Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) she helps bring healing to individuals and changes to laws that impact survivors of sexual assault.

With writing workshops and Share the Mic nights that give survivors a forum for telling their stories Nikki lets survivors guide the direction of their healing. 

This conversation inspired me to look at some of the assumptions that I had around the subject and also to look at how I engage in my advocacy around this subject.

Nikki is amazing, and I think that you're going to love this episode.

My guest today is Nikki Patin, featured in The Guardian, Chicago Tribune, HBO's Def Poetry Jam and on international television and radio, and a Peabody Award-winning poet Nikki Patin has been writing, performing and educating for almost 15 years.

She has performed at the National Black Theater in Harlem, Brooklyn Museum, Links Hall, Black Artists Retreat and many other spaces throughout the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. In 2014, she made history when she addressed the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on behalf of Black women survivors of sexual violence in the U.S.

Nikki Patin holds an MFA in Creative Non-Fiction from the University of Southern Maine and is a recipient of a 3Arts Make A Wave award.

For a written transcript of this conversation click here.

Connect with Nikki:
Nikki's Website
Instagram
CAASE website

Credits:
Harmonica music courtesy of a friend