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Famous rebels are typically depicted by the media as to be determined, fearless, and mostly men. Rarely are stories of women activists, rebels, and leaders highlighted in media. The women behind the #ChangeRapeCulture movement in San Antonio directly challenge this idea. After a pro-Brett Kavanaugh rally on campus almost turned violent, two college students decided it was time the University was held responsible for not handling the cases of rape survivors cases accordingly.
At the University of Texas at San Antonio, a movement completely led and created by women, is striving to champion the national conversation about rape culture in 2019. #ChangeRapeCulture, a movement founded by two Black women at UTSA, has gone from student protests, to hosting conferences about the reality of rape culture in America.
The movement aims to highlight stories from BIPOC, LGBQIA2S+ survivors, advocate for their rights, and dismantle the harmful stereotypes that disadvantage sexual violence survivors in real life. Every survivor of sexual abuse has a story to tell, and the organizers of #ChangeRapeCulture are willing to risk everything to make sure these stories are being spread to as many people as possible. It happens way more than you think. All you have to do is listen.
We here at #ChangeRapeCulture are pleased to offer comprehensive trainings for businesses, schools, private organizations, and more:
Taylor Waits (She/they)
Taylor Waits is a PhD student, DJ, blogger, cofounder of #ChangeRapeCulture, and creative currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy for Rhetoric and Writing at the University of Pittsburgh.
Born in Houston; raised in Washington, DC; and living her young adult life in the Texas; Waits combines all of her experiences in her projects. She currently teaches media after school with high-school aged students, provides graduate school consulting services, scholarship and fellowship application assistance, and deejay as well as produces music. She aspires to open her own high school after her graduate work, continue to service her community, and work in the academy.
Kimiya Factory 24 (She/her)
Kimiya Factory graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Legal Studies. While Leading/Co-Founding the movement #ChangeRapeCulture, Factory challenges Title IX policies regarding structural violence and sexual misconduct at institutions across San Antonio, Texas. She continues to advocate for Reproductive Justice as a National Speaker for Planned Parenthood.
Factory serves as the President/Executive Director of Black Freedom Factory – an organization that encourages Data-Driven Activism, #RedefiningProfessionalism for BIPOC LGBTQIA+ Communities/youth, and dismantling racial inequity across the State of Texas. Factory is actively working alongside advocates nationwide on issues concerning Voting Rights as the Central Texas Regional Organizer for Black Voters Matter. Her Participatory Action Research Focus areas include Police Accountability, and the School-to-Prison Pipeline in the interest of grassroots efforts for vulnerable populations. Factory is formerly a Participatory Action Research Fellow for Southwest Folklife Alliance and Identifies as a Queer Indigenous Afro-Latina. She is a recurring political commentator for SXSW, CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, The Grio and has been featured in The New York Times as well as local Texas news media.
Coreen Monique (she/her)
I am a daughter, sister and auntie from Houston, TX. After high school I moved to New Orleans, La and began working in educational settings while attending Loyola University where I received my B.S. in Psychology. After graduation, what I once called my vocation, but now refer to as my call to arms; education, became my passion. I am a disrupter and educator who believes literacy is a human right. I #changerapeculture through radical self care and opposition. With continued healing, I am able to be and create restorative spaces for survivors.
