We had the good fortune of connecting with Shael Norris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shael, how does your business help the community?
SafeBAE is the only survivor-founded, student-led national non-profit working to prevent sexual violence among teens. We work with middle and high school students and schools all across the country to provide authentic prevention education in dating violence, consent, and healthy relationships in order to reduce the rates of dating violence. And we also work with schools, teachers, and administrators to facilitate more opportunities for students to lead prevention work in their schools, while also providing them with resources to address reports of violence when they occur. We offer policy guidance in order for schools to offer as much support, access, and transparency in the reporting and investigation process. We also provide professional development for staff to better understand ways to integrate consent and healthy relationship lessons outside of singular delivery in health class. And we offer restorative justice resources for accused students in order to reduce recidivism and allow for accountability and redemption.

We are the only organization of our kind in the country and we are leading the effort to unmask the taboos around teen dating abuse.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Everything we have built is in service to evolving prevention education work from the taboos that have stagnated development for decades. It has been and continues to be an incredible uphill climb to help adults understand our approach, but thankfully young people have been empowered and visionary in their dedication to making sure our programs and resources are leading the country in this work.

We take a unique approach in that our resources are not only developed by kids for kids, but we are also training them to deliver programs, lead awareness raising, and advocate for school safety reforms to help young survivors report and access healing resources. Historically, prevention education has been limited to a one time lesson created and delivered by adults, but there is a mountain of evidence that has shown this approach to be largely ineffective. So our work seeks to shift the culture to allow for more student leadership and ongoing programs that provide substantial safety support for students throughout their education.

It has and continues to be a daunting task to shift culture in such a significant way, but we are well on our way, having reached millions of students across the US already! But there is always more work to do and more funding needed to allow us to provide everything to students at no cost. That is the biggest challenge: finding other adult allies to believe in these kids as much as I do!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The quiet champion of my work and this entire organization goes to my husband. He has provided financially, taken care of my kids (his step kids), and never stopped encouraging my work no matter how hard and heartbreaking it’s been over the years. With that said, there are a LOT of people who have shaped everything about our work. My co-founder Ella, who after 10 years is still in it with me! My daughter Aela, who joined our work when she was old enough and who has become an incomparable advocate far beyond her years. My son Aidan, who without any choice in the matter has become a default educational consultant for many of his peers. Charlie, my co-founder and adopted son. Samar, Drew, Rowen, Finley, Hector, Ravina, Joyce, Ellington and my entire board for making every day possible. And lastly, Daisy, my co-founder and guide in everything we do. Without her vision and sacrifice, we would never have accomplished what we’ve been able to do.

Website: https://www.safebae.org

Instagram: @safe_bae

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/

Twitter: @safe_bae

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/safebae.org

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/safebae

Other: tiktok: @safe_bae or @asskfirst

Image Credits
BROCK DEHAVEN took the headshot

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