Founder’s Story

Angela’s innovative work on the issue of sexual violence has made her a highly-respected, engaging speaker and expert on sexual assault and violence prevention. She is also widely recognized as an advocate for survivor empowerment. At the age of 17, Angela was abducted at knifepoint outside a suburban Chicago shopping mall. She was assaulted by a repeat sex-offender on parole for murder. After suffering at the hands of her abductor she then suffered at the hands of authorities who – instead of helping her – subjected her to scrutiny, blame, and additional victimization. The anguish of her abduction was immediately magnified by anger and a strong sense of injustice at her treatment by authorities. Angela turned her anger into a positive force for change and worked with her attacker’s previous victims and other concerned community members to help enact Illinois’ Sexually Dangerous Persons Commitment Act in 1998.

In 2001 Angela founded the non-profit organization, Promoting Awareness | Victim Empowerment (PAVE), to create education and action surrounding the issues of sexual violence. Today PAVE has chapters in multiple states, trains fraternities and sororities on sexual assault prevention and convened the National Campus Sexual Assault Summit held at Georgetown Law that broadcasted live to over 300 colleges. Angela’s work on college campuses led to an invitation to the White House for the launch of the “It’s On Us” campaign and was asked to serve on the White House Taskforce to Protect Students from Sexual Assault chaired by Vice President Biden.

Angela’s passion of ending sexual violence through prevention education and empowerment has led to several projects and public speaking engagements including the  documentary “Transition to Survivor”,  founder of Men Opposing Sexual Assault, training for professional law enforcement groups, the American Psychological Association and several branches of the United States military. Angela presents annually at the International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma and personally works with rape survivors from Uganda, and was invited by the former First Lady of France Cecilia Attias to participate in the Women’s Global Dialogue for Action.

Angela’s efforts have been profiled by the Oprah Winfrey Network, Bio Channel, The Today Show, TIME Magazine, CosmoGirl, Girl’s Life magazine, and CNN Headline News profiled her on their “Breakthrough Women” series. Rose authored the book Hope, Healing and Happiness: Going Inward to Transform Your Life. She has been awarded accolades for her work including “Forward Under 40” by her alma mater University of Wisconsin-Madison, “The Inspiration Award” from Today’s Chicago Woman magazine, and the “Promise Award” from the YWCA.