Inviting Everyone to the Table in Sexual Violence Prevention Work

The Social Work Program invites you to a free talk, “Inviting Everyone to the Table in Sexual Violence Prevention Work”, on Tuesday, March 26 at 7 pm in the Umble Center at Goshen College.  Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez, MSW, LCSW, founder and director of Multicultural Efforts to End Sexual Assault (MESA) at Purdue University, will draw from her 25 years advocating for Farm Worker and Latinx Immigrant communities. As founder and director of MESA, she focuses on preventing sexual violence and child sexual abuse in Farm Worker, Latinx immigrant and multicultural communities and campuses across Indiana and the United States. This event is being sponsored by PIN, GSWA, Goshen Monologues, Student Senate and Student Life.

Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez
Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez

Kimber has spent the past 25 years advocating for Farm Worker and Latinx Immigrant communities.  She is Founder/Director of Multicultural Efforts to end Sexual Assault (MESA) at Purdue University. MESA focuses on preventing sexual violence and child sexual abuse in Farm Worker, Latinx immigrant and multicultural communities and campuses across Indiana and the United States.  Ms. Nicoletti-Martinez works at the national, state and local level engaging communities and organizations in the use of culturally relevant models for promoting healing, healthy relationships and preventing sexual violence.  Kimber who brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to her work has a positive attitude and is skilled at using an arts-based approach to engage communities.

Kimber is a founding member of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (National Farm Worker Women’s Alliance).  Kimber is also the founder and creator of Mujeres del Movimiento, a national resource and support network for Latina women who work in violence prevention. Kimber’s work has been instrumental in developing child sexual abuse prevention efforts in Low wage immigrant and farm worker communities.

The CDC recognized Kimber as the first advocate dedicated to sexual violence prevention in migrant farm worker communities.  Ms. Nicoletti-Martinez was awarded the 2013 Woman of Distinction Award by the YWCA of Greater Lafayette for leadership and work with Latinx immigrant and farm worker communities.  The National Association of Social Workers-Indiana Chapter awarded the 2017 Indiana Social Worker of the Year to Kimber. In 2018, Kimber was awarded the National Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. Ms. Nicoletti-Martinez is a member of the Indiana Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Coalition and is a faculty member for the Advocacy Learning Center at Praxis International.  Kimber is also a cohort member of the Just Beginnings Collaborative and is dedicated to eradicating child sexual abuse.  She has served in various leadership positions including the Chair of the Advisory Council for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, the President of the Purdue Latino Faculty and Staff Association and as an advisor for Delta Phi Mu, a Latina-based sorority.