In this presentation for corporations, women’s groups, Greek organizations and sports teams, fraternity house gang rape survivor and victims' advocate Liz Seccuro tells the riveting story of how an innocuous prescription for pain medication to treat her endometriosis 5 years ago turned into a full-blown $200 per day opioid addiction. With honesty and candor, Liz shares tales of secret trips to Mexico to buy drugs in the back alleys of Tijuana, painful withdrawal symptoms, and a life-changing trip to a rehab where she learned so much about the link between opioid addiction and sexual assault. Now 500 days clean and sober, Liz describes the shame, guilt and secrecy of becoming a statistic, and the desperation and dangers of how this Beverly Hills wife and mom trolled the dark side of the drug trade, doctor shopping, and financial ruin. With a surprising frankness, Liz explains how drug addiction can affect anyone. Her story of survival and recovery is filled with triumph, humor, and the joy of second chances.

Using her own story and subsequent two-decade struggle to affect changes in law enforcement and campus policy regarding gender violence, rape survivor Liz Seccuro provides practical information for college students and administrators on rape, sexual harassment, dating violence, and stalking and their repercussions in America right now. Translating complex legalese into easy to comprehend terms, Seccuro focuses on the positive changes that have happened in the years since her own tragedy, including the passing of Title IX, the comprehensive federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program, the Clery Act, a federal statute requiring colleges and universities to share information about campus crimes, and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act, a comprehensive program providing solutions to the violence women face on today's college campuses. Designed as a primer for victims' rights as well as a constantly evolving update on the myriad changes affecting campus life in America today, this presentation features vital, up-to-the-minute information for students, parents and administrators alike. 

In this timely and inspirational presentation centering on empathy, rape and domestic violence survivor Liz Seccuro talks about gender violence and how it affects the way we treat our employees, colleagues and clients in the workplace — and how businesses can square their corporate message on gender violence with their overall brand message. Using her own story — surviving a devastating gang rape in a University of Virginia fraternity house when she was only 17 — and subsequent rehabilitation as a starting point, she delves into workplace issues including sexual harassment, victims' rights advocacy and how caring about gender violence can serve as a powerful aspect of a company's brand strategy. In this presentation, Liz talks about how corporate America can lead with transparency and accountability, as she talks about the devastating consequences for employers, employees and shareholders who have attempted to operate in the grey areas.  With levity and enthusiasm, Liz show companies and corporations of all sizes and cultures how they can set an example by combining healthy profits and growth with basic caring for our fellow man.

As a huge sports fan, rape survivor Liz Seccuro found herself questioning her loyalty to team sports while composing an editorial for Glamour magazine about the Ray Rice domestic violence scandal — one of many recent incidents that has diminished the power and value of the NFL brand and televised team sports in general. In this presentation targeted to professional athletes, coaches and sports teams, clubs and organizations, Seccuro understands and examines, some of the key issues contributing to these scandals, delving into subjects like racism, steroid abuse, homophobia and internalized pressure. Hiring a clinician to talk about statistics isn't enough, she insists — these men need to hear from a victim who has survived sexual assault and domestic violence so that the overwhelmingly male world of team sports can see a mother, sister or wife behind the growing number of assaults at the hands of professional athletes and coaches. Through the telling of her own emotional story — and hard-won rehabilitation and recovery — Seccuro delves to the heart of this high-stakes American story of masculinity intersecting with violence, in the hope of preventing future scandals from surfacing.  She does this all in the true spirit of sportsmanship; by using a level playing field and with passion and commitment.

In the years following her harrowing experience at age 17, in which she was gang-raped in a fraternity house at the University of Virginia, victim's advocate Liz Seccuro went to every bad place someone in her position could go — from alcoholism and bulimia to promiscuity and cutting. But over time, she learned how to find solace by cultivating three principal elements that helped her reclaim her sense of self: lifestyle, wellness and joy. In this inspirational presentation centering on rebuilding a life after something terrible has occurred, Seccuro employs elements from her own tragedy and lengthy healing process to help others rise above adversity. She advocates building bridges, staying healthy and learning to love oneself, regardless of how far one has fallen into the abyss. Grieving is universal, she insists — and part of the healing process — but happiness doesn't come overnight. Hard work is required, combined with a willingness to keep learning from our mistakes, even when the tragedies that have shaped us are years in the past.  Join her for this joyous celebration of life and love.