In 2010, I was at the uncomfortable intersection of personal disclosure and professional recognition. Featured in a national Canadian newspaper as "one to watch" for my efforts in advancing gender equity, the interview took an unexpected turn. I was pressured to delve into the personal motivations behind my work, and the narrative shifted from celebration to discomfort as I navigated the journalist's probing questions about my experiences with sexual violence.

This experience ignited my determination to reshape the conversation around reporting sexual violence in the media. Recognizing journalists' critical role in shaping public discourse, I co-founded femifesto with Sasha Elford and Shannon Giannitsopoulou. Together, we created the groundbreaking "Use The Right Words" guide for journalists in 2015.

The guide, born out of meticulous research and community engagement, provided journalists with the tools and language needed to report on sexual violence empathetically and equitably. Its impact reverberated beyond Canadian borders, inspiring in part similar initiatives globally, including the #GBVinMedia Toolkit in India. Since its launch, the Use the RIght resource has contributed to a notable shift in how sexual violence is reported, with high-profile cases receiving unprecedented coverage.

As femifesto sunsetted in late 2019, I worked with Amal Elmi, Aubrianna Snow, and Anoodth Naushan in collaboration with Shannon Giannitsopoulou to continue the mission, rewriting the original guide for 2023. With insights from survivors, journalists, lawyers, and advocates, the new guide comprehensively offers language, frameworks, and strategies for effective reporting on sexual violence.

At its core, the Use The Right Words aims to empower journalists, educators, and community organizers in supporting survivors and reshaping public perceptions of consent. Through careful storytelling and empathetic reporting, the Use the Right Words project continues to pave the way for a more inclusive and compassionate media landscape.