Darkness to Light Announces Rabbi Avremi Zippel as IGNITE 2021 Keynote Speaker
The Rabbi and activist for sexual violence survivors will present the keynote session virtually April 27th.
Charleston, SC. – March 17, 2021 – Darkness to Light announces Rabbi Avremi Zippel, Jewish Rabbi and activist for sexual violence survivors, as a keynote speaker at their fourth annual child abuse prevention conference, IGNITE 2021. Presented by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, the conference brings together sexual abuse prevention leaders from across the country for the common goal of making communities safer for children.
In 2019, Zippel publicly came forward about the decade of sexual abuse he endured at the hands of a childhood caretaker. He is believed to be the first Orthodox Rabbi in the world to do so. Since then, Avremi has taken a leadership role in combating sexual abuse in religious communities around the world and advocating for survivors. Zippel’s keynote, “Resiliency Through Role Models,” will show that survivors of child sexual abuse represent the entire spectrum of humanity, as they can be found in any and every community, the world over.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to address the IGNITE Conference. The work of Darkness to Light is so crucial in developing a world where survivors of child sexual abuse can feel welcomed, accepted, and loved for who they are, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with this years’ attendees.” said Zippel.
“We are thrilled to provide a platform for Avremi’s message of positivity for survivors,” said Darkness to Light President and CEO Katelyn N. Brewer. “His courage is an inspiration to others to come forward and live a life of service with determination.”
The presenting sponsor, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF), works to protect children from bullying, digital dangers, abuse, trafficking, and exploitation with comprehensive, evidence-based, youth-focused programs. MBF Prevention Education Programs educate and empower children and relevant adults with relevant information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to child victimization, including all types of child abuse. Along with sponsoring IGNITE for the second time, MBF will present and have a virtual booth for attendees to stop by and ask prevention experts questions.
IGNITE 2021 takes place online April 27-29th. Attendees wanting more advanced training may register for pre-conference activities on April 26th. For more information and to register for the conference, please visit www.d2l.org/ignite.
About Darkness to Light
Darkness to Light is a nonprofit organization with the mission to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse. Through education and awareness, the organization seeks to create a safer world for children to grow and thrive. Darkness to Light’s flagship program, Stewards of Children®, is an award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. More than 2 million adults including educators, youth serving professionals, organization volunteers, and community members have been certified in the program. Stewards of Children® is the only evidence-informed training of its kind, with the largest network of child protection advocates in the world as facilitators. For more information, visit www.D2L.org.
About Monique Burr Foundation for Children
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Edward E. Burr in honor of his late wife, Monique Burr, a devoted child advocate. MBF Prevention Education Programs, including MBF Child Safety Matters® for elementary schools, MBF Teen Safety Matters® for middle and high schools, MBF Athlete Safety Matters® for youth athletes, and MBF After-School Safety Matters® for after-school and youth-serving organizations, are evidence-based/evidence-informed primary prevention programs. They educate and empower children and adults with information and strategies to prevent, recognize and respond appropriately to abuse, bullying, cyberbullying, digital dangers, exploitation, and human trafficking. More than 5,000 facilitators have delivered MBF Programs to over 4.5 million students throughout the U.S. and in 3 additional countries.
About Rabbi Avremi Zippel
Rabbi Avremi Zippel was born in Toronto, Canada and moved to Salt Lake City with his parents, in July of 1992. The oldest of 6, Avremi was homeschooled through his Bar Mitzvah (13th Birthday), then left home for 8th grade and on, to pursue a more full-time Jewish education. He attended a Jewish High School in Chicago and attended Rabbinical College in London, England. Avremi participated in Jewish outreach and humanitarian missions, in Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Wales, and numerous cities throughout the U.S. He was ordained at the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ by the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi I.M. Lau, in December of 2013. He married Sheina in January of 2014, and together they moved to Utah in December of 2014, to work at Chabad in the capacity of Directors of Young Jewish Professionals Utah. They are the proud parents of two adorable little boys, Menny (5) and Menachem (3). In February of 2019, Avremi publicly came forward about the decade of sexual abuse he had endured at the hands of a childhood caretaker. Since then, Avremi has taken a leadership role in combating sexual abuse in religious communities around the world and advocating for survivors.
Media Contact:
Gwen Bouchie
Darkness to Light
gbouchie@D2L.org
