HAVERTOWN, PA — Because Organization will host “Victims Deserve More” on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Haverford High School, bringing together leaders in victim advocacy, trauma-informed care, youth support, and criminal justice reform for a public conversation about crime, how it impacts victims, resources available, and what communities can do to help. The event is listed on Eventbrite for April 25 at 6 p.m., at 200 Mill Road in Havertown, PA.
Held in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the program is designed as a connected conversation rather than four separate talks. Organizers say the evening will move intentionally from crisis to impact to intervention to systems, helping the audience understand not only what happens in the immediate aftermath of harm but also how trauma persists, how support can change outcomes, and how systems can sometimes fail victims.
“We’re not just hosting four separate talks,” said Marcia Holt, Executive Director of Because Organization. “We’re trying to create a cohesive narrative for the audience, with each speaker offering a distinct perspective that builds on the last. We want people to leave with a fuller understanding of what victims face and what it truly takes to support them.”
The panel will begin with Kimberly Hollenback, Legal Director for the Crime Victims Law Project at the Delaware County Victim Assistance Center, whose role in the evening is to ground the audience in the moment of crisis. Her remarks will focus on what happens immediately after a crime, what victims need first, and how advocacy organizations respond in real time.
Devon W. Ferguson, professor and social worker currently affiliated with Neumann University, will continue with a dive into trauma and its lasting effects. Her part of the discussion is intended to help the audience understand how trauma shapes behavior, relationships, and long-term outcomes well beyond the initial moment of harm.
The program will progress to a talk about prevention and youth-centered support with Amanda Pugliese, Director of the Be Proud Foundation. Her talk will focus on young people who are already affected by harm or are at heightened risk, and to show what meaningful intervention, stability, and support can look like before harm deepens.
Zane Memeger, Executive Director of The Pennsylvania Innocence Project and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will close the speaker series by examining wrongful convictions, how they occur, the impact they have on individuals and families, and why accountability and reform are essential to building a more just and trustworthy system.
Together, these speakers offer a broader understanding of both the impact of crime and the ways individuals and systems respond. From immediate victim support to the lasting effects of trauma, from working with youth navigating risk and harm to examining the role of accountability within the justice system, the program is designed to give audiences a more complete and connected view of what victimization and what response really looks like.
Students will be admitted free with a valid student ID. The event listing is currently live on Eventbrite. For tickets and more information, visit the event page on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncvrwbecause-victims-deserve-more-tickets-1984423383760?aff=oddtdtcreator
About Because Organization
Because Organization is a volunteer-led nonprofit focused on supporting individuals impacted by human trafficking and raising awareness in the community. Through education, advocacy, and direct support, the organization helps people better understand exploitation and respond in meaningful, informed ways. Because Organization is committed to serving with care, building trust, and creating safer communities.
More information at: https://www.becauseorganization.org/
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