Giving Voice to the Invisible: Lawanda Ravoira at TEDxJacksonville

Each one of us has been given a superpower that has the potential to end the cascade of violence and injustice that engulfs us. That superpower is our voice. Lawanda Ravoira introduces us to a young girl who endured immense tragedy and taught her to appreciate the smallest blessings.

Dr. Lawanda Ravoira is a national expert, author, researcher and trainer on issues specific to justice-involved girls and young women. She is the President and CEO of the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center in Jacksonville, Florida. The newly established Policy Center provides cutting-edge advocacy, research, training/technical assistance and direct services to bring about unprecedented systemic reform for girls and young women in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice and child welfare systems in Northeast Florida.

The Center's Justice for Girls Campaign, in partnership with Children's Campaign, Inc., is devoted to improving public policy and making children a top priority in the State of Florida and nationally.

Dr. Ravoira was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to serve as the Co-Chair and special advisory to the State of Florida Blueprint Commission. She also has served as a member of the State's Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, and is co-chair of the State's Girls Advisory Committee.

She holds a Doctorate in Public Administration, Master's degree in Allied Health, and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)