
About Us
Peaceful Means, or Wahwala Iyohlogya in Lakota, is an indigenous-led sexual violence prevention initiative that started on the Pine Ridge Reservation. We teach K-12 youth a culturally adapted version of the IMpower program. We are expanding our prevention programming to serve adult women survivors of sexual assault and adapting our youth curriculum to better serve 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Our aim is to end sexual violence across Indian Country by 2050 beginning in on the Pine Ridge Reservation. We are completing our third year of teaching on the Pine Ridge Reservation and have started to collaborate with other tribes nationally to share the program model. Peaceful Means is honored to be afforded an organizational home at the University of Michigan School of Social Work as we grow towards independent long-term sustainability.
Who We Are
J. Gayle Beck
Co-Investigator
Jeremiah Brave Heart
PM Instructor
Katie Edwards
Professor, Principle Investigator University of Michigan
Mark Fesquez
Research
Skyler Hopfauf
Administrative Technical Assistance
Ramona Herrington
Cultural Outreach Manager
Christina Hitz
Director of Operations
Orin Morrison
PM Instructor
Orin Morrison
PM Instructor
Shonda Morrison
Research
Joe O'Rourke
Research
Lee Paiva
SVP Specialist
Esty Pittman
SVP Specialist
Darrell Quintana
PM Instructor
Dennison Running Shield
Cook / Cleaner
Alexandra Swalley
PM Instructor
Preciouse Trujillo
Senior Community Liaison
Adena Two Eagle
PM Instructor
Missy Under Baggage
PM Instructor
Lorey Wheeler
Co-Principle Investigator
Steven Wilson
Lead Male Instructor/ Team Manager
Thalia Wilson
Project Research Coordinator
Aliah Yellow Bird-Steele
PM Instructor