Grooming and Sexual Violence: It Is Your Business Conference
Wintonbury Church in partnership with The Underground New England and Michelle Denault bring you this conference with informative sessions on how to prevent and respond to grooming and sexual abuse.
Who: Michelle Denault, is the founder of “Voices Carry, LLC,”, a survivor of educator sexual abuse and a National Keynote Speaker. In 2015, Michelle’s perspective shifted when she realized that what she had believed was a “love relationship” with a trusted teacher was actually manipulation and abuse. Her programs have been in over 100 schools and at various institutional conferences throughout the United States. Michelle is married to Superintendent Mike Denault, and together they have four children. She has a deep love for Disneyworld and Duke Basketball. Interestingly, her high school mascot was a Pretzel. She teaches her audience how to make a pretzel with their fingers during her presentations.
What: Headlines frequently highlight trusted authority figures involved in “inappropriate relationships” with minors. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these situations are not genuine relationships but acts of abuse that begin with grooming. In her presentation, survivor Michelle Denault shares her personal story while dissecting each step of the grooming process. By viewing this through the lens of a survivor, participants gain insight into how predators exploit a child’s natural want for love, manipulating them into consenting to their violation, and why bystanders often blame the victim rather than holding the abuser accountable. Michelle also addresses the “11 Risk Factors,” signs to watch for, and dispels the misconception that being a “good parent” alone is sufficient to prevent such abuse.
When: January 25, 2025
There will be two different sessions:
-Adult focus from 9-12:30pm: "Grooming and sexual violence? It is your business" Conference
-Student focus (Grades 6-12) from 1-2:30pm: "Grooming 101 - A predator's playbook"
Cost: Adults: $10; Students (Grades 6-12): $5
For more info, please contact Brian.