She was the first woman to seek criminal charges against the former USA Gymnastics doctor who likely will spend the rest of his life in prison for sexually assaulting more than 300 women.
Rachael Denhollander then made it her mission to advocate for other abuse victims.
She wrote a book titled “What is a Girl Worth?” about the abuse she suffered under the guise of medical treatment from Dr. Larry Nassar, and has spoken at events across the country.
Denhollander, an attorney from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, will share her story with an Akron audience Wednesday evening. She will be the keynote speaker for an online Rape Crisis Center training session.
This is among numerous training sessions the center is offering this year as its main fundraising tool during a time when more traditional events aren’t possible because of the pandemic.
More than 200 people have signed up for Denhollander’s talk, which is being offered for $15 or can be bundled with other sessions.
“We’re so excited to have her speaking,” said Ashley Kline, the clinical crisis supervisor for the Rape Crisis Center, which provided services to 1,340 people in Summit and Medina Counties last year. “We just really feel like she’s that inspiring reminder of the power that a survivor has when they chose to report and find support from the community.”
The Beacon Journal talked to Denhollander about her experiences and the message she’ll bring to Akron.
When did you become…
