Cultivating Difference Makers: Influencing a Cultural Shift in Our Communities
Bystanders are individuals who observe potential or obvious unsafe acts, toxic behaviors, and in some
instances crimes, and simply choose to do nothing to intervene. In most cases, this occurs on our
military bases, at our college campuses, in our high schools, at our place of employment, and in our
communities. Understanding our individual responsibility and the impact it can have on communities is
necessary for culture change. Done correctly, this will significantly decrease the amount of sexual and
domestic violence occurring in our communities.
Through enhanced education, understanding, and specialized skills training, this presentation empowers
individuals to effectively prevent or interrupt sexual assault, domestic violence, and/or any behaviors that
fall on the continuum of harm leading up to those acts. Without intervention, perpetrators believe that the
social and cultural climate supports their acts or, at a minimum, will guard them from detection. We can
change that mindset if we all are invested and fully engaged.
Utilizing an interactive and dynamic model, this presentation combines lecture, exercises, audience
participation, and scenario-based discussions. This includes:
• Education on bystander intervention and its relevance to culture change
• Discussion on human behavior and existing barriers to intervention
• Participant self-reflection on how we each individually respond to uncomfortable situations
• Skills training on practical strategies to intervene safely
Upon request, we can also provide additional training in conjunction with our visit. This includes:
• Survivor Testimonies (Male and Female / Civilian and Military)
• Continuing Education Units (CEU) for the military advocacy teams (broad range of subjects)
• Topics upon request (Sexual Harassment and Assault / Child Abuse / Domestic Violence/
Bystander Intervention / Culture Change / Offender Behavior / Understanding Victim Recovery
and Resiliency / Bullying / Male Victimization / Community Partnerships and Collaboration)
T R A N S I T I O N I N G F R O M
T A L K I N G T H E T A L K - T O
W A L K I N G T H E W A L K !
Per availability, our program utilizes ten passionate speakers with varied experience to provide unmatched value!
***Meet the 10 strong Presenters***
EDWARD WILSON (OBBIE WEST) - TEXAS
LEEANN TWEEDEN - CALIFORNIA
ASHLEY BENDIKSEN - MASSACHUSETTS
Transitioning from Talking the Talk – to walking the Walk. Be a Difference Maker!
• Celebrity “Me Too” Survivor / Guest Appearances on CNN and ABC’s The View (Disclosed her Sexual Assault and Harassment by Former Sen.
Al Franken)
• Radio News Anchor for McIntyre in the Morning (790 KABC) in LA
• Military Spouse of US Air Force Pilot, and Daughter of a retired Air
Force Chief Mechanic / Appeared in Military Spouse Magazine
• Former News Correspondent for Fox Sports
• Former hostess of NBC’s late-night television series Poker After Dark
• Multiple guest appearances on Fox News
• Traveled on sixteen tours with the USO to visit servicemembers
• Huge supporter and fundraiser for Veteran’s and Wounded Warriors
• Poet/Speaker, Obbie West LLC
• Sexual Assault & Harassment Prevention Advocate
• Appeared in Army SHARP Spoken Word Video
• Founder of Fashion is Freedom by O.W., a movement to
empower, inspire, motivate and reinforce self-worth through
blogs and clothing line
• Author of Blossom, Audio Book and Paperback
• United States Soldier, U.S. Army
• Owner, Ashley Bendiksen LLC
• SA/DV Survivor Speaker, Award Winning Activist
• Women’s Empowerment and Social Justice Advocate/ Former
Miss Bedford / Miss Apponagansett / 4th Runner Up – Miss
MA
• Former Victim Advocate and Bystander Intervention Trainer,
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
• Founder, South Coast Women’s Network
• Former Executive Assistant and Public Relations for Bristol
County District Attorney
• Former Board of Directors, YWCA Southeastern
Massachusetts
***Meet the 10 strong Presenters***
Transitioning from Talking the Talk – to walking the Walk. Be a Difference Maker!
HEATH PHILLIPS – NEW YORK
JENNIFER NADLER – New York
TIMOTHY JONES - Pennsylvania
• Male SA Survivor, Military Sexual Trauma Advocate
• Advisory Board Member, Protect Our Defenders and
Men Recovering from Military Sexual Trauma
• Appeared on NBC’s Megyn Kelly Show
• Worked on legislation to address Veteran’s Issues, Sexual Assault Issues, and Retaliation / Former U.S.
Navy
• Appearances in GQ, Time Magazine, USA Today
• Child Sexual Assault Survivor and Advocate
• International Motivational Speaker
• Creator of No More Sorrow, No More Silence: The Voice of a
Survivor
• Founder/Director of The Center for Creative Arts & Healing
• Board of Directors, Vera House, Inc.
• Former Professor of English as a Second Language, Onondaga
Community College
• Keynote/Plenary Speaker – EVAWI (2018)
• Speaker – NOVA (several years)
• Sexual Assault Survivor / From Victim to Victor
• Service Navigator, Veterans Leadership Program of
Western Pennsylvania
• Owner, Color Voices, an organization whose main
priority is to address the stigmas associated with
sexual assault
• Advocacy Committee, Protect Our Defenders
• Former President, Pensacola State Student
Veterans Association
• Former Executive Chairman, University of West
Florida Men’s Empowerment Network
***Meet the 10 strong Presenters***
Transitioning from Talking the Talk – to walking the Walk. Be a Difference Maker!
LUZ Helena SARIENTO (STACEY THOMPSON) - CALIFORNIA
DOMINIQUE WALTOWER - CALIFORNIA
COURTNEE DOWNS - TEXAS
GERMAINE ESQUIVEL - CALIFORNIA
• United States Marine Corps Veteran
• Mosaic Artist, Author and Poet, whose artworks have been displayed
in VA facilities across the country.
• Military Sexual Trauma Advocate and Motivational Speaker
• Owner, Imagery Artworks
• Reformed Batterer/Violence Prevention Advocate
• Life Coach and Social Services Expert (Home Group
Counselor, Juvenile Probation, Dropout Prevention
Mentor, Children’s Social Worker, Program Manager)
• Owner, Inspire Perspective
• International Domestic Violence Event Speaker
• Supervisory Special Agent, United States Army Criminal
Investigation Command
• Independent Market Partner with Monat Global
• Strong advocate for sexual assault prevention
education*Extensive training in sexual assault, domestic
violence and child abuse investigations
• Women’s Educational Leadership Institute Program Coordinator / Facilitator – Hartnell College Foundation
• Former Director of Supportive Services, YWCA Monterey County
• Former Pre-Paid Associate, Legal Services Inc.
• Skilled Domestic Violence Advocate and Trainer
Transitioning from Talking the Talk – to walking the Walk. Be a Difference Maker!
Follow Us -Facebook - differencemakers10strong
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-Instagram - differencemakers_10strong
-Twitter - @10_makers
For Inquiries Contact Owner/Founder: Eric Barreras
(915) 637-2381
Most Popular Audiences • Military Organizations • Workshops/Conferences
• High Schools and Colleges • Corporations
• Professional Athletes
• Civilian Workplaces
Website: https://differencemakers10.wixsite.com/strong
***Meet the FOUNDER / LEAD PRESENTER***
ERIC BARRERAS - CALIFORNIA
Current Roles
• Owner/Founder Difference Makers LLC (10 Strong)
• Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, US Coast Guard
• Advisory Board Member, End Violence Against
• Women International (EVAWI)
• Monterey County SART – Team Member
Previous Experience
➢ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate
US Air Force (2015-2017)
➢ Sexual Assault Counselor/Victim Advocate
Monterey County Rape Crisis Center (2016)
➢ Board of Directors
Monterey County Rape Crisis Center (2016)
➢ Member
National Organization for Victim Assistance (2016)
➢ Civilian Sexual Assault Investigator
US Army Criminal Investigation Command (2014-2015)
➢ Criminal Defense Investigator
Monterey County Public Defender’s Office (2014)
➢ Supervisory Special Agent
US Army Criminal Investigation Command (2003-2014)
➢ Criminal Investigative Intern
US Army Criminal Investigation Command (2001-2003)
➢ Soldier (Military Firefighter/Field Artillery)
US Army (1996-2001)
Recognition/Awards
• Department of Defense SARC of the Year (2018) - USCG
• CG Meritorious Team Commendation Award (2018) – USCG
• Letter of Appreciation - Director, CG Investigative Services – (2018)
• Air Education Training Command SAPR Team Award (2017) – USAF
• Letter of Appreciation – Director, SAPR Program (2016) – USAF
• Letter of Appreciation – Director, MCRCC (2016)
• Department of Defense SAPR Innovation Team Award (2015) - USAF
• Bronze Star Medal Recipient (2008) - USAR
Training/Education
➢ Bachelor’s Degree, Sociology/Criminal Justice
➢ Instructional Development Course, USCG
➢ SARC Training, USCG
➢ Male Victimization Training, 1in6
➢ Bystander Intervention Training, MVP
➢ Victim Advocate Training, USCG/NACP
➢ Victim Advocate Training, CA Certification
➢ Victim Advocate Training, USAF/D-SAACP
➢ Adv Crime Scene Inv Course, USAMPS
➢ Domestic Violence/Intervention, USAMPS
➢ Special Victims Unit Training, USAMPS
➢ Child Abuse Prevention Training, USAMPS
➢ Critical Incident Peer Support, USAMPS
➢ Protective Services Operations, ITI
➢ Sexual Assault Investigations, USAMPS
➢ Protective Services Training, USAMPS
➢ Apprentice Special Agent Course, USAMPS