Brooke Axtell is a human rights activist, writer, speaker and performing artist. She was featured in a segment at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, where she gave a spoken word performance after a speech by US President Barack Obama on domestic violence and before a performance by singer Katy Perry dedicated to domestic violence victims.[1][2][3][4] The idea to have her participate in the segment with the US President and Perry came from Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich.[5]

In an interview with Browbeat, Slate's culture blog, Axtell testified to having been in an abusive relationship, the experience that helped spur her toward activism.[6]

Axtell is now the Director of Communications and Survivor Leadership for Allies Against Slavery, a non-profit devoted to end human trafficking. She founded a healing community called Survivor Healing and Empowerment (S.H.E.) for survivors of rape, abuse and sex trafficking, and serves on The Gender Equality Impact Panel for Katerva, a community that identifies and funds the world’s leading sustainability initiatives. She is a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network (R.A.I.N.N.), the largest anti-sexual assault organization in the U.S. [5]

Axtell has been featured in Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, BostonGlobe.com, SFGate.com, Washingtontimes.com and Fox News Channel Online.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Kaplan, Sarah (February 9, 2015). "Brooke Axtell, survivor of human trafficking and domestic abuse, storms the Grammys". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  2. ^ Garofalo, Alex (February 9, 2015). "Who Is Brooke Axtell? Watch Activist's Powerful Spoken Word Performance At The 2015 Grammys". International Business Times. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  3. ^ Goodman, Jessica (February 9, 2015). "Brooke Axtell Joins Katy Perry's Grammys Performance To Stand Up Against Domestic Violence". Huff Post Entertainment. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  4. ^ Dockterman, Eliana (February 8, 2015). "Meet Brooke Axtell, the Domestic Violence Survivor Who Performed With Katy Perry at the Grammys". Time. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Weigle, Lauren (February 8, 2015). "Brooke Axtell, Domestic Violence Activist: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Heavy, Inc. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Bennett, Laura (February 8, 2015). "An Interview With the Domestic Abuse Survivor Who Is Performing with Katy Perry at the Grammys". Slate.com. The Slate Group. Retrieved February 11, 2015.

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