"Do it. Take Action. Be the Change."
These are the empowering words of ROAR activist Anne Ventullo, SAU Master of Social Work 2014 alum. Ventullo is an activist for a group in Iowa City called Radically Organizing Against Rape (ROAR). Often through the use of civil disobedience and other tactics, ROAR sets their own movements and joins others by disseminating information of local action groups including Ending Rape Culture in Iowa City and Ending Street Harassment in Iowa City.
ROAR started as an offshoot to "The Movement," a campus group which was formed in response to perceived need. Ventullo and another member of "The Movement" decided that the University and the broader community should also be involved in the response. The two individuals wanted to see more radical action, so ROAR was formed.
Ventullo explained that ROAR is constantly evolving and learning.
"There is immense focus on the importance of individuals developing critical consciousness about the conditions which contribute to marginalization or oppression," she said. Ventullo's leadership with these ROAR values is rooted in a desire to right the wrongs in the world. "It was this passion that pushed me towards social work, a profession where I could most use these desires to create a more equal and just world."
Aside from her involvement with ROAR and other activist groups, Ventullo has been employed by Families, Inc., in West Branch, Iowa, for almost seven years. Before and during graduate school, Ventullo provided Behavioral Health Intervention Services (BHIS) and waiver services. Since earning her MSW degree, Ventullo serves clients through school therapy, in-home family therapy, and office-based therapy in rural counties around the Quad Cities area including Muscatine, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, and Cedar counties.
While at St. Ambrose, Ventullo was an Advanced Standing student involved with Student Government.
"So much of what I learned at SAU drives me every day," she said. "The most humbling experience at SAU was understanding that you are not the change in others' lives; you only encourage or facilitate that change."
Ventulla said the MSW program is where she was equipped with an understanding that without policy, the fight for social justice can never be won.
"Policy is the most important topic in the fight for social justice, because it is the most sure-fire way to get things accomplished," explains Ventullo.
She didn't get involved in ROAR for an SAU project, but Ventullo said she was able to apply her ROAR experience with MSW classmates through class discussion and assignments.
Ventullo truly embodies activist values and encourages other social workers to get involved with movements that work to create a more just society.
"I don't want to sit around and discuss all the ways the world needs to change," she said. "Let's actually make those changes!"
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