TIME hosted an Impact Dinner in Chicago on Thursday, featuring reflections from four individuals dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence. Presented by The Allstate Foundation, the event highlighted the voices of photojournalist and activist Donna Ferrato, author Tommi Vincent and her husband NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, and actor and humanitarian Ashley Judd.
Ferrato opened her remarks by crediting her mother, a domestic abuse survivor, as the inspiration for her four-decade-long career documenting the issue. She pledged allegiance to survivors, stating they lead the movement, and highlighted the story of Elisabeth Lindberg, the subject of Ferrato’s seminal photograph “Behind Closed Doors.” Ferrato praised Lindberg for trading privacy for the benefit of other women and noted that TIME’s coverage helped amplify her rebirth.
“She represents courage and love,” Ferrato said. “And she proves why women must believe in their own inner voice.”
The Vincents spoke about how personal histories of abuse drove their advocacy. Tommi Vincent, who identifies as a thriving survivor, emphasized her mission to normalize conversations about domestic violence without normalizing the behavior itself. She described her work with organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline to create supportive environments for victims.
“We are building a new house for survivors,” Vincent said. “A house where survivors are centered… and where we teach a new definition of love—one where love does not hurt, intentionally.”
Troy Vincent shared that he witnessed his mother endure abuse alongside his younger brother, an experience that taught him that those closest to the problem are often best positioned to find solutions. He also highlighted the link between abuse and financial instability, noting that his mother eventually sought help when the shame of abuse could no longer compete with the threat of eviction.
Judd addressed the role of bystanders and the culture of entitlement that fuels violence against women. While acknowledging that not all men are violent, she argued that silence in the face of male-perpetrated abuse makes observers complicit.
“There’s no such thing as a non-complicit bystander,” Judd said. “If you really want to support survivors, you become an upstander.”
She urged attendees to hold men accountable and break denial within their communities. The event, titled “Empowering Survivors: Building Strong Futures Together,” concluded with a reminder that the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE or at TheHotline.org.
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