In this powerful and personal lecture, Rosalinda will share the journey that shaped her passion for social justice, activism, and sexual violence prevention. As a survivor herself, Rosalinda will reflect on her path from victim to survivor and how her experiences—both as a student at Evergreen in the 90s and while bartending at her father’s bar in Seattle—shaped her perspective on gender-based violence. At Evergreen, she learned how to engage people in meaningful conversations and create impactful awareness campaigns, which led to a transformative week of events that included the establishment of the Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night March & Rally at Evergreen. Rosalinda will also explore the tension between her qualifications, achievements, and the barriers she’s faced in finding employment, which led her to create multiple businesses over the years, all with the goal of making a positive impact on the world. She will introduce her current projects, The Ripple Project and the Soil Detective, and discuss the importance of biodiversity in community organizing, showing how lessons from ecology can be applied to building resilient, inclusive communities. This lecture will be a reflection on resilience, creativity, and the ongoing fight for justice and equality.

Speaker: Rosalinda Noriega

Rosalinda was born in Georgia and raised in West Seattle. As a mixed-race individual and the first person of mixed heritage in her immediate family, she navigated a unique cultural landscape growing up. In the 1970s, she was the only child of color in her neighborhood, an experience that, combined with her diverse family background, shaped her deep understanding of diversity and belonging.

Rosalinda attended The Evergreen State College, where she pursued studies in women’s studies, Native American studies, and community development with a focus on popular education. After graduating, she began her career as a sexual assault victims' advocate for the Lummi Nation, a role that eventually brought her back to Olympia. There, she served as the Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator at Evergreen and later worked with the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs (WCSAP). Throughout her career, Rosalinda has been deeply influenced by her mentors—Mary Craven, Gayle Stringer, MA, LHMC, and Bruce Miller (subiyay)—whose guidance continues to inspire her work and entrepreneurial ventures.

Over the past 30 years, Rosalinda has built and managed seven businesses, including Partners in Prevention Education (PiPE), an in-home childcare center, independent contracting services, and a BBQ food truck. All of this was achieved while raising her child as a single mother. Today, she leads the Ripple Project, offering technical assistance and consultation to culturally specific sexual violence advocacy and prevention programs across Washington State.

In addition to her ongoing work, Rosalinda is currently pursuing certification through Dr. Elaine’s Soil Food Web and is developing her next venture, The Soil Detective.