Imagine the sound 60 pairs of high-heeled shoes on tile flooring makes.
Kimberly preparing to speak at UNC’s Take Back The Night Rally in 2007
The steady echoes of clacking in unison crescendo as the crowd grows closer.
To me, this sound is so much more than just noise. The reverberations of those women in stilettos—my sisters—approaching Division 11 of the Weld County District Courthouse side by side with me is synonymous with strength. It is the battle cry of a community unbroken by tragedy. Stronger together and supporting their sister as she transformed from a victim into a survivor.
When I joined the Alpha Phi Fraternity at the University of Northern Colorado, their beautiful house on campus became my home. I made my very best friends within those walls as we navigated young adulthood.
The six of us decided to move off-campus together for our junior year. Following finals week, we were looking forward to a summer of working, classes, and hanging out by the pool.
Instead, in the early morning hours of May 12th, 2006, a stranger broke in through our window under a cover of darkness. He came upon me sleeping in my bed, covered my face, and attacked.
What followed is a harrowing story of survival and inspiration—made possible by the sisterhood that started by believing.
In addition to my traditional keynote address, I’ve created and am now offering sessions specifically designed for Greek Life safety programming.
Ready to have me visit your campus? Contact me here.
Kimberly and her five best friends as Alpha Phis at the University of Northern Colorado (2006)
PRESENTATION: Sisterhood and Start By Believing
The excitement of rushing Greek life and living in the Alpha Phi sorority house made Kimberly Corban’s first two years of college unforgettable. When she and five of her sisters decided to live together the summer before their junior year, they could never have imagined just how important the bonds of sisterhood would become.
On the early morning hours of May 12th, 2006, a stranger broke into the ground floor apartment, held Kimberly captive for two hours, and sexually assaulted her.
Throughout “Sisterhood and Start By Believing”, Kimberly will engage audiences with the stories of her battle to survive the moments, months, and even years after her attack. The response by her Alpha Phi chapter and the entire Greek life community at the University of Northern Colorado set the tone for her journey to healing, and for helping other victims. Had Kimberly not been believed, the outcome would have been vastly different.
Approximately one in five college-age women will experience sexual assault. Because of the high prevalence among sorority women, it is safe to assume we all know a victim. They may not yet have disclosed their experiences, so how sisters respond to other disclosures influence their willingness to speak out or ask for help.
This keynote offers inspiration and tangible ways to advocate for and respond to victims of sexual violence. Utilizing End Violence Against Women International’s Start by believing campaign, attendees will walk away feeling inspired and ready to take action within their own community to implement prevention education programs and practices.
Learning Objectives:
– Describe positive and negative responses to disclosures.
– Recognize cognitive bias and actively combat victim-blaming practices and verbiage in chapter and Greek life settings.
– Consider trauma-informed changes to current new member curriculums within chapters.
– Recognize the necessary steps to launch a Start by believing campaign.
– Recognize and respond in a trauma-informed manner to sisters in crisis.
– Develop a chapter-specific prevention program.
