Jr Rubinsky, MSW

They/Them/THEIRS

 

JR has been working in the field of sexual and relationship, violence advocacy, training, education, and prevention for the past seven years.

I Believe You, LLC was founded by JR Rubinsky in May 2019 to provide violence prevention consulting and workshops to individuals, communities, and companies. I Believe You, LLC focuses on sexual violence prevention and LGBTQ+ inclusion as a way to end violence in our communities.

JR attempts to use a margins of center, intersectional, and client centered approaches in all the work they do, believing that all oppression is connected and fighting to end sexual violence must include ending all types of violence. JR believes to end violence in our communities we must work together.

Some of their accomplishments include:

  • Increasing Transgender Applicants by 1255% at Meridian Institute

  • Educating over 2,000 community members in San Antonio and Louisiana

  • Providing sensitivity training to law enforcement in San Antonio and nearby cities

  • Creating educational curriculum around Title IX for over 4,500 students at St. Louis Community College

Certifications

  • Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Instructor

  • Importance of LGBTQ+ Identities & Illuminating Inclusiveness

  • Understanding Cultural Appropriation, Racism, Prejudice & Microaggressions

  • Office of Attorney General Sexual Assault Training Program

  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

  • Domestic Violence Joint Orientation Training

  • Undoing Racism

  • Engage Men in Gender Violence Prevention

  • Sexual Assault Advocate Training

Awards

  • Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson Activism
    Holobaugh Honors

  • Service and Commitment Award
    Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Coalition

  • Leaders in Service
    Center for Public Service


Leadership

  • Sexuality and Gender Alliance

  • US Healthy Relationships Panelist

  • Tulane Jewish Leader

  • Hunting Ground Panelist

  • Founder of Art Speaks

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jR’s story

JR was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. With the help of the LGBTQ+ and Jewish community JR learned to stand up for what is right, to live a life of integrity, and to love others. These principles were instilled in JR at a young age and they continue to guide their choices in life, especially now as JR moves forward in their career. 

JR’s understanding of social justice, power, and systems of oppression originated at Tulane University through their time as a member of Students Organized Against Racism. This knowledge continued as they attended Undoing Racism workshops, LeaderShape training, throughout their graduate program, and still continues today.

JR graduated in May 2017 with an undergraduate degree in Marketing and Psychology. During their time in college JR discovered their passion for helping survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. JR worked as a crisis advocate for three years at the Sexual Aggression Peer Hotline and Education. JR realized there was a need in the community, so they became an independent educator and spent three years educating high school and college students about the importance of consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships. To continue with this passion, JR got their Masters of Social Work with a focus in Violence and Injury Prevention from the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. 

While attending graduate school, JR worked with the Domestic Abuse Response Team, St. Louis Community College Title IX Office, and the Office of Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention. They also held a leadership position in the Sexuality and Gender Alliance association advocating for the rights of transgender individuals.

Since graduating JR had the opportunity to work in the non-profit sector at the Alamo Area Rape Crisis Center. As the Education Coordinator, they developed and delivered comprehensive educational programing focusing on sexual violence prevention, diversity, and healthy relationships to over 1,500 members of the community. Some of the work in this position involved sensitivity training to officers in the local police departments​. ​JR acknowledges the pain and trauma many communities experience at the hands of the police. This being said JR has experience conveying complex ideas to different audiences including college students, members of the military, high school students, firefighters, government entities, and other non- profits. JR has learned to adapt presentations and consulting to meet the specific needs of the group and maintain relationships with diverse organizations, communities, and people.

JR currently serves as the Assistant Director of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education at the University of Houston in the Wellness Department. JR oversees the direction and assessment of university-wide sexual violence prevention and education. They spearhead the multidisciplinary violence awareness and prevention programming in regards to sexual assault, consent, relationship violence, stalking, and bystander intervention.

JR has learned about sexual and relationship violence from members of the community, their own personal experiences, books, statistics, research, and wonderful people who have been doing violence prevention work for years. JR believes in continual lifelong learning or the ability to continually acquire, fine-tune, and transfer knowledge and skills throughout life. JR is always dedicated to learning new information, perspectives, and brainstorming innovative ways to foster healing and learning in the community.

When not engaging in social justice work, JR enjoys playing board games, exploring Houston, and playing with their cat, Lilith.

JR Rubinsky, MSW
They/Them/Theirs