Non-compliant leader. Feminist incendiary. Loveable curmudgeon.
Ashley Taylor-Gougé is the Associate Director of the Sexual Violence Center (SVC), a rape crisis center dedicated to serving Carver, Hennepin, and Scott Counties. With nearly 15 years of experience in the domestic and sexual violence sector, Ashley is responsible for supervising SVC’s programs, managing outreach and education initiatives, curating the agency’s social media presence, and coordinating programmatic evaluation.
Starting as the Office Manager in 2016, Ashley has held several positions and was promoted to Associate Director in 2021. They played a pivotal role in redefining SVC’s mission and values alongside the Executive Director, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashley provided valuable guidance to Minnesota’s anti-violence community on virtual service provision. They have also shared their expertise coordinating social media at national and statewide conferences.
Ashley has been a driving force in expanding access to resources and services for survivors of sexual violence. Their efforts to establish SVC as a Naloxone Access Point, providing free overdose reversal kits and fentanyl test strips, highlight their commitment to a holistic approach to survivor support. By incorporating harm reduction into advocacy and addressing the intersectional needs of survivors, Ashley is working towards creating a more equitable and accessible system of support for those who have experienced sexual violence.
In addition to their work at the Sexual Violence Center, Ashley is an active member of the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee, a grassroots organization that advocates for reproductive rights and access to abortion in the Twin Cities. Their commitment to reproductive justice aligns with their broader social justice work, highlighting their dedication to creating a world where all individuals have autonomy over their bodies and decisions.
Ashley is committed to cultivating a sustainable and supportive environment for advocates of all experience levels, advocating for progressive change, and creating a world free of sexual violence. They are dedicated to pushing boundaries and reimagining how organizations within the anti-violence movement function to better serve survivors of sexual violence.
As a leader at SVC, Ashley approaches challenges with revolutionary optimism, championing radical advocacy and the belief that a better world is possible.