ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
Women Against Abusive Relationships (WAAR) is an awareness, education, and prevention program. We teach participants how to identify the signs of abusive behavior and how a healthy relationship looks. We also offer empowerment activities through our Healing Space to help participants make informed choices necessary for healthy relationships and self-sufficiency after experiencing intimate partner violence. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Healing Space launched as the Healing Space Live & Online Podcast.
Mission
WAARs mission is to break the cycle of violence against women and girl and aid in their healing process.
Vision
WAAR visualizes a world where women and girls are treated with dignity and respect and they will no longer be beaten and/or raped.
Values
Supporting online Family
Integrity
Quality
Encouragement
Teamwork
Meet WAARs Team
Md Jahangir Adil, a Bangladeshi professional front-end developer, and WordPress expert. have vast knowladge on Web Design and Development. Committed to providing top and best quality website design.
After surviving an abusive relationship that nearly cost her life, as well as multiple sexual assaults and rapes, she became deeply committed to ending violence against women and girls. Her vision is to raise awareness and educate as many people as possible about this critical issue, ultimately helping at least one million women globally heal from the trauma of abuse.
Roxanne Epperson
CEO and Founder
After surviving an abusive relationship that nearly cost her life, as well as multiple sexual assaults and rapes, she became deeply committed to ending violence against women and girls. Her vision is to raise awareness and educate as many people as possible about this critical issue, ultimately helping at least one million women globally heal from the trauma of abuse.
Rhonda Fleming
Director of Education and Outreach at the Women's Center and Shelter (WCS) of Greater Pittsburgh
Rhonda provides training to the professional community on the Identification and Intervention of Intimate Partner Violence, Teen Dating Violence, Dynamics of Abuse, Power, and Control, and Diversity and Inclusion.
Velie-Velia Sando
Social Media Intern
Velie is a first-year graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, Studying Public Policy. She recently moved to Pittsburgh from Texas to pursue her graduate studies. She is a Cameroonian native, and she has been living in the United States for 15 years. Velie is also a professional Afro-Dancer, and she loves to share her passion with anyone who is willing to learn.
OUR HISTORY
Artwork from a participant of our ArtShops.
Women Against Abusive Relationships (WAAR) has provided relationship workshops and conferences to teens and adults throughout Allegheny County in schools, community centers, and churches since 2001. In 2004 WAAR partnered with UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, where the Healing Space was born. WAAR was on hiatus from 2016 to 2021 while the executive director, Roxanne Epperson, completed her educational journey in 2019. Her goal was to resume programming in November 2021 upon her retirement. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and losing her job as a result, she reestablished WAAR in the spring of 2021. WAAR has pivoted to a strictly online format until further notice.
