Brooke Axtell is a human rights activist, writer, speaker and performing artist. She was featured in a segment at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, where she gave a spoken word performance after a speech by US President Barack Obama on domestic violence and before a performance by singer Katy Perry dedicated to domestic violence victims.[1] [2] [3] [4] The idea to have her participate in the segment with the US President and Perry came from Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich.[5]
In an interview with Browbeat, Slate's culture blog, Axtell testified to having been in an abusive relationship, the experience that helped spur her toward activism.[6]
Axtell is now the Director of Communications and Survivor Leadership for Allies Against Slavery, a non-profit devoted to end human trafficking. She founded a healing community called Survivor Healing and Empowerment (S.H.E.) for survivors of rape, abuse and sex trafficking, and serves on The Gender Equality Impact Panel for Katerva, a community that identifies and funds the world’s leading sustainability initiatives. She is a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network (R.A.I.N.N.), the largest anti-sexual assault organization in the U.S. [5]
Axtell has been featured in Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, BostonGlobe.com, SFGate.com, Washingtontimes.com and Fox News Channel Online.[5]