Seattle NOW is honored to present a special screening of Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise, a powerful documentary that revisits the groundbreaking 1991 film to explore its influence on female empowerment, resistance, and social justice.

In partnership with filmmaker Jennifer Townsend, this event is an effort to drive awareness and spark critical conversations during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. By revisiting the themes of resilience and solidarity depicted in Thelma and Louise, we aim to shed light on the realities of sexual assault, its impact on survivors, and the ongoing fight for change.

Watch the Trailer!

After the screening, filmmaker Jennifer Townsend will be joined by a panel of speakers for a compelling discussion that dives deeper into these critical topics and their relevance today.

Join us for a great intergenerational event!

Doors open at 1:45p - Screening to start at 2:30p

1:45p - Doors Open, Concessions, Info Booths

2:30p - Documentary Screening

4:00p - Panel Discussion

4:45p - Mingle

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Proceeds from this event will support Seattle NOW’s mission to fight sexual violence, advocate for gender equality and advance social justice initiatives in our community.

Let’s come together to honor this month of awareness, amplify voices, and inspire action.

Panelists

Paula Newman-Skomski, ARNP has been a RN for over 38 years in various capacities. She has spent the past 19 years as a Forensic Nurse Examiner with Providence Intervention Center for Assault & Abuse providing services to victims of all forms of interpersonal violence. She has been involved with the Snohomish County Sexual Exploitation Intervention Network since its inception in 2006 and was the chair from 2010 -2017. Paula is also the Founder and Board President for a project called Peoria Home which is a residential recovery program for women who have experienced exploitation through trafficking and prostitution.

Paula is passionate about providing services for victims, fighting to end interpersonal violence and human slavery. She has won several awards for her work including: March of Dimes Nurse of the Year 2010, Innovation/Creativity Category; The’ Spirit of Nursing’ from Providence Hospital 2014; ‘Inspiration in Women’s Health’ 2014 from the Nurse Practitioner’s in Women’s Health Association; ‘Community Champion’ 2014 from Molina Healthcare; March of Dimes Nurse of the year 2014 in Innovation and Technology; Providence Mission Award in 2015 & 2017; Providence “Values in Action” Award 2020; Seattle NOW SHERO Award 2021; and was nominated for the 2015 National Crime Victims' Service Awards from the US Office of Crime Victims and US Department of Justice. She was on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Forensic Nursing in 2022. She has been involved with Girl Scouts for over 30 years; is a veteran of the United States Air Force; and volunteered with the U. S. Department of Health following hurricane Katrina.

Braelah McGinnis is a dedicated prosecutor specializing in human trafficking, domestic violence, and child sexual exploitation cases. As a Prosecutor in the Human Trafficking/Commercial Sexual Exploitation Special Assault Unit at the King County Prosecutor’s Office, she leads complex investigations, prosecutes offenders, and works alongside law enforcement and community organizations to ensure survivors receive justice and support.

With both personal and professional experience in domestic violence, Braelah brings a survivor-centered approach to her work, confronting the legal and systemic challenges of gender-based violence. She continues to work closely with victims, advocates, and policymakers to push for meaningful legal reform and improved survivor protections.

A graduate of Seattle University School of Law, she was awarded the Charles Z. Smith Award for Leadership in Justice and Equality, recognizing her lifelong commitment to equity and public service. She also holds a B.S. in Psychology from Prairie View A&M University, where she was a standout student-athlete and leader.

Beyond the courtroom, Braelah is a recognized leader in the legal community, serving as Secretary of the ABA Criminal Justice Section Council, Co-Chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Committee, and former Northwest Regional Director of the National Black Prosecutors Association. She also serves on the National Black Prosecutors Special Victims Symposium Committee, helping to shape national conversations on prosecuting gender-based crimes.

A sought-after speaker and advocate, Braelah remains committed to elevating awareness and action around domestic violence and human trafficking, using both the law and public discourse to drive systemic change and survivor protection.

Mary Williams is a Community Advocate and a Seattle native, a Mother, a Substance Use Disorders Prevention Specialist, a Peer Counselor, a Certified Recovery Coach, a person in long term recovery and a Community Organizer.

She has recently launched the NW Black Women’s Consortium, a partnership of professional women of color who perform acts of service, connect and share resources professionally and most of all support each other. Her passion is sharing with women of color about the intersections of race/gender/poverty and the stress and barriers to women’s wellness, health and thriving.

Mary fights to reduce the reluctance people have regarding asking for help. Her goal is to eliminate the shame of facing struggles with mental health, substance abuse and violence. The most important thing is not to normalize these things, but to address them and to uncover them to reduce stigma.

During the pandemic she was hired as a seasoned Community Researcher with the Black Brilliance Project and King County Equity Now, She is a Policy Advocate on fire about equity, inclusion & participatory budgeting. She believes that reinvesting in families, tailoring solutions to communities, getting buy-in from multiple parties on concepts like restorative justice and alternatives to our current system of policing can create big changes. She is a believer in prevention and problem solving, holistically examining conflicts and communicating clearly with all invested parties. She strives to be at the forefront of organizations who are dedicated to recognizing the worth of every person. Everyone means everyone.

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