With nearly a decade of service, LaQuisha Anthony, the Acting Executive Director of WOAR (Women Organized Against Rape), brings a deeply personal commitment to leading Philadelphia’s only rape crisis center. “My introduction to WOAR was actually through survivor services,” she shares, explaining that she first accessed the organization’s support before becoming a volunteer and eventually a staff member. She now oversees an organization whose mission is “to eliminate all forms of sexual violence through specialized treatment services, comprehensive prevention education programs, and advocacy for the rights of victims of sexual assault.”
WOAR’s work spans a wide range of survivor-centered services, many of which intersect directly with the criminal justice system. The organization provides court accompaniment in partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, ensuring that survivors have support and advocacy as they navigate the criminal justice system. It also offers medical accompaniment during forensic exams, and offers 24/7 hotline access to crisis counselors.
“Anyone can call at any point in their experience, whether it had been last night or 25 years ago,” she added.
Beyond crisis response, WOAR engages in prevention education from pre-kindergarten through professional settings, addressing issues from bullying to sexual assault. WOAR also helps advance legislation that strengthens protections for survivors. These efforts reflect what she describes as “an array of different trainings for all individuals” under the broader goal of ending sexual violence.
Over time, Anthony moved from prevention educator to Advocacy Coordinator, where she founded the Survivor Advocate Program to help individuals “shape their stories to create change.” Her advocacy extended to Harrisburg, where she played a role in legislative reform, including efforts to expand the statute of limitations for survivors. Now, as Acting Executive Director, she carries forward that mission with urgency and empathy.
“We see you, we hear you, and we believe you,” she says, addressing survivors directly. “We will do all three, and we will help to support them through navigating the process after an experience with sexual violence.”