MEET OUR BOARD

As the founder of https://aretheyabusive.org Nicollette Zupo is committed to working closely with our judicial system and communities.  

Nicollette's personal experiences involving domestic violence has helped her to understand what needs to be changed so our communities and families no longer need to suffer from abuse.  

Nicollette's main focus is in creating a public registry that mimics Megan's Law, yet is solely focused on domestic violence abusers/ stalkers- basically anyone that has had to be restrained by the court system due to any type of abuse that was found to be fact.   

Nicollette is also hoping to change the way the family court system views abuse in respect to parental custody.  Statistics show that abusive parents create abusive children, and by changing the way the Courts handle custody with abusive parents, we can collectively stop the cycle of abuse from reoccurring.  Nicollette can be contacted directly through the website. 

Anabel has spent the last 14 years partnering up with law enforcement and sexual assault survivors advocating for battered women, abused children and youth.  She has made it her life-long mission to not only support and advocate for children, but also for anyone else who is currently going through, or has experienced similar and traumatic situations.    

Anabel is a mentor, spokesperson, and in addition to Are They Abusive, serves as a Founding Board Member for the Placer Justice Foundation, a nonprofit organization that  was established to provide financial support to bridge the gap in victim services, fund outreach and awareness campaigns, and empower our community’s voices to inspire others. She is also a Board Member for Drive4Impact, which is a charity to assist victims of trafficking, domestic violence, and hardship via event fundraising led by Ken Byrnes and team.  

Sacramento is one of the top US cities for human trafficking in the country. It’s our goal to positively IMPACT victims, change lives, and create better, safer communities.  

Anabel has been featured on several magazines and on a TV show called The Rundown. She was a co-host of the radio show version of The Rundown and how hosts her own podcast/ radio show in Sacramento, CA. Anabel has also appeared on numerous newscasts as a local and very vocal advocate.

She is an ambassador, alumni mentor, and national spokesperson, and has been a member of the speakers’ bureau for her alma mater, American Intercontinental University; amongst many other roles of noteworthy status; and as of 2020, was successful in terminating the parental rights of her ex-husband who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence as a convicted sex offender.  

Anabel has high hopes in shifting the lens and views in which sexual abuse/violence is not categorized as domestic violence -- SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.    She would love to pass laws that will help mitigate violent sexual offenders from re-offending in society. She wants to help build a society where it is okay to talk freely about the hurt, pain, and anguish that sexual violence has caused them. Anabel wants to remove the stigma and put the shame and blame back on the perpetrators of the violence who caused it -- where it belongs.  

Anabel’s goals and partnering up with the organizations she works with, are to meet survivors and their families where they are. When the family is whole, the healing can really take shape and form their future into something wonderful- despite the circumstances.   Anabel provides event planning, recruitment, training, support, technical assistance, and outreach for program volunteers and the rest of her experiences can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1anabelvelasquez/ 

Ms. Kerlow holds a masters in human rights education, and is currently finishing her doctorate of education at University of San Francisco. 

She is involved in both local and international research and advocacy efforts; specifically with California Protective Parenting Association, Are They Abusive, Mama Bear Collective, and Backbone Collective.  

She terms herself a “single mother-DV survivor-activist-scholar.” She has been, and continues to be, inspired and humbled by those ordinarily extraordinary women in her life; namely survivor warrior mamas who work tirelessly to protect, honor, and nurture their children. 

As a survivor of domestic violence she is never the less continuously subjected to her abuser through the court ordered and court sanctioned violence against her children, as her abuser still retains 50-50 custody. 

Her deep belief is that in order to address the myriad human rights violations taking place against women and children in the family court and greater society, we must create, support, and embrace survivor-led initiatives, organizations, and legislation. Her greatest joy and accomplishment is mothering her five incredible children. 

Caitlin is currently finishing her master's in forensic psychology degree and plans to pursue her Psy.D. in the future. After surviving domestic violence in an 8-year relationship that she entered into at a young age, she has transitioned her goals and aspirations into the legal system and making a difference for victims and survivors of any form of abuse. 

She was battling two unbelievable and traumatic court cases, which involved her two-year-old daughter that she shares with her abuser and had an extremely horrific awakening of how much change needed to be made in the legal system and within domestic violence education and interventions. She is passionate about helping those around her, providing space for those who want their voices heard, and encouraging accountability and safety within systems that involve victims and survivors. She was a Nursing student at the time of her case and realized that her place was with the community of people who needed their stories and voices to be heard. Having knowledge and experience in both Criminal and Family Court, she has been able to direct her knowledge towards improving what society perceives as domestic violence and how to prevent the abuse cycle within families. 

She is currently in a 50/50 custody arrangement with her and her child's abuser, but she has overcome many obstacles and traumas that have brought her to a place of confidence and strength to help those who may be going through the same unjust afflictions. She believes that every survivor should feel empowered enough to speak their truth and be the leaders for the path of change. She believes that her work within her education can provide both support, encouragement, tools, and healing for those who are or have been exposed to any form of abuse. 

She is a mommy and wife first, a student always, and a hope-filled human indefinitely.