Our Story & Team
Our Story
In 1989, Sonia's 24-year-old sister Debbie was murdered by her boyfriend after he came home unexpectedly and found her packing to leave. Debbie had been in a mentally and emotionally abusive relationship without realizing it until it was too late.
Years later, as Sonia's own daughter began dating in high school, Sonia looked into what schools were teaching about healthy relationships — and found nothing. The statistics were staggering: up to 10 million kids are exposed to domestic violence each year, one in three young people ages 11–24 are in an abusive or unhealthy relationship, and one in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped, or hurt by a partner. Sonia knew that stopping the cycle of abuse had to start with educating young people.
In 2017, she partnered with her local state assembly member to introduce Assembly Bill 643, mandating domestic violence education in California public high school health classes. Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law on October 7, 2017.
Turning her sister's loss into purpose, Sonia founded the Empowerment Project, dedicated to preventing intimate partner violence through education — empowering people to build healthy relationships and break the cycle of abuse.
Meet Sonia
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Sonia McClellin is the Founder and President of The Empowerment Project, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing intimate partner abuse through education and awareness. After losing her sister Debbie to intimate partner abuse in 1989, Sonia turned her grief into purpose, championing AB 643, the California law requiring dating violence education in public schools. Through youth workshops, professional training’s, and community outreach, Sonia’s mission is to break the cycle of abuse and empower others to recognize the warning signs before it’s too late.
VICE PRESIDENT
Jennifer M. Khalifa Ponce, MSW, CHES, holds a Master of Social Work from Boston University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. For 15 years, she has developed and led local and national IPV prevention programs, including H.E.A.R.T., a leading teen dating violence prevention initiative, along with programs addressing inclusivity, healthy masculinity, and restorative justice. A sought-after expert on intimate partner violence, Jennifer has been featured on The Doctors, in The Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register, and frequently speaks at schools, universities, and national conferences.