Esta Soler

Esta Soler (born 1947, Bridgeport, Connecticut, US) is the founder of the advocacy group Futures Without Violence.

Early life

Esta Soler was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1947. Soler graduated from Simmons College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968, then went on to obtain her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut.

Advocacy

Soler's passion for the advocacy against all forms of violence was sparked by a speech from Martin Luther King when he visited her hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut. She began working as a social worker in San Francisco, California in 1971 where she assisted women who were in a drug treatment program. As she helped the women in this program, she learned many of the women were battered and that their traumatic experiences were a leading factor for their drug abuse. While working with the women in the treatment program, Soler also learned that police officers did not take domestic violence reports seriously, and many times turned their backs and let the abusers walk away with no punishment. Once Soler was made aware of the many issues regarding domestic violence cases and how police departments did not enforce any laws pertaining to domestic violence, Soler was determined to make a difference.

Soler established the Family Violence Prevention Fund in San Francisco in 1980 to develop responses to domestic violence nationwide.^[1]

Soler's work to prevent violence against women has been featured on MAKERS, an interactive video and documentary project launched by AOL and PBS to showcase stories from trailblazing women.^[2] Soler delivered a TEDTalk charting 30 years of tactics and technologies—from the Polaroid camera to social media—that have shaped the movement to end domestic violence.^[3]

Recognition

Soler received the Koret Israel Prize in 1995, the Kellogg Foundation National Leadership Fellowship and the University of California Public Health Heroes Award in 1998, and was honored by the Center for the Advancement of Women for advancing the power of women worldwide in 2004. She is also the recipient of the Leadership Award from the Coro Center for Civic Leadership and the Mathew O. Tobriner Public Service Award from the Employment Law Center in San Francisco for pioneering work on behalf of women and children. Soler holds an honorary doctorate from Simmons College in Boston.

Advocacy Leadership

Esta Soler has built quite the reputation for her advocacy for domestic violence and her non-profit organization Futures Without Violence. Her impressive background has given her many opportunities to help other organizations and provide her services to help even more individuals. Soler is a trustee for the Blue Shield of California Foundation, which strives to better the lives of underprivileged Californians by making healthcare more accessible and ending domestic violence. She serves on the board of The Center for Family Policy and Practice, which provides more opportunities for low-income parents to help better the future for themselves and their families. Soler has been a consultant and/or advisor for various organizations including the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, the Aspen Institute, Soros Justice Fellowship Program, and many more. Soler was a member of the Violence Against Women National Advisory Council when it was co-chaired by Health & Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and Attorney General Janet Reno.^[1]

References