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Jane Doe Inc. Presents 2025 Visionary Voice Award to
Kishana Osei, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women of Color Network
BOSTON, April 10 – Kishana Osei, Executive Director at the Massachusetts Women of Color Network (MAWOCN), has been named a recipient of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s (NSVRC) 2025 Visionary Voice Award. Jane Doe Inc. (JDI), the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, presented the award to Osei on April 8, 2025 at their offices in Boston, MA. Advocates and colleagues from across Massachusetts and throughout the field of sexual assault and domestic violence prevention and intervention gathered together to celebrate Kishana and mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month in support of survivors and safety and equity for all.
Visionary Voice Award recipient Kishana Osei (center with flowers), Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women of Color Network (MAWOCN), surrounded by staff from JDI, MAWOCN board members, and other friends. (Photo courtesy of JDI)
JDI nominated Kishana in recognition of her 13 years of expertise and commitment to survivor communities, advocates in the field, and her work advancing racial justice in the movement to end sexual violence. As the Executive Director of MAWOCN, Kishana has spearheaded initiatives that have statewide impact. She leads the Keeping Black Survivors Alive (KBSA) cohort, a powerful collaboration of five BIPOC-led, community-based organizations from across Massachusetts. Together, this dedicated team has co-created the groundbreaking KBSA Multimedia 40-Hour Culturally Specific Training Toolkit, designed to equip service providers with the tools and knowledge to better support and uplift Black survivors.
“Kishana embodies the vision and voice we need to promote healing and help communities thrive. Her deep commitment to creating access to culturally responsive services for sexual assault survivors is needed now more than ever,” Jane Doe Inc. Executive Director and 2019 Visionary Voice honoree Hema Sarang-Sieminski noted. “The Jane Doe Inc. (JDI) team is continuously inspired by Kishana’s leadership and brilliance.”
“Receiving the Visionary Voice Award from NSVRC and JDI is more than a personal achievement; it is a shared celebration of the communities I serve and the voices I strive to uplift,” Kishana said. “It is an affirmation that our work, centered in community, healing, and justice, is both seen and valued. I am proud to serve, deeply motivated, and committed to creating spaces where survivors and Women of Color are supported, empowered, and heard. This recognition fuels me to do more.”
Kishana Osei (right), Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women of Color Network (MAWOCN), with JDI Executive Director Hema Sarang-Sieminski after receiving the 2025 Visionary Voice Award. (Photo courtesy of JDI)
Kishana is also the Overnight Residential Counselor at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and was one of 40 innovative changemakers recognized as a Boston Women’s Fund Leading Us Toward Liberation Honoree.
Every Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, NSVRC offers the Visionary Voice Award to recognize the creativity and hard work of individuals around the country who have demonstrated outstanding work to end sexual violence. To learn more about these awards, visit: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/visionary-voice-awards
About JDI
JDI (Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence) is the only statewide membership and advocacy coalition in Massachusetts dedicated to addressing sexual and domestic violence. We aim to support survivors and end violence by promoting gender equity, racial justice, and safety for everyone. JDI’s mission is to complement and support the expertise and leadership of our 60 community-based member organizations with a statewide strategy involving public and private partners to tackle systemic issues that foster and perpetuate violence, to create policies and explore innovative solutions that improve the lives of survivors, and to prevent gender-based violence. To learn more visit https://janedoe.org.