In honor of the University’s 125th anniversary, we offer an in-depth profile of Esta Soler ’68, ’06HD, President of Futures Without Violence (FUTURES). Based in San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C., this nonprofit organization aims to prevent violence against women and families.
“Being a visionary leader means you have a vision to include others,” says Esta Soler ’68, ’06HD. “When you are working toward social change, this is especially true … and this is something I learned from my family and from Simmons.”
Soler is the President of Futures Without Violence (FUTURES), a nationwide organization that aims to prevent violence against women and children that was officially founded in 1989 (then called the Family Violence Prevention Fund), under the auspices of the city of San Francisco.
As she explains, “during the ’80s, the federal government had allocated very few resources for women and children who were being hurt and harmed.” FUTURES’ mission is to provide “groundbreaking programs, policies, and campaigns that empower individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and children around the world.”
More recently, FUTURES began offering diverse educational and training programs, including health resources, webinars, and podcasts. “We are also very much a policy organization,” Soler adds. “We work toward changing the culture, norms, and systems … And we hold ourselves to the highest standard to make a difference.”
When FUTURES was renamed in 2010, the organization focused on ending violence and abuse today and strengthening families and communities to stop future violence before it starts. “Our goal is to enable all individuals to live without fear of assault and harm. As an organization, we aim to prevent intergenerational trauma, which means looking more at early childhood,” Soler says.
A Childhood Immersed in Activism
“I see myself as an advocate for women and kids,” says Soler. “I got this drive from my mom and dad … I feel lucky that my parents were my [moral] guide.”
Raised in a family of Ashkenazi Jewish émigrés, “I grew up with social justice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” Soler says. “My parents were extraordinary people who taught me that we have to work to make the world better; it’s not just for ourselves, but for our communities.”
In Soler’s view, her mother was an “organizer extraordinaire,” with a talent for bringing people together to volunteer at the synagogue and local food banks. Soler also recalls her mother hosting Friday night dinners where Holocaust survivors were among the guests.
“Having these experiences at a young age instilled in me a desire to fight for justice. I did not want that to happen to our [Jewish] people. I did not want that to happen to any people,” she says.
De-Privatizing Domestic Violence
One of Soler’s earliest major milestones was helping to finalize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), first authorized in 1984.
“In the early 1980s, I was one of the sole advocates out there walking the Halls of Congress with my new heels,” Soler remembers. “I tapped on the doors of people who passed this legislation and helped get it over the finish line. It was clear to us who were part of that national initiative that there were no federal resources to do the work [supporting women and children] that people were curating in their community.”
The FVPSA legislation was groundbreaking for moving domestic violence from a private family matter into the public sphere. This legislation provides “lifesaving services for victims of domestic violence and their children, including emergency shelters, crisis hotlines, counseling, and programs for underserved communities.” Under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services, FVPSA operates nationally and within Indigenous communities and US territories.
“We were taking something very private and silent and putting it out there in plain sight,” Soler explains. “Before FVPSA, people assumed that domestic abuse was a private problem and was not for public concern.” In a 2013 TEDWomen talk, Soler recounted how one Congressman referred to their bill as the “Take the Fun Out of Marriage Act.” In such a challenging political climate, Soler realized that she had more work to do.
Fortunately, former United States Representative George Miller (California) was a significant ally of Soler and her fellow activists. Congressman Miller was instrumental in codifying FVPSA into law, which was the first legislation in the country to fund shelters and services for women and children in the community who had been victimized by domestic violence.
“We were the architects [of this bill], along with our colleagues in Congress and their staff,” says Soler. “Today, FVPSA provides over $200 million per year, or billions of dollars over the last four decades. We are so proud of that.” On October 29, 2024, Soler and her collaborators celebrated the bill’s fortieth anniversary in Washington, D.C.
A Turning Point in Women’s History Turns 30
Following the success of FVPSA, Soler and her team were deeply involved in crafting another historic piece of legislation, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Championed by then Senator Joe Biden and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994, VAWA creates and supports “comprehensive, cost-effective responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.”
In a September 2024 article in Ms. Magazine, Soler declared VAWA a major turning point in United States history: “As we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act … it’s worth remembering one lesson that law teaches: Progress is possible.”
During the 1990s, Soler recalls that (then) Senator Joe Biden “surrounded himself with a group of extraordinary female lawyers, and together they were the architects of the bill. I was part of a small but mighty group of advocates for female victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and children who were impacted by these crimes.” In September 2024, Soler visited the White House to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of VAWA with President Biden and other key collaborators.
Since the passing of VAWA, (reported) adult domestic violence and sexual assault rates have decreased by over 60%. Moreover, Soler observes that the popular press and media are now much more invested in covering these topics. A self-confessed “data nerd,” Soler realizes the significance of these shifts and statistics. “Overall, we have seen a significant reduction [of harm against women], and the story went from the back page to the front page … So, I can say that we are really having an impact,” she says.
In recent years, Soler extended her programming to include resources for boys and men. “Our group had a conversation with President Biden … about how men can be involved with our movement,” she recounts. “That’s when our organization, Futures Without Violence, created Coaching Boys into Men [CBIM].” Soler partnered with the National High School Athletic Coaches Association and launched a major campaign with the Ad Council to spread the word about CBIM. This program, which the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends, is one of the few in the nation proven to reduce relationship abuse in high schools.
“We want to make sure that as we continue to progress, we invite men into the conversation, not indict them,” Soler explains. “If someone harms another, they should be held accountable, but we also want to empower others to do the right thing and invite them to collaborate with us.” CBIM now operates in every state and has extended its reach internationally.
Leadership Training at Simmons
Looking back at the time when Soler applied to college as a first-generation student, she admits not knowing precisely what she was doing. Since she had relatives in Boston and some older friends recommended Simmons, Soler decided it could be a good fit for her. “I was open-minded about the women’s-centered learning environment … And I am so glad that I chose Simmons,” she says.
At Simmons, Soler majored in psychology. “I was interested in the counseling and scientific-related aspects of this discipline, which involve how to effect change … I like the idea where you can create environments that can help bring about social change, and I think that I have applied this in my work going forward,” she says.
During her time at Simmons, Soler was active in the Student Government Association (SGA). “This experience was a training ground for leadership,” she says. “Being in conversations with people and putting your agenda on the table — even if they don’t agree with you — was an important exercise in negotiation and compromise.”
Attending a women’s college proved instrumental in shaping Soler’s capacity to lead. “Simmons was such a supportive environment for our development as future leaders. I am such a fangirl of women’s colleges.”
Soler’s most cherished Simmons-related memory occurred off campus, years after her graduation. In 2014, she was sitting in the PBS studio waiting room before an interview with former NewsHour anchor Judy Woodruff. “Suddenly I saw Gwen Ifill, and I told her about our connection to Simmons,” Soler recalls. “She lit up, and was just lovely … To be able to greet and thank someone as iconic as Gwen Ifill was one of my greatest honors. It was a time that I still hold close to my heart.”
In 1995, Soler received the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the Simmons University Alumnae/i Association. In 2006, Simmons awarded her with an Honorary Doctorate. “I was absolutely thrilled [about the honorary doctorate],” she says. “I have had a number of gifts of recognition in my career, but this one is particularly special.”
On November 13, 2024, members of the Simmons community joined Soler at FUTURES’ San Francisco office for the University’s 125th Anniversary Regional Leadership Tour. For this event, President Lynn Perry Wooten moderated a panel discussion on domestic violence entitled “Founded for Equality, Built for Courage.” The panelists included Soler, CEO of End Rape on Campus Kenyora [Parham] Johnson ’10, and Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students Rae-Anne Butera.
“I loved being part of an intergenerational dialogue with women who will be making a difference in years to come,” Soler reflects. “It was an honor to share the dais with Kenyora and Rae-Anne. And listening to their voices was a reminder of the importance of women’s colleges. Simmons is a place where women’s leadership is nurtured and supported.”
Advice for Future Activists
In the 1990s, Soler participated in the prestigious Kellogg Foundation National Leadership Fellowship program. “We were put in rooms with people who challenged me. I met Senator Ted Kennedy, [Former Congresswoman] Pat Schroeder, and others … I realized that you learn best when you are around extraordinary people.” Therefore, Soler advises Simmons students to surround themselves with smart people and to seek out mentors who will help them grow intellectually and professionally.
Ultimately, Soler believes in taking risks. “I think that risk-taking is one of the central tenets of leadership. And always be true to yourself and your values. Never be afraid to put yourself in difficult situations; don’t go narrow, go wide.”