Your Voice is Heard Foundation to host first all-indigenous fashion show in Boise
In 2018, the day before her assault case was to be heard by a grand jury, Samantha Townsend was notified her case had been dropped.
After taking some time to heal, she realized sharing her story could be an inspiration to other survivors and create the sense of community she hoped to find. At 19, Townsend founded the Your Voice is Heard Foundation (YVH) to bring survivors together through fashion shows.
“I created the fashion show as a way to heal in a unique way, as well as give the opportunity to other survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to heal in the same way and share their story and have a creative outlet,” Townsend said.
Townsend has worked in the modeling industry since she was 16, so she said using fashion shows to bring people together came naturally. After the first fashion show in 2019, the nonprofit’s presence grew. The fashion shows, which raise funds for nonprofits like the Women’s and Children’s Alliance, became an annual event.
According to Townsend, many women don’t report domestic violence or sexual assault out of fear they won’t be believed. She chose the name ‘Your Voice is Heard’ the foundation aims to help survivors gain confidence and find an outlet to share their stories.
At YVH fashion shows, survivors can both walk the runway and speak to the crowd, giving them a chance to be heard and feel empowered.
“Our survivors have the opportunity to meet with other survivors, have that community and give each other encouragement leading into the show,” Townsend said. “When they speak at the show, it can be a poem, it can be a song. It doesn’t have to be directly their story, but that helps survivors get that energy out and feel heard.”
“That’s the most important part, is being heard, because so many times voices go unheard, or survivors feel like they’re silenced,” Townsend added.
In November, YVH is hosting a pop-up event to promote another issue close to Townsend’s heart, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP).
Townsend is an Acoma Pueblo Native American, and November is Native American Heritage Month. YVH will be hosting the first-ever all-indigenous fashion show in Boise to support MMIP, or Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.
“[MMIP] refers to the ongoing crisis of violence, disappearances and murders that disproportionately affect indigenous communities, particularly women and children,” Townsend explained. “As a whole, it seeks to raise awareness and demand justice and drive change.”
Townsend explained this mission aligns with YVH’s core values and advocacy for those affected by social issues. The fashion show will feature all indigenous models, designers and vendors, and the money raised will go to the Idaho Indigenous Alliance.
While organizing the event, YVH leadership noted how the Indigenous community came together in great strength to support the cause.
“It’s really inspiring to see the indigenous community come together and speak out on what has been a systemic problem for quite a long time,” said Heaven Knight, YVH secretary and treasurer. Knight said she isn’t a part of the indigenous community herself, but the cause resonates deeply with her as a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence.
“As much as I love the indigenous community, I can’t understand what it’s like, so getting to see it from this perspective on the production end, and how much love and time [Townsend] has put into it is amazing,” Knight said.
Townsend’s sister, Summer Townsend, is the Vice President and Outreach Coordinator for YVH. She highlighted the enthusiasm the indigenous community shared about the MMIP pop-up event.
“The indigenous community might be small in Boise, but it is super strong,” Summer Townsend said. “By doing this pop-up event for MMIP awareness, I think it’ll foster a larger community and bring to the forefront that there is an indigenous community in Boise and that we’re here for each other.”
Summer Townsend added she feels “overwhelming gratitude” for the many people who stepped up to help organize the event. Boise State University’s Intertribal Council will volunteer at the show.
“I want this event to not only bring awareness to MMIP, but also to what YVH stands for and that we’re a resource,” Summer Townsend said.
The MMIP pop-up fashion show will take place on November 29 at 4619 W Emerald St. in Boise. Tickets are available for purchase on the YVH website and seats are limited.
YVH will host their next annual fashion show in 2026, continuing to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Summer Townsend said the foundation hopes to broaden its reach, empowering survivors beyond the Treasure Valley.
“When you give victims a voice and give them their autonomy back, it’s really empowering for them and other victims,” Summer Townsend said. “It’s so inspiring to see it give their power back, because that was once taken from them.”
