Haylee Cole | Public Speaker
Haylee Cole
Domestic Violence: I choose to be her voice
A dynamic keynote speaker, Haylee Cole empowers youth, law enforcement, and survivors to break the silence and speak out against domestic violence. Through powerful storytelling and impactful advocacy, she inspires courage, fosters understanding, and promotes meaningful change in communities.
Meet Haylee
Haylee Cole is an advocate for domestic violence awareness. She was born to two parents - one loving and one abusive. As a result, she was a victim of domestic violence at a young age. Her mother was murdered by her father in Pierre, South Dakota when she was just 12 years old. She worked closely with law enforcement in Pierre through all the court proceedings and still keeps in touch with them today.
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Since 2008, Haylee has taken every opportunity to speak out on behalf of Domestic Violence victims. She has traveled across the country speaking to schools, law enforcement, and community events. Haylee served on the National Youth Advisory Board for loveisrespect.org from 2011-2016. In 2016, she gave a TEDx talk "Domestic Violence: I Choose to be her Voice" that told her and her mom's story. The story has been featured on Dateline, The Devil Speaks, and Framed by the Killer.
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Haylee has turned her story from tragedy into triumph. She shares a story about domestic violence, working closely with law enforcement, and inspires others to overcome trauma.
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Haylee's Mission
Her Story
Haylee Cole has been an advocate for domestic violence awarness since her life changed as a result of domestic violence. Both Haylee and her mother became victims to domestic violence in early 2006. Over the next years, Haylee was involved in the criminal justice system in a manner unlike most other 12 year olds, as she worked regularly with investigators, prosecutors, and ultimately the court and the jury.
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Haylee now speaks at high schools, law enforcement and social work trainings, and awareness events, sharing powerful insights into the investigation and trial following her mother's tragic death, inspiring others to seek justice and break the cycle of violence. This is a unique perspective directly from a young victim that discusses her thoughts as the investigation, trial and the impact law enforcement had from the perspective of a 12 year old girl to now a grown woman with a family of her own. Haylee will also discuss how and why she was compelled to take on the role for domestic violence awareness at an early age and how she continues to be involved in advocacy.