Focus: Welcoming Sexual Assault Awareness Month by exploring how education and awareness lay the foundation for prevention.
Dear friends, I write today from a place of deep gratitude and appreciation for each member of our community who has courageously tirelessly, shared their stories, navigated their healing journey, and paved the way, so that others will not feel the pain, shame, rejection, and heartache that often comes after experiencing sexual assault. Sexual assault awareness month is observed in April each year and has been for decades.
It should outrage us that we still need to raise awareness that sexual assault is a common and widespread experience in our community. In fact, it outraged the early advocates who decided that it was time to say no more to sexual violence. It outrages the survivor who feels they have no voice on their college campus when they try to get help after an assault. It outrages the parent of a child who is violated by a person that they loved, trusted, and welcomed into their home. it outrages, the shelter worker who sees the same young man coming in and out seeking a safe night after a lifetime of nights that hurt. It outrages the school teacher who is afraid to send a child home, but doesn’t know what else to do to keep them safe. It outrages the nurse at the emergency department who needs to stop everything to help a survivor navigate through an exam that feels invasive, depleting, and demoralizing, all because of the violence that another person chose to cause them.
Friends, we should be mad. We should be mad and we should use that anger to fuel our drive for awareness and prevention. There is not a single person who works with Sarcc, receive services, takes a police report, provides medical care, or works to build safe school environments who wants to see this continue to happen in our communities.
What we know now after decades of advocacy work, research on prevention, and strategies implemented to help our community understand this outrageous violence is that it doesn’t have to continue. This April, get mad that it’s still sexual assault awareness month. But, friends, we need you to use that anger to be a voice for change. Dedicate the time and attention to learning something new, attending one of our community events, gathering donations for our new housing program, or hosting a workshop at your school, organization, or workplace. Be the change you want to see in the community so that we don’t have to be mad that sexual assault exists any longer.
