Did you know that certain identities and experiences can increase risk for experiencing sexual assault, abuse, and harassment? Immigrant families, people living in poverty, people living through housing instability, children, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ folks all experience noticeably higher rates of sexual violence compared to the general population. With this in mind, and keeping with our SARCCitude series, we will honor the efforts of local organizations working to create safe spaces for at-risk communities.
SARCCitude =
A positive mindset where one feels appreciative and inspired to return kindness to someone who works at, for, or with SARCC.
There’s dozens of these powerful community partners, so we are going to take a handful to share with you here today. In alphabetical order:
Avenues : “Avenues is a nonprofit organization committed to changing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Avenues, formerly United Cerebral Palsy, has been serving Schuylkill County and the surrounding areas since 1952. As a human service organization we are committed to providing quality services that enhance the lives of the individuals we serve. In doing so, we offer a wide variety of programs that reach people from birth to an elderly age in Schuylkill, Carbon, Northumberland, Lebanon, and Luzerne Counties.” Avenues is also a fellow Schuylkill United Way Partner Agency.
Compeer: “Compeer of Lebanon County focuses on supportive friendships for our friends and neighbors living with mental health challenges within three programs:
The Compeer Adult program exists to match caring adults in one-to-one supportive friendships with people who are in mental health recovery.
CompeerCORPS is an extension of the traditional Compeer model and our Adult program and is designed to serve Veterans in the Lebanon community who are in mental health recovery.
The Compeer Youth program began in 2019 and offers mentoring services to children in schools across Lebanon County. Partnering with Big Brothers Big sisters of the Capital Region, we partner high school students with elementary and middle school youth in a one-to-one mentoring relationship during the school day.”
Juntos de Lebanon: Juntos de Lebanon was established in 2007 formally, and has been providing supportive services including housing support, educational, health, and job advocacy, cultural programs and services, and emergency financial assistance to immigrant community members since that time. Juntos has provided targeted education to every staff member of SARCC and many other leaders in healthcare and social services settings.
Migrant Education Programs: “The Migrant Education Program provide instructional and support services to children in Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Our purpose is to support the academic development of migrant students who have moved into the local public schools and to help them achieve the same high standards as those students who have not experienced an interruption in their education caused by their migrant lifestyle.”
LGBT Center of Greater Reading in Lebanon: “The LGBT Center of Greater Reading creates, administers, and provides services, advocacy, and support to the Greater Reading LGBTQ+ community, including our allies, with the goal that all may live a life of fulfillment, inclusion, and celebration.” For the past 5 years, SARCC partnered with the LGBT center to provide training, groups, and community programs. We currently offer our Creative Hearts group onsite at their Lebanon Satellite, and have been partnering on community meals, events, and programs.
NAACP of Lebanon and NAACP of Schuylkill: both Schuylkill and Lebanon County have a local chapter of the national NAACP rights organization. According to the national website, “The mission of the NAACP is to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.
We envision an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.” Anti-racism and social transformation are at the core of sexual violence prevention, and working in community to solve these big issues is important.
WEPA Empowerment Center: “Education & Training Services at low cost. WEPA! Working to Empower People for Advancement serves all of Lebanon County.
Servicios de educación y capacitación a bajo costo. Trabajando para empoderar a las personas para el avance. ¡WEPA! Sirviendo a todo el condado de Lebanon.”
Youth Empowerment & Support LGBT Center: “Youth Empowerment & Support is dedicated to providing a judgement-free, empathic, compassionate, and safe space for the LGBTQIA+ youth of our community. Our organization strives to guide and assist each individual through the process of becoming their truest selves.” Coordinating Schuylkill County PrideFest since 2020 and key partners in offering LGBTQ+ affirming training and groups with SARCC through our STOP project, this organization strives to create safe, informed spacers for Schuylkill County youth and adults.
Each of the organizations here does targeted work to create safer spaces for populations in our community. Take a few moments to dive deeper into one program area that speaks to your interests and issues you care about. There are many ways to get involved in positive social change locally. We need all of us to create safer communities. SARCC is grateful for their work.
