NSVRC Blogs

There are many different ways that communities and campuses choose to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). That's why we checked in with organizers from this past April to learn more about their events and the community response. Their responses help contextualize the planning process behind these events and also serve as an inspiration to future event planners.  Jacinda with The Philadelphia Prevention PartnershipPhiladelphia, PA Tell us about your event For SAAM 2019, the Philadelphia Prevention Partnership hosted RAPE CULTURE: It’s Not in Your JEANS! The event was an open

I’ve been having a lot of conversations with colleagues lately about community-level prevention. As our movement shifted over a decade ago toward a focus on primary prevention – stopping sexual violence before it has a chance to happen – many of us were inspired by this shift, which allowed us to do deeper work instead of one-time awareness presentations. Since this shift, much of our prevention efforts have focused on the individual and relationship levels of the social ecology - like challenging harmful attitudes and values, encouraging respectful peer behavior, and increasing positive

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center library is overflowing with great materials, containing more than 44,000 unique titles and growing every day. NSVRC staff members share four of the collection’s resources you might want to grab for your own library. Looking for research materials? Search the database at www.nsvrclibrary.org.  Soaring Above the Ashes: Thriving Beyond Childhood Sexual Abuse, Stories and Portraits by Emily Samuelson Author Emily Samuelson is an activist, psychologist, and survivor, and Soaring Above the Ashes is a fitting intersection of those three identities. The

By Susan SullivanPrevention Campaign Specialist, National Sexual Violence Resource Center For the past six years, the #30DaysofSAAM Instagram contest has been a popular and integral part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The contest encourages creative engagement around SAAM, generates conversations around sexual violence, consent, and healthy relationships, and – of course – awards prizes. One of the less obvious benefits of the contest is the sense of unity and strength that it generates among participants and those of us who are looking on.    The concept behind the contest is

By Virginia Perez-Ortega, Program Administrator for the community-based Crime Prevention Initiative at the Office of Bernalillo County District Attorney. It is unquestionable that the efforts to prevent sexual violence have increased and significantly improved over the years. Multiple strategies and approaches including campaigns (brochures, posters, social media tactics, and others.), community education curricula, etc. have been effectively used to reach masses of people and many layers of society. The root causes and solutions to end violence against women have been understood and

With contributions by Renee Bourque, Program Manager American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities experience disproportionate rates of sexual violence. According to the National Institute of Justice, more than half of AI/AN women and more than one in four AI/AN men have experienced any type of sexual violence in their lifetime. While AI/AN women are more likely than white female victims to need services, they are significantly less likely to receive those services.   The Tribal Resource Tool is one solution working to connect AI/AN victims of crime and abuse with the services and

As one door closes — a look back at the Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative (SADI) By Taylor Teichman Project Coordinator, National Sexual Violence Resource Center SADI came to a close this spring, building and reflecting upon ten years of collaborative creation and hard work. Over the past ten years, the SADI project has continued to ask dual/multi-service programs to be critically self-reflective about the very ways in which we have structured our programs and service models in order to enhance comprehensive services for sexual assault survivors.   What was the SADI and who

A conversation with Carolyn FornoAssistant Director, Women's Coalition of St. Croix September 4, 2018, marked the world premiere of Silence Speaks, Secrets Revealed, a weekly radio drama designed to educate about child sexual abuse prevention. For 26 weeks, the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix played the show across the airwaves, with each scripted episode followed up by a live call-in show to answer questions and let listeners know how to access support. NSVRC chatted with Carolyn Forno, the Assistant Director of the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix, about the creation of the show and its impact

Community Voices For every issue of The Resource, we reach out to you, our partners and community members, to learn more about your work in the movement. We asked: What changes has your program seen since #MeToo?   We’ve seen fewer women apologize for needing our services! Women are now less likely to say, “Oh well, I’m sure someone has it worse than me!” -Verity, Sonoma County’s Rape Crisis Center   Creating a position for prevention! -Alla Hassan   Both of the women’s trauma groups are full and the men’s is close behind... -Alli Ramirez    So many friends and even

This April, RALIANCE held its inaugural Honors Awards event to celebrate leaders who are working to create a world free of sexual harassment and assault. This event, held in Washington, DC, recognized four individuals who have made change in services, policies, and industry standards.  The 2019 Honors Awards recipients were:  Dr. Christine Ford, RALIANCE Person of the Year  Last September, Dr. Ford testified in the confirmation hearing of Justice Brett Kavanuagh. Her decision to share her experience shed light on the way we respond to and support survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Her