April is Sexual Assault Awareness month (SAAM).
“It’s impossible to prevent an issue no one knows about, and it’s difficult to make people aware of a problem without providing a solution. The two work in tandem, and they always have. From the civil rights movement to the founding of the first rape crisis centers to national legislation and beyond, the roots of SAAM run deep”. www.nsvrc.org
What we know is that awareness plus action equals change. Awareness is not enough, but it is where we have to start… awareness that sexual assault happens right here in Pagosa Springs. Rise served 32 victims of sexual assault in 2021; there we know there are so many more that do not reach out for help.
Every 73 seconds someone is sexually assaulted in the US, and that every nine minutes that person is a child. That is 35,490 people every 30 days! 1 in 4 women and 1 in 71 men will be a victim of rape in their lifetime. That is to many people. Awareness tells us these numbers, it tells us that if you are sitting in a college classroom women, ages 18-24 are 3 times more likely to experience sexual assault that women of any other age. www.Rainn.org
So what do we do once we know? That is the action. What action can we take as a community to impact change? You can speak up and call out inappropriate jokes or comments that make our society numb to the violence. You can make your workplace safe for employees to report sexual harassment or assault. You can intervene.
You can show up for people in your life that have experienced this trauma.
“As long as there have been people who care about making the world a better place, there have been individuals advocating for sexual assault prevention. In the United States, movements for social change and equality began to gain traction in the 1940s and 50s with the civil rights era. Although open discussion of the realities of sexual assault and domestic violence were limited at these times, activists for equal rights began to challenge the status quo.” www.nsvrc.org
During April every year we have a line up of events to raise awareness, to raise funds to support survivors, some where you can take action, some do all three. Please join us for one or more of our events.
Month long push-up challenge. Our challengers have pledged to do push-ups the month of April. Our goal is to reach 35,490 to represent the number of people who will be sexual assaulted in the month of April. We are working to raise $15,000 to provide supportive services to survivors in Archuleta County. You can still sign up to be a challenger or you can support an individual or team to meet their fundraising goal. https://secure.frontstream.com/30-day-push-up-challenge-2022
Thursday April 21 at 9am: Coffee Talk highlighting awareness activities at the Tennyson Event Center
Thursday April 21 at 5pm: Town Proclamation declaring April Sexual Assault Awareness – during the town council meeting.
Wednesday April 27 at 12 noon at the bell tower. Denim Day Walk. What is Denim Day? It is a symbolic gesture of solidarity against sexual violence, we meet and take a walk around main street to show victims and survivors they are not alone.
Stay up to date and get more information by checking out the website at riseaboveviolence.org
You can also help by sharing all month long and beyond on your social media accounts. It is important to ensure that those who are experiencing violence know that there is help. By keeping Rise in everyone’s news feeds we can send a very clear message to those that see the posts that they are not alone.
You can volunteer for Rise. If you have time right now to consider volunteering to answer hotline calls, Rise offers volunteer training online. You can contact Rise at 970-264-9075 or email Latina, our volunteer coordinator at latina@riseaboveviolence.org.
Rise will respond to every call 24/7; the hotline is 970-264-9075.
If you are in a position to give financially, Rise can use your support. You can support a push-up challenger, you can give on our website, and you can also sign up to be part of our Snowball Club. The Snowball Club is a monthly gift of ten dollars or more. $10 supports one crisis call, so by signing up to be a monthly donor you are ensuring support for our 24/7 crisis support line all year long.
Join with Rise Above Violence in offering a collective voice that says sexual assault is not acceptable in our community. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is intended to draw attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and has public health implications for every community member of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County. By participating with Rise in this month activities you are giving voice to victims in our community and making a clear statement that sexual violence will not be accepted in Pagosa.
Rise Above Violence is a non-profit organization which promotes the belief that all people have the right to live free from violence. Rise provides 24-hour support and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or other forms of violence, serving over 350 victims each year. Rise also works to eliminate violence through education for youth and our community. All programs and services are free and confidential including emergency prevention education and empowerment programs.
Visit www.riseaboveviolence.org for more information or call 970-264-9075 to talk to an advocate today.
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