Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is more than just a monthly observance. It’s a time to demonstrate a willingness to learn about sexual violence, spread awareness in one’s community, show support for survivors you do know and have yet to meet, and ensure that the conversations had during April are part of an ongoing conversation...

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is a time for survivors, advocates, and allies to come together, spread awareness, and promote the prevention of sexual violence. This year, our campaign “Building Connected Communities” emphasizes that creating environments free of sexual violence is only possible when we approach the issue on a community level. College campuses are...

Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in the community. SAAM aims to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.  The theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024 is Building Connected Communities, a campaign that helps us reduce...

The Deaf community exists subtly. They don’t look or act differently, but they do communicate with a completely different language than most hearing Americans are used to. American Sign Language (ASL) was developed in the 1800’s and has made many strides in allowing the Deaf to communicate. It is recognized as a complete language used...

Intro:  No matter one’s country, ethnicity, race, class, gender identity, ability, health, socio-economic status, religion, or education level, domestic violence affects everyone. Yet, as we explore the issue of activists living in the midst of the very injustices they work against, it’s important to remember the cultural components that surround the work. Domestic violence doesn’t...

How can bias and discrimination impact survivors with developmental disabilities (DD) within the LGBTQIA+ community? Survivors with DD within the LGBTQIA+ community often experience bias and discrimination which impacts their access to services. Too often, people do not understand or personally know individuals with disabilities or who are LGBTQIA+. Below are some of the ways...

In 2004, Marsheida Dorsey-Carn was murdered by her 18-year-old boyfriend. After serving almost 12 years in prison, that same man murdered a second victim, LaPorscha Baldwin, in a fatal act of domestic violence. Through this horrendous tragedy, we came to learn about the impactful work of Dr. Purposed Carn (Marsheida’s step-mother) as well as the...

“I would have rather been punished for asserting myself than become another victim of hatred” – CeCe McDonald In June 2012, CeCe McDonald, a Black trans woman, accepted a plea bargain for second-degree manslaughter for defending herself against a man who verbally and physically assaulted her and her friends outside a Minneapolis bar. FREE CeCe,...

I’m writing this at the time when the “New Year, New Me” wind is starting to circulate. The shame of “holiday eating”, the sugar demon, and jokes about elastic waists begin to build their momentum for the year. There will be sign up for bootcamps, restrictive diets, detoxes, and teas that make you sprint to...

The  average messaging of most anti-violence organizations include some variation on the following: “If you are in immediate danger, call 911.”  Embedded in directing a victim of violence to call 911 is a key assumption—that law enforcement will make that person safer.  But the headlines regularly feature stories of law enforcement officers accused of abuse:...