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Written by Becky Baines, Advocacy Center Community Engagement Specialist
April is both Child Abuse Prevention & Sexual Assault Awareness Month. These months are dedicated to raising awareness about the impacts of all forms of sexual violence and child abuse on survivors and the community while also highlighting the work being done to promote healthy development and practices that work towards preventing these forms of violence from occurring. At the Advocacy Center we recognize that these forms of abuse can often intersect and have planned events and outreach for both this April!
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Wear Blue Day, Thursday, April 1st, Raise Awareness About Child Abuse Prevention
Wear Blue Day is dedicated to celebrating child abuse prevention efforts across New York State. It is an easy way for our community members and staff at the Advocacy Center to show support for children and families in need. Wear your favorite blue jeans, jacket, tie, scarf, sweatshirt or socks. Blue anything or everything! Join us on social media and share your blue photos on April 1st using #WearBlueDay and #OneTooManyNY so that we can follow along!
“Roll Red Roll” Film Screening Thursday, April 15th
Tompkins County teens are encouraged to join us for a Netflix Watch Party and post-screening discussion of the film Roll Red Roll. Hosted by our student activism group, ACTion, we will explore how social media and sports culture can influence sexual violence, as well as how students can challenge toxic social norms that perpetuate rape culture. To register for the screening, please fill out the following form: https://bit.ly/2OAGpJV
WenDo Women’s Self Defense Online Workshop, April 19th & 20th
We invite college enrolled women to participate in this 4 hour self-defense program offered by the longest running women’s self-defense organization in Canada. This program will run over 2 sessions and includes frank discussions about violence against women and children along with verbal & physical resistance strategies. This program recognizes and celebrates our diversity, feminist principles, the empowerment of women and children while expressly rejecting victim blaming so often present in society. Follow us on social media for more details and registration information!
Yoga, Saturday, April 24th
Mighty Yoga Donation Class: Join Mighty Yoga for a smoothly-paced vinyasa flow experience on Saturday April 24th at 1pm. Donations raised through this yoga session will support survivors of sexual assault, as well as preventative education efforts led by the Advocacy Center. To sign up, please visit https://www.mightyyoga.com/livestream-schedule and select April 24th on the calendar. Then click on the “Sign Up” button next to the 1pm donation class! Note: If you do not have an existing Mighty Yoga account, you will need to create one in order to register for the session.
Denim Day, Wednesday, April 28th
Wear jeans to raise awareness about the misconceptions that surround sexual assault! Started after an Italian Supreme Court ruling in which a rape conviction was overturned because the victim had been wearing tight jeans: the justices ruled that she must have helped her rapist remove them, thereby implying consent. For denim day materials visit denimdayinfo.org and follow our social media @AdvocacyTC for info and updates. Use #ACdenimday2021 so we can follow your posts!
Clothesline Project Display, DeWitt Park: Friday, April 30th 12pm-1pm *Social distancing and masks required
We are excited to offer a socially distanced opportunity to see this powerful display in person. This project provides a space for domestic and sexual violence survivors to create and unapologetically display the “dirty laundry” that is abuse. The t-shirts, which contain powerful stories, images, and artwork, are hung on a clothesline to show that the people who experience domestic, sexual, or emotional violence aren’t just statistics but people in our communities and neighborhoods.
Take Back The Night! Friday, April 30th
Keep an eye out for social media posts and website updates as we plan for our 2021 virtual event! Participants are encouraged to join any way that feels comfortable. Marchers are encouraged to make signs, banners or wear clothes that highlight groups and organizations standing in solidarity with survivors or with messages of protest against domestic and sexual violence.
Additional Training Opportunities:
Our Education team offers a number of training opportunities about domestic violence throughout the year. To request a training email info@actompkins.org. A few examples include:
- How Can I Help You? Responding to Abuse & Disclosures.
- Domestic Violence in the Workplace.
- Understanding Advocacy Center Services during the Pandemic.
24 hour support for survivors of sexual or intimate partner violence
Advocates provide emotional support; information about rights, options and resources; assistance with safety
planning; suggestions on how to help a friend or family member; crisis intervention. Advocates can also assist with survivors for Sexual Assault Exams, police interviews, campus or court proceedings, or other appointments; assist with order of protection petitions, NYS crime victims compensation, and safe housing through our shelter.
Advocacy services are free and provided for abuse survivors of all genders, sexes and sexual orientations.