LACASA Center invites the community to participate in a series of special events and initiatives to show support for sexual assault victims and survivors in April, which is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Over 50% of women and about 30% of men have experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but despite those numbers, the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics finds that sexual assault remains the most underreported crime in America.
“There is a survivor in your life, whether they’ve disclosed to you or not,” said LACASA President and CEO Bobette Schrandt, “It is critical for our community to take action so that victims and survivors know we believe them and support them. We also want to raise awareness about the free programs and services that are available at LACASA for survivors, their families and friends.”
LACASA is teaming up with Cleary University to host the Clothesline Project April 5-18, a free exhibit featuring T-shirts created by sexual violence victims, survivors and their supporters. The exhibit is open to the public from 10:30am-3pm excluding Sundays, and on April 9 from 12-2pm will include the opportunity to hear from a survivor and to make a T-shirt as a sign of support.
More information about the Clothesline Project is available HERE.
Later this month, advocating for sexual assault survivors is as easy as putting on a pair of jeans. LACASA encourages all Livingston County residents, businesses and organizations to participate in Denim Day on April 24. Denim Day was sparked by a 1999 court case when the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction. Their reasoning was that because the victim wore tight jeans, she must have helped the assailant remove them, thereby implying consent. This decision triggered worldwide outrage, and Denim Day emerged as a way to raise awareness about consent and victim blaming.
County residents can find out more about participating in Denim Day by clicking HERE.
Finally, LACASA will host an afternoon of self-care called “Journey to Healing” on April 27 where attendees can learn about sexual assault prevention and enjoy restorative health practices. This free event is open to all. Click HERE to learn more about Journey to Healing.
For information about LACASA’s sexual assault awareness programs or events, visit lacasacenter.org.
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