April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)
We see you. We believe you. You matter.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month brings people together to create and generate discussion and skill-building on how to prevent sexual violence in our schools, workplaces, and communities. While providing support and care to survivors of sexual violence is an everyday action, this awareness month also carves out intentional moments to honor and believe survivors’ stories and experiences.
As we continue to navigate this ongoing public health crisis, we won’t be able to physically come together this April to do this critical work. The Women’s Center and all of our campus partners including the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Retriever Integrated Health, Green Dot, and Retriever Courage, and more will nonetheless continue to promote awareness and prevention this month.
And, remember, no matter where you are, dear survivors, we see you. We believe you. You matter. Always.
SAAM 2022 Calendar of Events
UMBC Take Back the Night Virtual Experience
This interactive virtual gallery contains images and survivor testimony in the form of poems and audio vignettes as a tribute to UMBC’s Take Back the Night. This event invites our campus to come together to speak out and heal together in community. Take Back the Night is a public testimony. It is about making sexual assault and our support for survivors visible and not tucked away behind closed doors.
Office of Equity and Inclusion Campus Climate Survey
Ongoing: Due April 25th, 2022
The 2022 campus climate survey has been launched! Information gathered from the survey will be used to inform our ongoing education, prevention, and response work, and is an important component in campus-wide efforts to stop, prevent, and remedy the effects of sexual misconduct at UMBC. You can access the online survey here until Monday, April 25, 2022, and it will take about 15-25 minutes to complete. This survey is anonymous and confidential.
Retriever Integrated Health Community Conversations
Thursday, April 7, 2022 · 6 - 7 PM
Library and Gallery, Albin O. Kuhn : Gallery
A community can be a vital tool to help all of us get through life’s ups and downs and celebrate our big and small moments. Community Conversations is an interactive event that will help students understand the role of community in supporting their well-being and mental health. This conversation will also highlight what it means to “show up” for others. This event is in coordination with the Mental Health Community Action Day on April 7th. *NOTE this is not only geared towards survivors, but may be a good outlet for care*
UMBC Together Mental Health Awareness Walk
Thursday, April 7, 2022 · 12:30 - 1 PM
Connecting with others and moving our bodies both help with mental health and self-care. Please meet us in the Breezeway of the Biological Sciences Building for a 1-mile walk to relieve stress and connect with others. We will end our walk at the same location with an OCA Mocha pop up table. This session is part of USC's 4/7 Mental Health Community Action Day. *NOTE this is not only geared towards survivors, but may be a good outlet for care*
Women’s Center We Believe You Discussion Group
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 · 3 - 4 PM
The We Believe You Discussion Group creates space to center the experiences of survivors of sexual- and power-based violence. It is a bi-weekly group that follows the Women’s Center Brave Space model to provide a welcoming environment and thoughtful community to engage in conversations focused on support and healing for survivors of sexual violence. This group centers the experiences of survivors and their allies; we request that students do not use this space for class research or interviews. The remaining dates for this event this semester include April 12, April 26, May 10th.
Green Dot Bystander Intervention Training Faculty & Staff
Friday, April 22, 2022 · 1-5 PM
Green Dot is built on the premise that in order to measurably reduce the perpetration of power-based personal violence, including sexual violence, partner violence, or stalking, a cultural shift is necessary. This highly interactive session is great for you and your friends or colleagues to: a) understand the impact of power-based personal violence on campus and in various communities, b) learn how to identify power-based personal violence and respond within the bounds of your strengths and limitations, c) practice newly developed skills to be prepared for enacting this in your daily life.
Women’s Center We Believe You Discussion Group
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 · 3 - 4 PM
The We Believe You Discussion Group creates space to center the experiences of survivors of sexual- and power-based violence. It is a bi-weekly group that follows the Women’s Center Brave Space model to provide a welcoming environment and thoughtful community to engage in conversations focused on support and healing for survivors of sexual violence. This group centers the experiences of survivors and their allies; we request that students do not use this space for class research or interviews. The remaining dates for this event this semester include April 12, April 26, May 10th.
Green Dot Bystander Intervention Training Students
Friday, April 29, 2022 · 1 - 5 PM
Green Dot is built on the premise that in order to measurably reduce the perpetration of power-based personal violence, including sexual violence, partner violence, or stalking, a cultural shift is necessary. This highly interactive session is great for you and your friends or colleagues to: a) understand the impact of power-based personal violence on campus and in various communities, b) learn how to identify power-based personal violence and respond within the bounds of your strengths and limitations, c) practice newly developed skills to be prepared for enacting this in your daily life.
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