Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2018

RESOURCES | EVENTS | SOCIAL MEDIA | 

This year during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we’re calling for participants to Embrace Your Voice. The words we use to talk about sexual violence matter and influence how we think about and respond to it. We all have spheres of influence where we can contribute to change! This year’s SAAM theme calls on us all to recognize those places and spaces where our voices and actions can contribute to preventing sexual violence.

Resources

RESOURCES FOR SAAM PLANNING

resources for engaging your voice

SAAM 2018 Blog Posts & Announcements

Experts, preventionists, and professionals will share on embracing our voices on NJCASA’s blog throughout SAAM!

Local Events 

Join NJCASA May 5, 2018 for NJCASA’s annual Heroes for a Safer Garden State 5K!
Calling all heroes! We’re wrapping up Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) with a 5K on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, N.J. Register today, start a team, and join hundreds of heroes working to create a safer N.J.!

bergen COUNTY

April 26 | Enlightened Coffee House Arts Event
healingSPACE; Hackensack, NJ
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

In honor of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, join us as we transform healingSPACE into a coffeehouse, art gallery, and performance space where you can share your work! We invite you to showcase your artwork, poetry, songs, spoken word, movement, or anything creative that represents you. Artwork must be submitted by April 20. Open mic sign-ups begin at 5:30pm. For more information, please contact Lisa Jason at ljason@ywcabergencounty.org or 201-487-1707.

essex COUNTY

April 14 | Empower #TimesUp Photography Exhibit
Trend Gallery, Montclair, NJ
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Sponsored by Celestine Ando Photography. The proceeds of this event will be donated to SAVE of Essex County. For more information, please contact Christine Ferro-Saxon as cferro@familyserviceleague.org

April 18 | The Women’s Empowerment Forum
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

This forum is part of Montclair’s Women’s Empowerment Week. Speakers will include: Journalist Charrise Jones; automotive business leader Paula Lombard; Alecia Robinson, community leader and general manager of Investors Bank; Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Montclair State University student and empowerment speaker Julia Young; Kate Premo, marketing and communications director of the Montclair Art Museum and moderated by speaker and entrepreneur Donna Miller of C3 Workplace. For more information, please contact Christine Ferro-Saxon as cferro@familyserviceleague.org.

mercer county

March 23 | Trenton’s 1st Annual Assault Awareness Month 3K Kick Off Event
YMCA Pennington Ave., Trenton, N.J.
6:00 p.m. 

Join Rising Over Sexual Abuse (R.O.S.A) and Womanspace for an event kicking off their annual walk event! Guest speakers include Tracy M. Thompson from the N.J. Attorney General’s Office, Deniece Johnson Jackson from the Department of Children and Families, and Jeannine F. LaRue, founder of LaRuelist Report. This is a free event. Learn more.

April 14 | Trenton’s 1st Sexual Assault Awareness Month 3K Walk
Cadwalader Park, Trenton, N.J.
8:00 a.m. 

Join Rising Over Sexual Abuse (R.O.S.A) and Womanspace for Trenton’s first annual awareness-raising 3K event! This is a rain-or-shine event. Learn more and register here.

middlesex county

All month long! | Middlesex County Goes Teal
Middlesex County

Throughout April, Middlesex County is encouraging the community to “Go Teal” in support of survivors of sexual violence by hosting or promoting teal themed events and sharing their event pictures on social media using #MCGoesTeal. For more information or ideas on how to get involved, contact the Middlesex County Center for Empowerment at 877-665-7273 or empowerment@co.middlesex.nj.us.

April 6 | PRAB Goes Teal
90 Jersey Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. 

In collaboration with Middlesex County Center for Empowerment, the Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB) of New Brunswick will be hosting their 3rd annual PRAB Goes Teal celebration with a public event from 3pm-5pm. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Center for Empowerment will be providing a presentation along with awareness and educational activities. For more information or ideas on how to get involved, contact the Middlesex County Center for Empowerment at 877-665-7273 or empowerment@co.middlesex.nj.us.

April 11 | Audrey and Daisy screening
Middlesex County College, College Center Corral; Edison, N.J.
4:30 p.m. 

The Middlesex County Center for Empowerment in collaboration with Middlesex County College’s Democracy House program, will be hosting a screening of the film “Audrey and Daisy,” to help raise discussion about teenage sexual assault and cyberbullying. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or ideas on how to get involved, contact the Middlesex County Center for Empowerment at 877-665-7273 or empowerment@co.middlesex.nj.us.

April 25 | Denim Day
Middlesex County
All day 

Middlesex County will be proclaiming April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 25th as Denim Day.  The community is encouraged to participate by wearing denim or a denim pin on April 25th to raise awareness and show their support for survivors of sexual violence. For more information or ideas on how to get involved, contact the Middlesex County Center for Empowerment at 877-665-7273 or empowerment@co.middlesex.nj.us.

Ocean county

April 13 | Hispanic Heritage Night
FirstEnergy Park  2 Stadium Way in Lakewood, NJ 08701
6:00 p.m. 

Spanish Heritage night is a night dedicated to outreach to the Latin/x population in Ocean County and surrounding areas.  We will have an interactive table with bilingual outreach including, NSVRC coloring pages and sexual violence facts/statistics. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online. For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

April 17 | Paint Night
St. Francis Community Center 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Twp., N.J. 08008
6:00 p.m. 

A paint night will be held as a creative coping skill to assist in healing. The painting on the canvas bag will be Sexual Assault Awareness Month related and incorporate a design in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. Please call 609-494-1554 to register as there is limited space.

April 18
Sea Oaks Country Club, 99 Golf View Drive, Little Egg Harbor Twp, N.J. 08087
5:30 – 9:00 p.m. 

Free evening of fun! Girls in 6th, 7th and 8th grade and their mothers/caregivers invited to join an evening of understanding importance of making healthy life choices.  Guest speakers on physical changes, cyberbullying, improving communication, alcohol and drug awareness and self-defense.  St. Francis will have a table with Sexual Violence Awareness pertaining to women and girls. Registration required: 800-560-9990. For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

April 19 | POUND
312 Drumpoint Rd. Brick NJ 08723
6:30 p.m. 

POUND® provides the perfect atmosphere for letting loose, getting energized, toning up and rockin’ out! The workout is easily modifiable and the alternative vibe and welcoming philosophy appeals to men and women of all ages and abilities. Pound has collaborated with St. Francis Counseling Service to have a donation class in which we collect New/Unused yoga pants, t-shirts, sock, hairties and underwear to be supplied to survivors that activate SART and have examinations in the local Emergency departments.  St. Francis Counseling Service will end the night with education and resources on sexual violence. For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

April 20 | LBI Health Fair
St. Francis Counseling Service, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Twp, N.J. 08008
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

St. Francis Counseling Service will have a table to provide education, advocacy and resources on sexual violence as well as Clothesline Project. For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

April 24 | Consent and Coffee
Georgian Court University Casino
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

Consent and Coffee with the Sexual Assault Response Team.  A looped video will play the YouTube video, Consent is simple as tea video while students enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with members of the SART team to learn about sexual violence.  Following will be a clothesline project outside. For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

April 25 | Denim Day
Ocean County Mall, 1201 Hooper Ave., Toms River, N.J. 08753
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. 

St. Francis Counseling Service will have a table with information on Denim Day.  Participants will receive a flyer that may honor a coupon purchase in stores to thank them for learning about Denim Day and the importance of boundaries regardless of what we wear. For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

April 26
Ocean County College, Gateway Building, Room 104
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. 

St. Francis Counseling Service will begin the program with media literacy.  Following will be a presentation on the Sexual Assault Response team.  A member of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Ocean County will share her perspective as Law Enforcement as well as a survivor of sexual violence herself.  Ocean County College Title IX will share how they provide services to students and the event will end in an open panel discussion with above presenters.  For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

April 28 | Sexual Assault Awareness Night
FirstEnergy Park, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, N.J. 08701
3:00 p.m. 

St. Francis Counseling Service and the Sexual Assault Response Team of Ocean County will have tables  with vendors pertaining to sexual violence.  Keynote speaker will highlight the importance of addressing sexual violence.  Game night will feature Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and St. Francis Counseling Service Public Service Announcement, Team Signed Jersey Raffle, Sexual Violence Theme giveaways and themed ads/photo contest. For more information, please contact the Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Program at 609-494-1554.

passaic county

April 14 | PCWC 5K Fun Run/Walk
Goffle Brook Park, Hawthorne, N.J.
8:00 a.m. 

Join the Passaic County Women’s Center for a fun run/walk during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Tickets are $30 if purchased before April 2, $20 for students. For more information, please contact Vanessa Morón or Diane Tardos at 973-881-09725.

Somerset COUNTY

April 7 | Zumbathon
Raritan Valley Community College Cafeteria, Branchburg, N.J.
10am – 1pm

Zufall Health and the RVCC Women’s Center have organized a Zumbathon to help raise awareness on campus and in the community. Come get your dance on with fabulous instructors on Saturday, April 7th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (doors open at 9:30 am) at the Raritan Valley Community College Cafeteria, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ. Admission is FREE! The event will include a “What Were You Wearing” exhibit. There is no registration required for this event.  If you would like to share via social media, please click the link to our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/191804071422906/

warren COUNTY

All Month Long! | STAND UP Campaign
Social Media

STAND UP is the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County‘s (DASACC’s) social media campaign to raise awareness and funds towards ending sexual violence. Funding raised from this campaign will go to DASACC’s NJCASA 5K team, “Safer in Warren County,” and the total amount will be split 50/50 between DASACC and NJCASA.

To participate, take a photo or a video to be posted and shared on social media of yourself standing up against sexual violence by completing the following: “I stand up for/against/to _______”.  Tag three friends to participate and use the following hashtags in your post: #StandUp #DASACC #SAAM2018

Helene Zinckgraf is the point of contact for this event.  She can be reached at 908.453.4121 ext. 318 or hzinckgraf@dasacc.org.

April 8 | Empowerment Day
Warren Hills High School cafeteria and gym
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

DASACC is working with the Warren Hills High School Peer Leaders and Sensations Spa to host an event promoting self-care, empowerment, and education to encourage members of the public to speak out against sexual assault. Through Empowerment Day, we want to empower community partners and community members to recognize we all have an important role to play in making our community safer, caring, and more empathetic. Matt Hardy is the point of contact for this event. He can be reached at 908.453.4121 ext. 319 or mhardy@dasacc.org.

April 25 | Take Back the Night
Centenary University
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Take Back the Night is an empowering event in which all people are encouraged to take a stand and work towards a time where we are all safe from sexual violence, day or night. Olivia Hunter is the point of contact for this event. She can be reached at 908.453.4121 ext. 312 or ohunter@dasacc.org

April 25 | Denim Day
Denim Day is an international movement to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual assault. We are encouraging community members to embrace their voice by visibly protesting the misconceptions surrounding sexual assault by wearing jeans. Professionals can pay $5 to wear jeans on April 25. Participating professionals will receive a denim day pin and sticker and are invited to participate in the STANDUP social media campaign. Proceeds will be raised for the NJCASA 5K. Matt Hardy is the point of contact for this event.  He can be contacted at 908.453.4121 ext. 319 or mhardy@dasacc.org.

May 10 | The Vagina Monologues
Rutherfurd Hall
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

DASACC is hosting The Vagina Monologues on May 10 at Rutherfurd Hall.  Hailey Fritzsch is the point of contact for this event.  She can be contacted at 908.453.4121 ext. 310 or hfritzsch@dasacc.org.

Please contact NJCASA’s Community Engagement Specialist at sbear@njcasa.org for information on how to have your SAAM event listed.

Please note this space is for Sexual Violence Programs and allied organizations to list SAAM-related or –themed events during the month of April.  The inclusion or listing of events should not be interpreted as NJCASA endorsing or sponsoring that event, speaker, or organization.

Social Media Engagement

SAAM hashtags

  • #SAAM
  • #DenimDay
  • #EngagingNewVoices

webinar

  • April 4 | #YoTambién y la participación de Latinxs en el movimiento anti-violencia sexual
    Este seminario web en español es parte de la serie nacional ‘Yo Soy SAAM’ creado por Arte Sana y ALAS – la Alianza Latina en contra la Agresión Sexual. Antes del movimiento “Me Too” las latinas en distintas regiones del país y América Latina habían creado campañas de concientización para prevenir la violencia sexual. Las campañas #AdvocacySinFronteras creada por Arte Sana en 2013 y #YoSoySAAM creada por ALAS en 2015 serán explicadas dentro del contexto de la campaña #YoTambién, como vehículos para promover la participación activa de comunidades Latinxs durante y después de SAAM. Register now!
    In collaboration with Arte Sana and the Texas Coalition Against Sexual Assault, join us for a webinar discussing awareness campaigns created by Latinxs, including #AdvocacySinFronteras and #YoSoySAAM, along with #YoTambien as ways to engage Latinx communities throughout SAAM and beyond! This webinar will be conducted in Spanish. Register now!

Follow Along!
The inclusion of organizations in this list should not be interpreted as an endorsement of content.  All opinions expressed are those of the account-holders and do not necessarily represent NJCASA.

Sexual Violence Organizations

Check out your local program to follow them on social media!

Allied Organizations – New Jersey

Allied organizations – national

Escape