Welcome to April! This month marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a crucial time to amplify our voices and stand in solidarity with survivors. We've had the privilege of catching up with Christina Gentry, the Director of Communications at the Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center (STA CARE Center).
Join us as we delve into the significance of SAAM, explore the impactful events lined up by the STA CARE Center, and discover actionable ways you can contribute to spreading awareness about sexual assault not just this month but throughout the year. Let's unite in fostering a culture of support and empathy for survivors everywhere.
Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center Staff wrote out SAAM in flowers in front of their building sign.
"The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center believes in creating a community committed to improving health and eliminating sexual violence. This year's SAAM theme of Building Connected Communities necessitates that we examine all pillars of a thriving community, and according to the Center for Social Change, there are three themes that a thriving community must encapsulate: Belonging, Connection, and Security," says Christina Gentry, Director of Communications at STA CARE Center. "When our community designs strategies that include these three themes ( including additional pillars specific to what the people express as necessary), we will likely see better mental health outcomes. It is an active practice; we should all be moving to practice in action, valuing a healthy environment that honors diversity with integrity year-round."
Christina grew up in Southern California and started her own family in El Paso, TX. She has lived intersectional experiences of sexual violence and houselessness, which is what called her to work in public health. "I want to apply the education I gained from my personal experiences to increase/build social vigilance in community knowledge using data, scientific research, and action." Christina has worked at the STA CARE Center for slightly under seven months. She appreciates the thoughtful design of their new office at 330 Maine St, which promotes social interaction and proximity to community members. "We've learned that face-to-face interactions are by far the most important activity in our office. We recognize office spaces are not just an asset but a strategic tool for growth."
STA CARE Center Community Engagement Team from left to right: Gabby Boyle (Prevention Specialist), Layla McEniry (Youth Educator), and Christina Gentry (Director of Communications)for advocates to use when meeting with their clients.
The STA CARE Center provides 24/7 advocacy and response to survivors of sexual assault through its hotline. Advocates are trained and ready to support survivors, whether in the hospital, speaking to law enforcement, filing for a protection order, or navigating legal proceedings. Advocates can talk to survivors in person, via videoconferencing, or by phone to address their questions or concerns. Sexual trauma and abuse can leave a ripple effect, damaging one's work, school, finances, housing, health, and more. STA CARE Center advocates are there to listen to survivors, empower them with information, and support them in whatever they feel is best for their own situation.
STA CARE Center's other programming helps to educate the community about sexual assault and abuse. Youth Educator Layla McEinry has been at the STA CARE Center for several years, teaching youth of all ages about bodily autonomy, boundaries, consent, and more. She has created and curated a curriculum that is not only trauma-informed but also age-appropriate for whichever age group she speaks with.
Nominated by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, STA CARE Center's Prevention Specialist, Gabby Boyle, just received the Kansas Crime Victim's Rights Conference 2024 Visionary Voice Award for their work in establishing and leading the community's Sexual Violence Prevention Workgroup, showcasing a commitment to addressing the root causes of sexual violence.
Join the STA CARE Center for Take Back the Night on Thursday, April 25th, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at South Park. You can also show your support for survivors by wearing denim on Wednesday, April 24th.
STA CARE Center's Community Engagement Team has hosted some excellent events this month. There is still time to attend events and support survivors. Their Healthy Sexual Relationship Workshop Series will wrap up on Tuesday, 4/30, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library. Next Wednesday, 4/24, you can support survivors by wearing denim. To learn more about the meaning behind Denim Day, visit www.denimday.org. Every year, the STA CARE Center hosts Take Back the Night. The original Take Back the Night was held in San Francisco in 1978 to protest sexual assault. Since then, Take Back the Night events have spread across the US and World. To learn more about the history of Take Back the Night, visit takebackthenight.org. Willow will be tabling at Take Back the Night, so we hope to see you all there!
