April
Wichita Wranglers Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Night, 7 p.m. April 29, Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, 300 S. Sycamore. Informational announcements, leaflets and prevention ribbons. Admission $5. (Kansas) Youth Protection Training overview, 4 to 5 p.m. April 18, Boy Scout Quivira Council office, 1555 E. Second. Materials for children and adults about the Scouts' child abuse prevention training program. Information, Anne Herriage or Mario Perez, (316) 264-3386, aherriag@bsamail.org or mperez@bsamail.org. (Kansas) http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/entertainment/events/14362863.htm?source=rss&channel=kansas_events

University of Delaware Hosts Sexual Assault Awareness Events
UD Hosts Sexual Assault Awareness Events Apr 18, 2006 11:38 am US/Eastern (AP) NEWARK, DE The University of Delaware is working to raise student awareness about the dangers of sexual assault. Research says women are especially at risk during their first few weeks on campus. The university is also trying to educate students about the dangers of walking alone and the dangers of date rape drugs. The school is warning women to keep a close eye on their drinks because of drugs like GHB, which cause unconsciousness. University of Delaware offers free self-defense classes and has awareness events planned all month. http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_108115746.html

''Bear Affair'' to Benefit Sexually Abused Children in Phila. by KYW’s Karin Phillips A local organization that reaches out to sexually abused children in Philadelphia is holding a special fundraiser. The Philadelphia Children's Alliance is holding its annual Bear Affair, a cocktail reception and silent auction to benefit the Alliance, a place of healing and justice for sexually abused children. The Alliance takes over the case, working to get healing for the victim and justice for the abuser. Mike Gillespie junior is President of the Alliance's Board. “Child sex abuse is just a plague that just seems to be dominating our society. One in four girls and one is six boys will be sexually abused by the time they're 18.” It's called Bear Affair because in the days leading up to the event, corporations and organizations are collecting teddy bears, this year the goal is 1920, to be given to the Alliance's clients and others in need of comfort. For ticket information, go to www.bearaffair.org. 6th Annual Bear Affair This year's Bear Affair will take place at the Philopatrian Institute - also known as the Stotesbury Mansion at 19th & Walnut Streets on the 27th of April from 6.30 to 10pm. Please come and join us for the cocktail party and silent auction. http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/26586.php

Saturday in the Park Scheduled Saturday April 29 Arkansas Thursday, April 20, 2006 9:13 AM CDT The Searcy Police Department, along with the White County Domestic Violence Prevention Group, is pleased to announce their combined effort to coordinate and promote an event honoring Victims’ Rights Week, April 23-29. “Saturday in the Park” will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Berryhill Park in Searcy. This is set to be a day for community outreach and public education. Several booths will be available with information on Morgan Nick Amber Alert, the White County Prosecutors Office, Harding Public Safety, Searcy Fire Department (fire safety information), Searcy Police Department’s Crimes Against Women Unit, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), White County Domestic Violence Prevention Group and much more. “The White County Domestic Violence Prevention Group and the Searcy Police Department would like to give people an opportunity to become familiar with the many victims aid programs available in our community,” Event Organizer Amber Dillon said. “This event will bring together several local nonprofit organizations that dispense information promoting public safety and victim rights awareness.” Searcy Mayor Belinda LaForce and Searcy Police Chief J.R. Thomas are also scheduled to speak at the event. The event will also include prize raffles with proceeds going to nonprofit organizations including the White County Domestic Violence Prevention Group and the Morgan Nick Foundation. There will also be food from 3-4 p.m. Donations will be accepted. Victims’ Rights Week is nationally recognized throughout the United States. “Each April since 1981, the Office of Victims of Crime has helped lead communities across the country in their observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). Public rallies, candlelight vigils and a host of commemorative activities promote victims’ rights and services in all sectors of our society.” Visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov for more information. Event organizers ask that any White County nonprofit group that would like to display a booth or any local business that wishes to assist in promoting this event please contact Amber Dillon at (501) 279-1025 (or adillon@cityofsearcy.org). For more information, please contact Amber Dillon at (501) 279-1025 or Kaye Candlish at WCDVPG at (501) 278-5130. http://www.thedailycitizen.com/articles/2006/04/20/news/features/featurespark.txt

Published: 04.26.2006 FRIDAY RALLY DOWNTOWN - Tuscon Arizona - April 28, 2006 Teens 'Take Back the Night' Music, skits,speakers will unite againstsexual assault HEIDI ROWLEY Tucson Citizen It's been four years since Tucsonans walked the streets to protest violence against women and children. On Friday, Tucson teens will be the ones giving marching orders during the "Take Back the Night" rally. Organized exclusively by teenagers, the planning for the event started at Skrappy's, a downtown hangout and night club for teens, with three high-schoolers. Last week at Skrappy's, a dozen students directed adults from sponsoring agencies such as the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault. Together, they've organized music, including a performance by local folk singer Leila Lopez, skits, speakers, a poetry slam and a candlelight vigil for rape survivors. The face of organizers isn't just younger. More and more males are speaking out about violence against women. Some of them know someone who has been sexually assaulted, some don't. Juan Garcia, 19, a student at Project MORE, an alternative school at 440 S. Park Ave., said he didn't pay attention to the issue before his classmates asked him to get involved. Now, he's involved. "I feel like I'm helping somebody. I made a shirt, wrote a poem," he said as he and Tyler Moore, 17, worked together on a poster. Garcia said the things he has learned about rape and violence against women he can apply to his life. "I guess it does help in raising my nieces and nephews." SACASA volunteer Madeline Porta, 26, attended her first meeting last week and said she was impressed with the students involved. "You don't usually see high school kids getting involved like this," she said while helping students making posters. Tess Moran, 18, is one of the coordinators of this year's event. It's the first time she's been involved in a rally or march, the teen with multiple face piercings and pixie-cut hair said. "I've never been so active about something before," she said. Moran, a student in a women's studies class at Project MORE taught by Kris Gould, learned about violence against women and the Take Back the Night movement, which started in 1978. Moran, fellow student Elvira Morando, 17, and art teacher Kathryn Wilde, have designed a poignant reminder of the victims of rape for the rally. They are decorating a king-size sheet with the flag of Arizona and a stick figure to represent each of the 1,896 reported rape victims of 2004. On the bottom of the sheet they will place an additional 19,000 stick figures representing the estimated number of rape victims who did not report their sexual assault. "It's a really visual way to show the numbers of people who have been affected," Gould said. With the age of the organizers comes a simple perspective. "Rape Ain't Right" and "Just Don't Rape" are among the messages on posters. The marketing technique is also youthful. Students are using text messaging and their MySpace accounts on the Internet to spread the word. Sofia Campos, 16, another organizer from Project MORE, said she has learned a lot. "I learned (you can) stand up for yourself, don't let anyone overpower you and dominate you," she said. "You do have power, even children." The last Take Back the Night rally in Tucson was in 2002 and was organized by adults. According to Citizen archives, the 2000 organizers struggled to get men involved in the march, which for its first 20 years was exclusively for women. In a 1995 electronic message board on the Internet, some organizers argued that by including men, women were giving up their ability to walk through the night with only women by their side. For Monique Ybarra, 16, getting involved is personal. "I like doing it because my mom was raped when she was 14, and now my mom is getting involved," the soft-spoken teen said. "It makes me happy to know she is not afraid to do anything anymore." Her favorite part of the coming rally is the T-shirt clothesline. Victims of violence or sexual assault, or secondary victims, the children or loved ones of victims, share their stories through words or art and put them on T-shirts. The shirts will be hung up as a reminder of the effects of sexual violence. Many of the shirts display slogans: "Don't wait for me to say no, wait for me to say yes" and "Men can stop rape." Other shirts are filled with words telling a story of abuse. Gould said some students brought their shirts into the classroom when they thought no one was around because the stories are anonymous, and for many it is still frightening to come out publicly with their experience. Gould said she is proud of the students from her school and Rincon High School who have taken the lead on the event. Last week, as the students worked after school to prepare for the rally, she told them, "You know what you've become this year? The big 'A.' Activists. Community activists." http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/10557.php