Central MN Sexual Assault Center

CMSAC hopes you can join us tomorrow at the “Action Day to End Violence Against Women” event at the Capitol in St. Paul, MN. Don’t know what to say when meeting with legislators? Click here for some Talking Points_ Together to Live Violence Free 2016_ to consider. Happy Action Day!

TOGETHER, TO LIVE VIOLENCE FREE: MARCH 30^TH

For a number of years, six statewide coalitions dedicated to ending sexual and domestic violence, have organized the “Action Day to End Violence Against Women” at the Capitol. Historically, this event has been a collective effort to raise awareness about the devastating impact of violence against women in Minnesota and included meetings with legislators and a noon rally.

This year is different.

Our lives are too complex – and too important – to work in isolation. We must stand together. We call on everyone – community organizations, non-profits, faith communities, and people who want to live free without violence – to join us on March 30th and show Minnesota that we stand united, together, to live violence free!

Please, reach out to organizations and community members and encourage them to join us – and sign on as “supporters” – on March 30^th.

Attached is a “supporting packet” with more details and two flyers for your use.

SCHEDULE

9:00 – 9:30 // Registration & networking at St. Paul College

9:30 – 11:00 // Opportunities to learn & create together

11:00 – 11:30 // Gather for the March!

11:30 – 12:00 // March to the Capitol on John Ireland Blvd. (0.5 miles)

Noon – 12:30 // RALLY OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL!!!

Speakers: Sarah Deer & Ananya Chatterjea

Round Dance led by Native Lives Matter

12:30 – 1:00 // Deliver information to elected officials

1:00 – 3:00 // Celebration! St. Paul College Cafeteria

RAIN PLAN: 
We will still march!

We will march to the Transportation Building and rally in the lobby at noon!

Marching is optional; for those who do not march, we will offer rides to the Transportation Building OR the option to stay behind and gather in the Saint Paul College cafeteria.

We will provide large, heavy duty trash bags for poncho making in the theater in the morning.

Please, dress for the weather. Wear comfortable, water proof shoes if you have them. Bring a rain coat or weather proof jacket. If you have extra umbrellas you’d like to bring and temporarily loan to people, please label them with your name & phone number.

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Spring has sprung and so has our preparation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month! CMSAC has been buzzing with individuals coming in to decorate a glass bottle or teal ribbon for the Healing Garden event, set for April 7, 2016 at 4:00pm, here at CMSAC! Haven’t come in to decorate a glass bottle or teal ribbon? There is still time! Call us at (320) 251-4357 to schedule some time!

CMSAC’s Concerned Person’s Support Group begins on April 21st! This support group is for anyone who knows a friend, family member, child, parent, co-worker, etc. who has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn ways to support the survivor and how to take care of themselves! If this sounds like you, fill out the General Support Group Intake form today! The intake form can be faxed to (320) 251-4670 or emailed to cmsac@cmsac.org.

Haven’t had time to come decorate a glass bottle for our Healing Garden event on April 7th? There is still time! Call us today at (320) 251-4357 to schedule a time to come in and decorate your very own glass bottle to be placed on the bottle tree in the Healing Garden! Pictured below are some of our volunteer advocates decorating both glass bottles and teal ribbons!

‪#‎SAAM‬ ‪#‎April‬ ‪#‎BottleTree‬

Attention! CMSAC’s Empower Me, Empower We group has discontinued meeting. Stay tuned for future updates on our support groups. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at (320) 251-4357.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. One in four girls will be sexually assaulted before the age of eighteen and one in six boys will be victims of sexual assault before the age of eighteen.

Be part of the solution and bring awareness to this very serious community problem by attending the Central MN Sexual Assault Center’s 1st Annual, “Healing Garden Event.” The event will include an opportunity to sponsor and/or decorate a glass bottle to be placed on a bottle tree in the Healing Garden!

The “Healing Garden Event” will take place on Thursday, April 7th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at 15 Riverside Drive NE in St. Cloud or at the Central MN Sexual Assault Center.

After the “Healing Garden Event” please feel free to head over to Granite City and show them the Dine to Donate flyer for 10% of your tab to be donated to CMSAC.

The Working with Survivors Who Have A Disability Advisory Group Meeting for tonight at the St. Cloud Public Library (Great River Regional Library) and for the dates of March 17th & April 7th have been cancelled.

Please stay tuned for updates about how you can participate in future advisory meetings.

THANK YOU!

The staff at CMSAC would like to thank the students at Byron High School for creating a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for CMSAC! This PSA focuses on bringing awareness to the many individuals affected by sexual violence and drug facilitated sexual assault. In addition, the students at Byron High School remind us that “it is on us” to stop sexual violence within the PSA. To view this PSA, please click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwacE1Nm3Os&feature=youtu.be

“Being a gentleman is all well and good if it is what the other person actually wants. Sure, some women may like to be treated with extra courtesy, and it can of course be wonderful to know you have made someone you care about feel safe and sheltered. But what happens when your idea of chivalry, whatever it may be, does not actually make the other person who is the subject of it feel good?”

Check out this great article by clicking here!