"In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
HONORING A SURVIVOR’S NARRATIVE: OUR ROLE IN EMPOWERING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Statement of Purpose –
In light of recent events, we are drawing attention to our society’s culture of silence and the perpetual silencing of victims of sexual assault. We affirm the narrative of a survivor by holding ourselves and others accountable to be advocates against sexual violence. We pledge to stand with survivors--supporting and empowering their narratives.
All events will be held in the Life Sciences Center, Oopik Auditorium.
**TENTATIVE SCHEDULE**
Friday, January 18th
5:00 PM – Documentary: “I AM EVIDENCE”, Dinner provided by Sunshine Cookshop Jamaican Style Cooking!
“I AM EVIDENCE” explores the shocking way sexual assault cases have been historically processed in the United States. It is estimated that every year, thousands of rape kits are left untested in police storage facilities.
Facilitator: Rebecca Campbell PhD; Professor of Psychology, Michigan State University
Saturday, January 19th
8:30 AM – Continental Breakfast
Presentations
9:00 AM – "Shelving Justice: Understand the Problem of Untested Sexual Assault Kits"
This presentation will examine the growing national problem of untested sexual assault kits and focus in-depth on how one jurisdiction, Detroit, MI, developed a multi-year action research project to resolve 11,000 untested rape kits.
Speaker: Rebecca Campbell, Ph.D.; Professor of Psychology, Michigan State University.
11:00 AM - “Sex Trafficking, Substance Abuse and Recovery from a Survivors Perceptive”
In this session, participants will gain valuable insight about the realities of sex trafficking told by a survivor leader in the anti
-trafficking movement in New Hampshire. Participants will learn about what makes victims vulnerable, why they stay trapped for so long, how healthcare providers can "open a door" for them to possibly exit, and the hard work of recovery.
Speaker: Jasmine Grace Marino, Survivor Leader, Director of Bags of Hope Ministries and Author
12:00 PM - Lunch with a performance by The Dermatones.
Keynote
1:00 PM - “Sexual Violence: Survival, Stereotypes, and Social Change”
In the wake of the Me Too movement and the backlash, there are many mixed messages from political leaders about gender stereotypes and sexual conduct. I will speak about breaking the taboo around having experienced sexual assault, the differential impact of that experience on women of different classes, races, and backgrounds, and how we can channel our personal experiences into sustainable social movements and cultural change.
Keynote Speaker:
Alicia Ely Yamin
Senior Scholar in Residence, Global Health Education and Learning Incubator, Harvard University and Adjunct Lecturer on Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
2:15 PM - "Fill a Bag Event"
Please join us for an exciting service activity with Bags of Hope. Bags of Hope is an outreach ministry out of the Emmanuel Gospel Center that Jasmine founded as a way to reach out in a practical way to women living on the streets or in programs throughout the Boston area. In collaboration with programs serving women affected by trafficking, prostitution, addiction and homelessness, Bags of Hope Ministries is driven by the community.
DONATED Items Needed: Women’s socks, Deodorant, Toothpaste &Tooth Brush, 12 oz Conditioner & 12 oz Shampoo, Small bag of Trail Mix, Chapstick, Nail Polish, Small package of baby wipes, Hair Brush & or Elastics, Winter hat, gloves, scarf , Bar of Soap , $5 Dunkin Donut gift cards, Notes of encouragement (We will provide Note Paper and Pens at the event) *All items MUST be NEW & FULL Size*