Sexual Assault Awareness Banquet

My name is Tarina, I am a survivor of rape and my story started out while I was at work. A co-worker asked me why I had on a pin (it was a teal ribbon) and I told her it was for sexual assault awareness and that I was a survivor and run a blog and it was what I want to go to school for (to be a sexual assault nurse examiner I told her that I wanted to bring awareness in the black community about rape because it’s something that we don’t openly talk about and instead of listening we automatically blame the victim, that there are a lot of black women and black men who are survivors but who are silent because of being silenced by family members, friends and our very own community). So she had come up with the idea that we start a banquet. July 19, 2013 (the 10 year anniversary of my first rape) we had managed to pull together and did a small banquet, the turn out wasn’t as large as we wanted it to be but it was just the beginning. We had personal stories, music, singing, dancing and a lot of healing words and tears. We stood together that day as survivors. That was the first time I had opened up publically about the rape and it felt like I had gotten a little piece of myself back.

 

I’m starting this fundraiser because everything that I plan on doing I will be paying for out of pocket and I’m trying to make up the difference in the ticket prices. We want to charge $25 a ticket as a donation which will include dinner, dessert, drinks and gift bags. But I don't want to turn anyone away just because they don't have $25, so this is to pay for the tickets and food for those who can’t afford it. We will be showing NO! The Rape Documentary by Aishah Shahidah Simmons. This video speaks about black rape survivors and the challenges they face in the community and why it’s hard for them to come out and speak about it.  As of now, the banquet will be in April 2016 in Ardwick Ardmore Maryland. Any amount donations are greatly appreciated. Leftover money from the fundraiser and all money from the ticket sales, a portion will be donated to the local rape crisis centers in the DMV area. I hope to see you all there.