On April 9, I am running 13.1 miles and raising $1,310 for the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at the Rutgers School of Social Work. I hope I can use this half-marathon as an opportunity to raise awareness about the important research and education that is happening to support survivors of violence.

Before I go any further, I think it’s first important to tell you why I care deeply about this issue. As a survivor of rape, I am immensely grateful to the advocates who met me at the hospital, the nurses (primarily male) who took care of me during the exam, and the police officers who were kind to me as they filed my case. All of these individuals were professional and respectful. Little did I know that these individuals were empowering me after an extreme personal violation. I know that not all survivors of violence are so fortunate.

The experience has mobilized me to take action, and that’s where VAWC comes in. I worked at the Center on Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) for six years. I managed the Community Engagement branch at the Center, which focused on professional training for social workers and disseminated information about violence against women and children to a broad audience (via special events, postings on social media, etc.). We learned how to be creative with resources and also had big dreams of what we could do if we only had the money…

While $1,310 is not a lot of money, I know that team VAWC has the ability to stretch a dollar for maximum impact. Wonder what some of that money could support? Here are a few examples:

·      Translating evidence-based research for postings on social media

·      Special event on a sub-topic on violence against women and children

·      Crucial training for staff on the latest social media trends

These activities may not sound exciting, but they are crucial to educating professionals who will support victims/survivors like me (remember 1 in 6 women will be a victim of sexual violence ). VAWC does not work directly with clients, but they provide the information and training needed to students and professionals to ensure that all victims/survivors are empowered and respected.

My hope (and it may be naïve) is that by being transparent with my own story, it may help someone else or it may help you understand why research and training are so crucial for an issue like violence against women and children. And ultimately, the dissemination of this information ensures that organizations who work directly with survivors have the access to the most up to date information! 

If you have any questions about any of this, please do not hesitate to contact me (whether we have been in touch recently or not!) …

Thank you for considering this request – I greatly appreciate any support you can share!!


 

Want to learn more about VAWC?

Website: vawc.rutgers.edu

Mission: The mission of the Center on Violence Against Women & Children is to strive to eliminate physical, sexual, and other forms of violence against women and children and the power imbalances that permit them.

This mission will be accomplished through the use of a collaborative approach that focuses on multidisciplinary research, education, and community engagement that impacts communities and policy in New Jersey, the U.S., and throughout the world. 


Want to learn more about the issue?

- Rutgers Plan to End Sexual Violence on Campus

- NJ Coalition to End Sexual Assault