The Dandelion Project
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The Dandelion Project is a community based initiative started by The Sexual Assault Action Coalition.
The Sexual Assault Action Coalition is a by survivors for survivors and our allies grassroots organization co-founded March 2016. We fundamentally believe in the importance of community based initiatives and community collaboration. To find out more about the Sexual Assault Action Coalition please visit our facebook page: facebook.com/saacto
The initial idea was born out of the stories we heard from food and beverage industry workers in addition to experiences members of the Sexual Assault Action Coalition have had in precarious work environments. At the same time the government of Ontario was amending Bill 132: Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act which included making it law that all workplaces as of September 8th 2016 must have a written anti- sexual violence and anti- sexual harassment policy in place. We knew the time to act was now.
The Dandelion Project was created based on the need to hold establishments accountable in creating safe spaces for all people (staff, patrons, owners). The project has been organized based on community needs, stories and discussions.
We have found too often in discussion with the food and beverage community that staff are not sure what to do when an incident happens, do not feel safe in their workplaces, have felt powerless and voiceless when trying to address their concerns with their employer. Most jarring are the stories we heard from some food and beverage workers who reported sexual harassment/sexual assault to their employers and were told there was nothing their employer could do.
There are 460,000 sexual assaults In Canada every year, and out of every 1000 sexual assaults 997 assailants walk free.
"Certain groups in the population can be identified as being more vulnerable to becoming victims of sexual assault. Gender is the most important factor.
Females are far more likely to be victims of sexual offences than any other type of violent offence. For example, in 2002, women represented approximately half of all victims of violent offences; however, women accounted for 85% of victims of sexual offences reported to a sample of police services. Sexual aggression against women is widespread in Canadian society and women may experience multiple incidents of this crime in their lifetimes." (Canada's System of Justice- Stats on Sexual Assault in Canada)
Reading these statistics, knowing as survivors the traumatizing process of reporting, the stigma that surrounds sexual assault and violence and the gendered crimes against humanity that disproportionately affect self identified women led us to develop this project and its goals to end violence and harassment and create a culture of consent rather that a continuous fight to end rape culture.
Your donations will help us, as a small collective of people to further research and create the manual that will be used for the Dandelion Project's training and education.
The Dandelion Project Goals
1. Hold establishments accountable to the public by complying with Bill 132 in a transparent way.
2. The project also aims to create anti-violence and anti-harassment policies and real life protocols that will create safe spaces for not only patrons but for employees as well.
3. Online Survey’s and platforms for community feedback and consultation.
4. PSA and app to educate the public about what the dandelion project is.
5. Training manual based on current research and feedback from the survivor community. This training manual would help employers train themselves and staff in anti violence and anti harassment protocols and procedures.
After training is complete and the establishment has created anti violence and anti harassment policies and procedures, they will be awarded a dandelion sticker for their window to let patrons know that this is a safe and accountable space.
There will be a Public Service Announcement and information about the project with emphasis on social media awareness, this will help patrons understand the importance of the dandelion sticker.
Our hope is that organisations in other cities can initiate their own program similar to The Dandelion Project.
The Dandelion Project is in its grassroots stage and we are working hard to develop it into something that will become a standard for all cities. There is no better time than now to come together as a community, internationally and locally, to stand up against sexual assault and violence against women. We have no more time to be complacent, we have no more space to remain silent and we have every opportunity to create change. Join in the movement and create safe spaces for all people in and out of our bars and restaurants.
If your establishment would like to participate in the Dandelion Project please visit www.dandelionproject.ca for more information (coming soon)
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and continuous collaboration. We can only create a culture of consent, dignity and equity together.
Sincerely,
Viktoria Belle, Jenna Davies, Co-founders of the Sexual Assault Action Coalition and the Dandelion Task force.
The Sexual Assault Action Coalition is a by survivors for survivors and our allies grassroots organization co-founded March 2016. We fundamentally believe in the importance of community based initiatives and community collaboration. To find out more about the Sexual Assault Action Coalition please visit our facebook page: facebook.com/saacto
The initial idea was born out of the stories we heard from food and beverage industry workers in addition to experiences members of the Sexual Assault Action Coalition have had in precarious work environments. At the same time the government of Ontario was amending Bill 132: Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act which included making it law that all workplaces as of September 8th 2016 must have a written anti- sexual violence and anti- sexual harassment policy in place. We knew the time to act was now.
The Dandelion Project was created based on the need to hold establishments accountable in creating safe spaces for all people (staff, patrons, owners). The project has been organized based on community needs, stories and discussions.
We have found too often in discussion with the food and beverage community that staff are not sure what to do when an incident happens, do not feel safe in their workplaces, have felt powerless and voiceless when trying to address their concerns with their employer. Most jarring are the stories we heard from some food and beverage workers who reported sexual harassment/sexual assault to their employers and were told there was nothing their employer could do.
There are 460,000 sexual assaults In Canada every year, and out of every 1000 sexual assaults 997 assailants walk free.
"Certain groups in the population can be identified as being more vulnerable to becoming victims of sexual assault. Gender is the most important factor.
Females are far more likely to be victims of sexual offences than any other type of violent offence. For example, in 2002, women represented approximately half of all victims of violent offences; however, women accounted for 85% of victims of sexual offences reported to a sample of police services. Sexual aggression against women is widespread in Canadian society and women may experience multiple incidents of this crime in their lifetimes." (Canada's System of Justice- Stats on Sexual Assault in Canada)
Reading these statistics, knowing as survivors the traumatizing process of reporting, the stigma that surrounds sexual assault and violence and the gendered crimes against humanity that disproportionately affect self identified women led us to develop this project and its goals to end violence and harassment and create a culture of consent rather that a continuous fight to end rape culture.
Your donations will help us, as a small collective of people to further research and create the manual that will be used for the Dandelion Project's training and education.
The Dandelion Project Goals
1. Hold establishments accountable to the public by complying with Bill 132 in a transparent way.
2. The project also aims to create anti-violence and anti-harassment policies and real life protocols that will create safe spaces for not only patrons but for employees as well.
3. Online Survey’s and platforms for community feedback and consultation.
4. PSA and app to educate the public about what the dandelion project is.
5. Training manual based on current research and feedback from the survivor community. This training manual would help employers train themselves and staff in anti violence and anti harassment protocols and procedures.
After training is complete and the establishment has created anti violence and anti harassment policies and procedures, they will be awarded a dandelion sticker for their window to let patrons know that this is a safe and accountable space.
There will be a Public Service Announcement and information about the project with emphasis on social media awareness, this will help patrons understand the importance of the dandelion sticker.
Our hope is that organisations in other cities can initiate their own program similar to The Dandelion Project.
The Dandelion Project is in its grassroots stage and we are working hard to develop it into something that will become a standard for all cities. There is no better time than now to come together as a community, internationally and locally, to stand up against sexual assault and violence against women. We have no more time to be complacent, we have no more space to remain silent and we have every opportunity to create change. Join in the movement and create safe spaces for all people in and out of our bars and restaurants.
If your establishment would like to participate in the Dandelion Project please visit www.dandelionproject.ca for more information (coming soon)
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and continuous collaboration. We can only create a culture of consent, dignity and equity together.
Sincerely,
Viktoria Belle, Jenna Davies, Co-founders of the Sexual Assault Action Coalition and the Dandelion Task force.
Organiser
Sexual Assault Action Coalition .
Organiser
Toronto, ON
