April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year’s theme, Engaging New Voices, encourages a wider audience of people, groups and organizations to take action to help stop sexual violence before it happens.

You can help change the culture that allows sexual assault to exist:

• By speaking out to end sexual assault, you create a ripple effect to help the next generation foster attitudes that promote safety, respect, equality and healthy relationships.

• Greater awareness and open conversations about this important issue will improve understanding about the causes of sexual assault and how to best change behaviors that allow it to persist.

• We can all play a role in influencing those in our personal, social and business networks. Coaches and teachers can promote integrity and respect with young people. Faith leaders can support survivors. Parents can talk to their kids about healthy relationships. Community members can encourage conversations about all of these topics

Click here for 30 actions you can take to spread awareness during April and beyond.

Consider these facts:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives.

• During the 2015-16 Fiscal Year, the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan provided sexual assault services to 190 local survivors; 47 of whom were under age 18. The WRCNM’s 24-hour crisis line supported 843 calls.

• These numbers only tell part of the story; sexual assault continues to be a crime that is greatly underreported.

One month is not enough to solve the serious and widespread issue of sexual assault. However, the attention April generates is an opportunity to energize and expand prevention efforts throughout the year. Please join us in making it a part of your everyday life to use your voice to help end violence against women.

Learn more at National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Click here!

For more information on how your business, group or organization can help end violence against women and girls in our community, contact us at (231) 347-1572, or email us.