April Awareness Brings May Prevention

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Join the Julie Valentine Center at the Julie Valentine Memorial on April 28th from 5:30- 7:00

"In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, JVC will bring awareness to the issues of sexual violence in our community with a presentation and bell ringing ceremony in Cleveland Park.  Join us at the Julie Valentine Memorial as we come together to support survivors of sexual violence and take a stand against these crimes in our community. The ringing of one bell, one voice calls attention; the collective ringing of a commuinty of bells brings about change.

Guest Vocalist, Ella Mae Bowen will be performing as well.  Ella Mae and her producer Seth Bolt, who is the bass player for NEEDTOBREATHE, wrote "When I Look in the Mirror."  The song is about the struggles they have seen others face due to family violence and the toll it can take on a family.  They have both been blessed with loving families, and feel fortunate."  - GRCCAC.ORG   

Domestic Violence; Everybody's Doing It!

Domestic Violence Census 2010 Results

On September 15th, 2010...

• 70,648 Victims of Domestic Violence Served
• 9,541 Unmet Requests for Services
• 29% Shelters Reported Not Enough Staff
• 23,522 Emergency Hotline Calls Answered
• 82% of Programs Reported Higher Demand for Services

Make sure that September 15th, 2011 is different :

Volunteer at a Shelter Today !

Safe Harbor "Breaking the Cyle"

Safe Harbor helps victims of domestic violence Greenville, Pickens, Anderson and Oconee Counties.  Their facilities are mostly used for safe emergency shelter. But, they also provide counseling, legal advocacy, and community outreach and education. 

As I have mentioned in previous posts, education is an important element to stopping domestic violence. Society must be informed in order to raise awareness and provide help. 

Did You Know ? 

• 1 in 3 teens will experience violence in a relationship.  Two-thirds of them will never report it to anyone (breakthecycle.org)

• Females between the ages of 16-24 are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence than any other age group (US Dept. of Justice)

• Teen dating violence runs across race, gender, and socio-economic lines (National Center for Victims of Crime)

What Can You Do? 

Safe Harbor is providing a program they call "breaking the cycle." 

According to their website, breaking the cycle is a: 

"One-day training sponsored by Safe Harbor, teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, and youth leaders will learn about the facts and warning signs of teen dating violence and how to effectively assist students who are dealing with violence in their relationships (safety planning, cultural competency, etc).  Professional trainers from BreakTheCycle.Org (a national nonprofit organization addressing the issue of teen dating violence) will lead this training."

Also on June 4th Safe Harbor is providing a cycle tour through the scenic upstate. Choose a 25 mile or 65 mile course. Register now for $40 at www.safeharborcylcetour.org 

Safe Harbor also encourages women to recognize if they are in an abusive relationship. They provide a web page with criteria for an abusive relationship. 

Just like any other safe shelter, or crisis center they need volunteers to continue to provide their wonderful services. Get involved. Donate your time to the Safe Harbor and make a difference. 

Visit The Safe Harbor Website for a list of volunteer opportunities. 

The Night We Took Back

Take back the night was a huge success. There were 5 different stories or poems read by student volunteers. One of the monologues read was titled "My Short Skirt."

My short skirt is not an invitation 
a provocation 
an indication 
that I want it 
or give it 
or that I hook. 

  My short skirt 
is not begging for it 
it does not want you 
to rip it off me 
or pull it down. 

  My short skirt 
is not a legal reason 
for raping me 
although it has been before 
it will not hold up 
in the new court. 

  My short skirt, believe it or not 
has nothing to do with you. 

  My short skirt 
is about discovering 
the power of my lower calves 
about cool autumn air traveling 
up my inner thighs 
about allowing everything I see 
or pass or feel to live inside. 

  My short skirt is not proof 
that I am stupid 
or undecided 
or a malleable little girl. 

  My short skirt is my defiance 
I will not let you make me afraid 
My short skirt is not showing off 
this is who I am 
before you made me cover it 
or tone it down. 
Get used to it.

  My short skirt is happiness 
I can feel myself on the ground. 
I am here. I am hot. 
  My short skirt is a liberation 
flag in the women's army 
I declare these streets, any streets 
my vagina's country. 

  My short skirt 
is turquoise water 
with swimming colored fish 
a summer festival 
in the starry dark 
a bird calling 
a train arriving in a foreign town 
my short skirt is a wild spin 
a full breath 
a tango dip 
my short skirt is 
initiation 
appreciation 
excitation. 

  But mainly my short skirt 
and everything under it 
is Mine. 
Mine. 
Mine. 

To close Take Back the Night Stephanie Shatto spoke on behalf of the Julie Valentine Center (formally the Greenville Rape Crisis Center). Ms. Shatto informed the audience that sexual violence and abuse effects everyone. She shared a few statistics with the audience. One in six boys will be sexually abuse before they are 15. One particular statistic hit home with me. One in every four college women will experience some type of sexual harassment or assault before she graduates. That means in the room I am in now 4 girls have or will be a victim of sexual abuse. 

She ended the event by urging the audience to volunteer. Referring to the Julie Valentine Center: 

 " We were started by volunteers and need volunteers to help the community." 

Chances are, you have been victimized or personally know a victim of sexual assault. Volunteer your time for them, for the millions of men and women across the world who  are trying to take back the night. 

Save the Night to Take One Back !

Don't Forget Tomorrow at 7 in the PDEN.

Take Back the Night

Who is Julie Valentine?

The Greenville Rape Crisis and Child Abuse Center was founded in 2001. It was a result of the combining of the Greenville Rape Crisis, Prevent Child Abuse Greenville, and the Greenville Children's Advocacy Center. However, recently the GRCCAC has undergone some changes.
The center has changed its name to the Julie Valentine Center. Julie Valentine was a newborn baby found in the woods of east Greenville on February 13, 1990. Despite police efforts her parents were never found, and her identity was never recovered. The police named her Julie Valentine because she was found so close to Valentine's Day. Her name represents a symbol for hope against child abuse, and rape. The Greenville Rape Crisis Center was formally renamed the Julie Valentine Center on February 14th, 2011.  

Get Involved!

The Julie Valentine Center has great opportunities to volunteer. The center has changed its name but it still offers the same services to its clients in need. But, the center needs volunteers in order to help as many victims as possible. The center has flexible hours and has many different options for volunteer work.

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities currently available at GRCCAC:

• Advocacy
• Child Care
• Speaker's Bureau
• Office/Administration
• Internships
• Fundraising
• General
• Group Projects
• Main Street Jazz
• Downtown Alive
• Fall for Greenville

Julie Valentine statue outside of the newly renovated Julie Valentine Center

For more information, or to request a volunteer application, contact us at volunteer@grccac.org

Shatter the Silence, Stop the Violence

Take Back the Night

Furman University Paladen Stage

Tuesday April 5th 

"A woman walks alone down a dark, deserted street. With every shadow she sees, and every sound she hears, her pounding heart flutters and skips a beat. She hurries her pace as she sees her destination become closer. She is almost there. She reaches the front door, goes inside, collects herself, and moves on forgetting, at least for tonight, the gripping fear that momentarily enveloped her life.This scene could have occurred anywhere last night, last year, or even 100 years ago. Historically, women faced the anxiety of walking alone at night and that is why Take Back the Night began."

- Take Back the Night