Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead
Sometimes it seems that we face an insurmountable task. I have taken hope from this quote and the truth behind it. Would it not be great to live in a world where sexual assault was a rarity instead of a plague? Is it true that small groups such as ours can really initiate lasting change? History says it not only can, but does.
Mental Illness at one time was considered a spiritual curse upon the person inflicted. The “insane” were treated like criminals or worse. A handful of people such as Dorthea Dix decided to do something about it and our society today may still have unfortunate stigmas attached to mental illness, but we certainly have come a long way in the treatment of both the disorders themselves and the people affected.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) began with 24 members in 1824 in England. Today almost every city has an SPCA and the consensus of most Americans is to treat animals humanly.
The NAACP was born in a tiny room of an apartment in New York City in 1908.It now had over half a million registered members and widespread influence in the world. In one generation the civil rights movement has gone from outlawing segregation to having an African American become the leader of the free world.
RCASA began with the vision and determination of 4 women in 1986. Since then as a society we have seen great advances such as marital rape being recognized as a crime in all fifty states, the strengthening of rape shield laws, the advent of the sex offender registry, the campus security act, and many more advances for the cause. Within our agency we are advancing in leaps and bounds as well.
The counseling program has grown both in numbers and services. We have a state of the art trauma program as well as art therapy, group, supportive and of course, crisis counseling. In fiscal year 2008 we served 253 counseling clients. In the first two quarters this year we have served 665. Our crisis response team is really responding, fewer victims are “falling through the cracks. Last fiscal year we responded 500 crises, the first half of this year we have responded to 983. Our court advocacy program is gaining momentum and we are getting referrals from victim witness in unprecedented numbers. Our education outreach is exceeding expectations and we are getting out a lot of information on prevention, healthy relationships, coercion, and services. Basically, we are growing fast and keeping pace.
We are changing the way our community deals with sexual assault. Other communities are watching us to see how we fare. We are committed. While we all have different reasons, backgrounds, and roles in our quest for change, we all have the same goal. To help victims become survivors and change the old attitudes and stigmas attached to sexual assault. We are here, we are working hard, we care, and we will persevere.
By: Corey Creswell
-Margaret Mead
Sometimes it seems that we face an insurmountable task. I have taken hope from this quote and the truth behind it. Would it not be great to live in a world where sexual assault was a rarity instead of a plague? Is it true that small groups such as ours can really initiate lasting change? History says it not only can, but does.
Mental Illness at one time was considered a spiritual curse upon the person inflicted. The “insane” were treated like criminals or worse. A handful of people such as Dorthea Dix decided to do something about it and our society today may still have unfortunate stigmas attached to mental illness, but we certainly have come a long way in the treatment of both the disorders themselves and the people affected.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) began with 24 members in 1824 in England. Today almost every city has an SPCA and the consensus of most Americans is to treat animals humanly.
The NAACP was born in a tiny room of an apartment in New York City in 1908.It now had over half a million registered members and widespread influence in the world. In one generation the civil rights movement has gone from outlawing segregation to having an African American become the leader of the free world.
RCASA began with the vision and determination of 4 women in 1986. Since then as a society we have seen great advances such as marital rape being recognized as a crime in all fifty states, the strengthening of rape shield laws, the advent of the sex offender registry, the campus security act, and many more advances for the cause. Within our agency we are advancing in leaps and bounds as well.
The counseling program has grown both in numbers and services. We have a state of the art trauma program as well as art therapy, group, supportive and of course, crisis counseling. In fiscal year 2008 we served 253 counseling clients. In the first two quarters this year we have served 665. Our crisis response team is really responding, fewer victims are “falling through the cracks. Last fiscal year we responded 500 crises, the first half of this year we have responded to 983. Our court advocacy program is gaining momentum and we are getting referrals from victim witness in unprecedented numbers. Our education outreach is exceeding expectations and we are getting out a lot of information on prevention, healthy relationships, coercion, and services. Basically, we are growing fast and keeping pace.
We are changing the way our community deals with sexual assault. Other communities are watching us to see how we fare. We are committed. While we all have different reasons, backgrounds, and roles in our quest for change, we all have the same goal. To help victims become survivors and change the old attitudes and stigmas attached to sexual assault. We are here, we are working hard, we care, and we will persevere.
By: Corey Creswell
