April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and MOCSA participates annually in this
national campaign to raise awareness and prevent sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. On Tuesday and Wednesday evening the Kansas City skyline will be lit up teal to mark two important days in the movement.
April 5 is SAAM Day of Action. On this day advocates, supporters and community members are encouraged to wear teal, take action, and show support for survivors and SAAM. For more information about the history of SAAM visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): https://www.nsvrc.org/saam
April 6 is Start by Believing Day. End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) and the Start by Believing campaign has created positive change in communities, improved responses to disclosures of sexual violence, and fostered a safe and supportive environment for survivors. Missouri is one of eight states in the US that has formally proclaimed its commitment, and thousands of individuals have taken the pledge to Start by Believing. For more information visit: https://www.startbybelieving.org/home/
Other MOCSA events happening during April include:
April 14, 6:00pm – StoryShare Showcase! What you say matters. MOCSA, Poetic Underground, KKFI, and Blip Roasters are partnering to host a live storytelling event. https://mocsa.org/storyshare
April 24, 4:00pm – MOCSA will be featured as the Community Champion at the Kansas City Current match at Children’s Mercy Park.
April 29, 11:30am – 28th Annual Community Luncheon: MOCSA is honored to have Janelle Williams Melendrez and Jeffrey Bucholtz as our keynote speakers who will share a powerful message about the intersectionality of violence and discrimination and provide an action plan for all of us in a time when dialogue around civil rights, sexual violence and consent are more important than ever. https://mocsa.org/luncheon