PPCWNY & RESTORE Recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Jennie P., Title IX Supervisor at RESTORE

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). RESTORE, a PPCWNY program, works to bring awareness and prevention of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse to our community every day of the year. In April, we focus our efforts alongside other organizations across the country and amplify our voices together to highlight the work we do and what still needs to be done. The Vision of SAAM 2024 is “Our Voices Have Power. Together We Can Build Safe and Respectful Communities.” 

RESTORE is very busy during April! On our college campuses, we are facilitating prevention programs, tabling, and planting flags for our visual flag displays. RESTORE is focusing some of our outreach during SAAM on medical practices, such as doctor’s offices and urgent cares. We want medical providers to be able to give our resources to their patients. There are a few events that are open to the public:

• What Were You Wearing display at SUNY Brockport from April 1-5 at the Seymour Student Union: A common form of rape myth is the belief that what a survivor was wearing at the time of their assault caused, in part or in full, their assault. Join Health Promotion and Prevention Education and RESTORE for an immersive gallery exhibit that explores how to combat this form of rape myth acceptance.
• Hold Me Right documentary screening and panel discussion at MCC’s Brighton Campus on April 15 at 6pm: A filmmaker tries to cope with the aftermath of her own sexual assault while filming first-hand testimonies — ranging from a nurse who performed her own rape kit to a pedophile molested as a child. Hold Me Right follows both survivors and perpetrators through the harrowing journey of speaking up, healing, and moving forward.

Lastly, RESTORE is implementing a social media campaign for SAAM! Follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/restoreSAS), and Instagram (instagram.com/restoresas/) during April for all of our SAAM coverage and content.