Awareness Blog

Even before its official declaration, Sexual Assault Awareness Month was about both awareness and prevention of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. From the civil rights movement to the founding of the first rape crisis centers to national legislation and beyond, the roots of SAAM run deep. From then until now, Black women have been and remain the leaders of the movement to end gender-based violence. Without Black women there is no movement.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month! The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) supports NSVRC’s #SAAM2022 theme of building safe online spaces together. We call upon the movement to explore ways the field can create supportive online spaces that prioritize Black health, healing, and wellness.

This February, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) is lifting up key resources that “Center Connection” by building meaningful relationships with youth across multiple identities and lived experiences. We are highlighting advocates, programs, initiatives, and campaigns that center Black youth and honor their wisdom and leadership.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is right around the corner, and for #DVAM2021 we are turning up the heat on our call to action from last year, No Survivor Justice Without Racial Justice. This October and beyond, the Domestic Violence Awareness Project calls on the domestic violence movement to center, celebrate, and follow the leadership of Black survivors, leaders, advocates, and frontline workers.

This Pride Month, the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence, a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), celebrates our beloved and diverse LGBTQ communities. To prevent violence, loving and equitable relationships in LGBTQ families and communities must be supported. 

For many, the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism and other traumas are taking a heavy toll on mental wellness and health. Isolation, collective trauma, and increased stress abound.

As we work to dismantle white supremacy and other systems that create and maintain violence, we must invest in efforts to promote healing justice and community care. This Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s take action to ensure that everyone has the care and community support they need to thrive.

This Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence is supporting the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s call to build online spaces that foster healthy relationships, connectedness, and healing. This year’s campaign explores how we can work together to prevent sexual violence and build the world we want to live in by promoting a culture of consent, keeping kids safe online, and building healthy online communities.

This country owes the innovation, wisdom, and passion of young Black leaders who go unnoticed and unnamed in mainstream history books. February boasts both Black History Month and Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. These months are not only for making clear the intersections between violence prevention, Black history, and safety but also for looking toward leaders creating safe and brave spaces and dismantling white supremacy — Black youth leaders.

“It’s like they give you enough time to get yourself halfway out of the position you’re in, and then they just let you go.” – Youth, King County Youth of Color Needs Assessment

This Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), we’re centering the unique needs of runaway and homeless youth (RHY) experiencing relationship violence, particularly Black and Trans youth living at the intersections of multiple forms of oppression.

Advocates are essential. With the work of anti-violence advocates and activists, survivors, their families, and their communities can access and center safety, healing, and joy. 

This blog post highlights NRCDV's new video series highlighting the stories of three advocates who share how COVID-19 has impacted their work, why they are essential workers, and why the work of serving those experiencing violence within their respective communities is essential. #1Thing you can do today is listen to their stories.