BREAK THE SILENCE: Truth Telling Event

Please join representatives of Break the Silence: Twin Ports in the WITC atrium for a Sexual Assault Awareness Month truth-telling event the evening of Wednesday, April 18th.

Survivors of sexual assault are invited to publicly identify themselves as survivors and share their stories in a safe supportive environment. Allies are invited to attend in solidarity.

To break the silence means to add your name to a larger story of sexual violence in our community, calling for change.

All survivors who wish to break the silence, regardless of whether they choose to speak at the event, can still participate in the companion photography project. Organizers will be taking survivor portraits throughout the entirety of this event. Photographs will be posted, along with the survivor’s name, and an optional narrative, to the Break the Silence: Twin Ports Facebook page.

Survivors are invited to sign up to speak for 2-3 minutes, with 20 slots available. If you would like to speak, please sign up for a time slot upon arrival to the event. The script is as follows:

Survivor begins: “My name is __________, and I’m a survivor of (sexual violence, rape, sexual assault.)
*share narrative for 2-3 min*
Survivor ends: “My name is __________, and I am breaking the silence.”

All survivors who choose to participate will receive a small gift bag of self care items and encouraging notes from the circle of survivors and allies.

Event Agenda:
5:00 – Social Hour and Refreshments
6:00 – Welcome and event guidelines
6:15 – Survivor narratives
7:15 – Closing remarks
7:15-8:00 – Social Hour and Refreshments

Food and beverages will be offered.  CASDA advocates will be on site for support. Parking is available in the WITC conference center lot. Look for signs directing you to the event.

CASDA, the Douglas County Sexual Assault Coordinated Community Response Team and WITC have all contributed to this event.