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Alliance: Newsletter: Spring 2005: Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2005

Newsletter: Spring 2005: Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2005

Artichoke Dance Company
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On Tuesday April 19th, the Alliance and the Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) Planning Committee held its second annual 24-hour reading of survivors’ stories in City Hall Park, "[2] Listen: NYC Unites for Sexual Assault Awareness." An opening ceremony at 11:30am included remarks by the event organizers. At noon, Public Advocate Betsy Gottbaum read the first story, and reading continued for 24 hours. By the time the event closed on Wednesday afternoon, with a performance by the New York based Artichoke Dance Company, hundreds of volunteers had lent their voices.

The "Listen" event aimed to alert New Yorkers to the state of rape in New York City. It is too easy to forget the frequency of rape and the devastating effect on victims and on our community.

One participant had this to say:

"Last night's reading was very moving. I was surprised by the number of young women who wrote that they had never told anyone about having been attacked. Silence is so isolating. I hope your organization continues to bring the issues surrounding sexual assault out into the open."

Kudos are due to the SAAM Planning Committee, and to everyone who volunteered throughout the day and night, for making this such a powerful event.

The SAAM Planning Committee held its first fundraiser this year at Absolutely 4th Bar & Grill. We raised over $1,000! These donations supported the cost of set-up, tent, stage and other amenities for the "Listen"event. Safe Horizon generously donated banners for the event, to help publicize and reinfornce the message of the event for the passerby.

ARIA (Awareness of Rape and Incest Through Art) also held a benefit for SAAM. In addition to a silent auction, there were performances and music. The proceeds funded workhops for survivors, covered the cost of sound and lighting for the "Listen" event, and supported the 2005 "A Night to Heal" concert: the second annual evening of mixed performances including dance, drama, comedy and music. The evening created a space for survivors of sexual abuse to share their stories through performance art while fostering awareness on the topic for both the survivor and non-survivor communities.

Thank you to everyone who made SAAM a success in 2005!

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