The Power to Heal, The Right to Thrive

Centering Survivors This Sexual Assault Awareness Month

At We All Rise: African American Resource Center, every day is an opportunity to walk alongside survivors of sexual violence on their journey toward healing. But each April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), we pause with purpose — to uplift survivor voices, name the barriers they face, and invite our community to take bold action.

This year, our theme is clear and powerful:

💜 The Power to Heal, The Right to Thrive.

Survivors deserve more than awareness — they deserve safety, justice, housing, support, and joy. This theme reflects our belief that healing is not a privilege, but a birthright — and that thriving is not just possible, but necessary.

📊 Why This Matters

In 2024, We All Rise supported over 660 survivors of sexual assault — more than 60% of whom were experiencing homelessness. Many also navigated mental health needs, financial instability, and systemic barriers to justice. These stories are not rare. They are urgent reminders that healing must include housing, economic justice, and culturally specific care.

💪 Collective Action, Centering Survivors

This year, we’re proud to join forces with community partners to expand survivor visibility and support:

🟣 Paint the Town Teal

We’re teaming up with Wise Women Gathering Place, Family Services Sexual Assault Center, and Oneida Nation to bring teal ribbons and resources into local businesses, taverns, and landmarks across Brown County. Each ribbon reminds survivors: You are seen. You are believed. You are not alone.

💙 Be SAFE Campaign | April 14–17

As part of the Brown County Service Providers Committee, We All Rise is joining agencies across our community in a weeklong campaign to promote the Be SAFE helpline: 920-212-SAFE — a confidential, 24/7 resource for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Throughout the week of April 14–17, each participating organization will share messages of support, safety, and solidarity for survivors — lifting up our collective commitment to end violence and ensure access to healing services.

This campaign is a powerful example of what happens when advocates, community leaders, and support agencies come together with one message:Survivors are never alone.

💻 Learn more or access support at 920212SAFE

🌱 How You Can Support Survivors This April

• 👣 Visit businesses with teal ribbons and share their posts

• 📲 Follow us and our partner agencies for daily actions and awareness

• 📞 Share the Be SAFE number: 920-212-SAFE

• 💸 Donate to organizations doing the work 365 days a year

• 💬 Believe survivors. Listen without judgment.

Together, we can build a community where survivors are not just surviving — but thriving.

Because every survivor holds the power to heal. And every survivor has the right to thrive.

Image Description: A teal graphic titled “The Power to Heal, The Right to Thrive” with a subtitle that reads “Centering Survivors This Sexual Assault Awareness Month.” Four photos are arranged on the right side with captions: (1) A Black woman holding a mug beside a laptop, captioned “Healing is a Right, Not a Privilege.” (2) A Black man in a hoodie looking serious, captioned “Addressing the Real Barriers Survivors Face.” (3) A young Black girl with natural hair, captioned “We Rise with Survivors.” (4) A person in a wheelchair entering a van, captioned “Community Action Creates Survivor Safety.” Black arrows connect each image to the central theme.