Jul 3, 2019 | Articles, News, Press, Video
In a video that aired on WGN on July 2, 2019, Executive Director Erin Walton was interviewed about how to talk to kids and summer camp staff about preventing sexual violence. Click here to watch the full interview and read Resilience’s tips.
Jun 20, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
Resilience’s 16th Annual Evening of Impact: Prevention is Power was recently featured in an article published in the Chicago Defender on June 19, 2019. Click here to read the full article.
Jun 17, 2019 | Announcements, Articles, News, Press
In an article posted on Ascension’s website on April 11, 2019, Resilience’s new hospital partnership with AMITA Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago was announced. You can read the full announcement...
Jun 3, 2019 | Articles, News, Press, Video
In a video published by CBS on May 21, 2019, Director of Programs and Public Policy Sarah Layden commented on the 6% arrest rate for criminal sexual assault cases, as well as survivors’ experience working with law enforcement.
May 17, 2019 | Announcements, Articles, News, Press
In an article published in UPROXX on May 15, 2019, Prevention Educator Maggie Arthur was interviewed about her work for OurMusicMyBody, a collaborative campaign between Resilience and Between Friends to promote consensual music experiences.
May 6, 2019 | Articles, News, Press, Video
In a video that aired on CBS 2 on May 3, 2019, Resilience’s Director of Programs and Public Policy Sarah Layden was interviewed about amendments to the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA) that require hospitals to partner with a rape crisis...
Apr 29, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article published by WMMB News Radio on April 26, 2019, survivors of sexual violence were interviewed at Standing Silent Witness demonstration. Standing Silent Witness is Resilience’s signature Sexual Assault Awareness Month event, where nearly 200...
Apr 18, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article published today in the Chicago Tribune, Resilience was mentioned as the beneficiary of local band Impulsive Hearts’ new cassette sales.
Apr 16, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article published today in the Chicago Reader, Resilience was mentioned as the beneficiary of proceeds from Impulsive Hearts’ sales from their cassette MeToo: A Benefit for Resilience.
Apr 15, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article published on April 10, 2019 in Scapi Magazine, Resilience was mentioned as a beneficiary of Strip Joker, a body positive comedy show hosted at Hamburger Mary’s. At Strip Joker, stand up comedians are encouraged to perform in whatever state of...
Apr 10, 2019 | Announcements, News
We are excited to share that we’ve partnered with a new hospital: AMITA Resurrection Health Medical Center Chicago. Our advocates have already begun responding to calls. Twenty-four hours a day, our Volunteer Medical Advocates are on call to provide crisis...
Mar 12, 2019 | Announcements, News
In January we asked the Chicago 2019 Mayoral candidates about their plans to address gender-based violence in Chicago. An updated version focusing on questionnaire answers from Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle is now available. The guide was compiled by the Chicago...
Mar 12, 2019 | Announcements, News, Press
At a press conference on Thursday, March 8, Director of Advocacy Services Mariá Balata, together with other representatives of local organizations that make up the Status of Women and Girls Working Group, joined the Office of the City Clerk in announcing...
Feb 26, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
On a radio show that aired on WBBM on February 25, 2019, Executive Director Erin Walton commented on the recent charges against R. Kelly. She spoke about the impact of the charges on young survivors and said she hopes the case against R. Kelly will clear up...
Feb 25, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article published in the Chicago Tribune on February 22, 2019, Executive Director Erin Walton commented on the recent sexual abuse charges against R. Kelly. Walton was joined by Anthony Clark, who helped organize a protest outside of R. Kelly’s Chicago...
Feb 22, 2019 | Announcements, Articles, News
In an op-ed published by the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, Executive Director Erin Walton, together with the other Executive Directors for the founding agencies of the Chicago Prevention Alliance (CPA), wrote about sexual violence against youth and the...
Feb 4, 2019 | News
Resilience is proud to share the official comment to the proposed Title IX regulations by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA). Our very own Director of Programs and Public Policy Sarah Layden, along with directors and advocates from other centers,...
Feb 4, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article in the Medill Reports published on January 31, 2019, Development Associate and volunteer Lindsay Cogan and Volunteer Advocacy Coordinator Brittny Blackwood spoke about how Resilience volunteer medical advocates serve survivors of sexual violence....
Feb 1, 2019 | Articles, News
In an article in the Chicago Tribune on March 27, 2018, Resilience volunteer and former client Katie O’Brien shared her experience of visiting the ER and being treated by nurse who had never completed a rape exam before.
Jan 31, 2019 | Articles, News, Press, Video
In a video on NBC 5 on January 23, 2019, Director of Advocacy Services Mariá Balata gave a new training to emergency physicians at Rush University Medical Center. The training, which was a custom 4-hour training for Rush designed and delivered by Balata, will help...
Jan 24, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article on The Alternative, OurMusicMyBody was featured for its work to promote consent in the music scene. OMMB is a collaborative campaign led by Resilience and Between Friends.
Jan 24, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article posted on NBC 5 on April 2, 2018, Resilience was listed as resource for survivors of sexual violence. In an accompanying video, 2018 Evening of Impact Featured Speaker Kelly Kitley tells her own story of surviving sexual violence, as a part of the...
Jan 24, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article in the Chicago Reader on January 21, 2019, OurMusicMyBody was featured for its work to promote consent at music festivals. Maggie Arthur, Resilience Prevention Educator, and Matt Walsh, Between Friends Prevention Education Specialist, speak about the...
Jan 18, 2019 | News, Press, Video
In a video featured on the Today Show, Resilience staff join a protest outside of R. Kelly’s Chicago studio on January 12, 2019. Recent protests were shown after another survivor came forward. Watch the video below or click the link to open the video in another...
Jan 18, 2019 | Announcements, News, Video
In a video on Fox, Resilience was filmed joining protesters outside of R. Kelly’s Chicago studio last Saturday. Watch the Video Here
Jan 15, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article in the Chicago Tribune, Director of Trauma Therapy Dr. LaShanda Nalls spoke about her upcoming support group for African American women who have been affected by sexual trauma. In light of the new documentary Surviving R. Kelly, the support group is...
Jan 10, 2019 | Announcements, Articles, News
Co-Founders of A Long Walk Home Salamishah and Scheherazade Tillet co-authored their first op-ed in The New York Times today. The article, titled “After the ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ documentary, #MeToo Has Finally Returned to Black Girls,” reflects...
Jan 8, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In an article published by The Daily Beast on January 4, 2019, Prevention Educator Maggie Arthur commented on Coachella’s new anti-harassment policy. Maggie Arthur spoke on behalf of OurMusicMyBody, a collaborative campaign between Resilience and Between Friends...
Jan 4, 2019 | Articles, News, Press
In a recent article published in the LA Times, Maggie Arthur, Resilience Prevention Educator and Co-Lead of Our Music My Body, commented on Coachella’s new anti-harassment policy. The new policy, called “Every One,” is meant to provide Coachella...
Oct 5, 2018 | News, Press
Resilience’s Director of Programs and Public Policy Sarah Layden appeared on NPR affiliate station WBEZ to speak “about what you can do to emotionally protect yourself from the news and rhetoric surrounding the Kavanaugh hearings–and best ways to support...
Oct 4, 2018 | News, Press
Resilience’s Director of Education & Training Lillian Cartwright and Between Friends Executive Director Yesenia Maldonado appeared on Chicago’s ABC Eyewitness News (WLS) to talk about President Trump’s speech mocking Dr. Christine Blasey...
Oct 1, 2018 | News, Press
Resilience’s Evening of Impact is featured in the October 2018 edition of Modern Luxury. Click the image below or here to pull up the full page of coverage!
Sep 21, 2018 | Announcements, News
Women’s March Chicago (WMC) will once again take over Grant Park on October 13, 2018 at 9am, and is calling for us to come together and march as the polls open for early voting in Illinois. As policies affecting the intersectionality of survivor identities continues...
Sep 11, 2018 | News
Erin Walton, Executive Director of Resilience, discussed our new brand, and how we were guided in the rebranding process by keeping in mind both our mission and the communities we serve, when she was a panelist for a roundtable dinner hosted by Prosper Strategies, on...
Aug 21, 2018 | Articles, News, Press
After 44 years as Rape Victim Advocates (RVA), we saw the need for our name and messaging to better reflect our organization’s breadth of services — from our trauma therapy programs, to our work in medical and legal advocacy, to our prevention education. After...
Aug 11, 2018 | Articles, News, Press
Reselience’s rebranding has been featured in a Craine’s Chicago Business article. Lisa Bertagnoli spoke with Executive Director Erin Walton and rebranding partner Substance’s Matthew Brett. A local rape crisis group rebranded, taking on a new...
Aug 2, 2018 | Announcements, News
Resilience’s Board of Directors welcomed two new board members in July 2018. Kathryn Meyer is senior director of media & entertainment engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, where she leads national media relations strategies for the Association to raise...
Aug 1, 2018 | Announcements, News, Press
The rebrand will capture the organization’s breadth of services from empowering survivors to ending sexual violence CHICAGO, Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Chicago-based nonprofit Rape Victim Advocates announced today its rebrand and name change to...
Jan 10, 2018 | News, Press
Excerpt: The Chicago Tribune asked women activists, organizers and politicians two questions: What moved or shaped you the most this year? and What’s next for women in 2018? Read the full article...
Dec 5, 2017 | News, Press
Sarah Layden, Director of Programs and Public Policy at RVA, joined FOX 32 Chicago to talk about defining harassment in the workplace. Watch the full segment at www.fox32chicago.com/mornings/297139902-video.
Nov 1, 2017 | News, Press
Excerpt: Beth Enterkin, a trauma therapist and clinical training specialist at Rape Victim Advocates in Chicago, offers her expertise on ways untrained listeners can best support someone who chooses to share a sexual trauma story. Read the full article...
Oct 19, 2017 | News, Press
Our Advocacy Volunteer Manager, Mariá Balata, was interviewed last night by FOX 32 Chicago. Read the full article at www.fox32chicago.com/news/gymnast-mckayla-maroney-alleges-sexual-abuse-by-team-doctor.
Oct 19, 2017 | News, Press
Watch the full segment at www.univision.com/chicago/wgbo/noticias/denuncias/metoo-la-campana-con-la-que-pretenden-denunciar-el-acoso-sexual-video.
Oct 17, 2017 | News, Press
Excerpt: The response from Hollywood stars to everyday people was, both, overwhelming and eye-opening to many. “My first thought was, how brave,” said Megan Blomquist, who works with victims through the Chicago organization Rape Victim Advocates. “When you see someone...
Oct 13, 2017 | News, Press
Excerpt: Harvey Weinstein was one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers. But the fallout from Weinstein’s sexual harassment scandal continues to grow. “The person that is doing the harassing is trying to control the victim in these situations, so there’s a lot of...
Oct 13, 2017 | News, Press
“Ending Rape Culture,” a live program with Brendan Yukins of RVA and Brent Holman-Gomez of the Gay Liberation Network.
Oct 10, 2017 | News, Press
Excerpt: Megan Blomquist, Director of Education and Training at Rape Victim Advocates in Chicago, said it is important to hold offenders accountable for their crimes. “We need to take it seriously, not minimize the situation,” she said. “[Holding offenders...
Oct 6, 2017 | News, Press
Our Austin Trauma Therapist, DeVona Alleyne, was highlighted in Chicago Tribune’s Oak Leaves! Excerpt: Q: What brings you out today? A: I’m part of a consent panel today at Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church. I’m a trauma therapist at the Austin...
Sep 1, 2017 | News
The “Rape And Sexual Assault: Renewed Call To Action” report was recently removed from the White House website. We believe in access to information and expect transparency from the administration around the removal of vital resources – in this case, mainly nonpartisan...
May 30, 2017 | News, Press
Our Austin team was interviewed by NBC Chicago about challenges in the environment of Chicago’s Westside in relation to the topic of sexual violence. Excerpt: Amber Johnson, a medical and legal advocate for Rape Victims Advocates on the west side of Chicago, said...
May 1, 2017 | News, Press
RVA Director of Education and Training, Megan Blomquist, was interviewed by CBS during Friday’s signature Sexual Assault Awareness Month event, Standing Silent Witness. Read it here.
Mar 9, 2017 | News, Press
Central Counselor & Art Therapist, Jordan Ferranto, was interviewed by Medill Reports Chicago: “At Rape Victim Advocates, art therapy sessions can include crafting, painting, drawing, and poetry to work through the trauma of sexual assault. Last month, art...
Dec 12, 2016 | News, Press
“We started this group as a way to build community and solidarity around the issues of sexual violence,” says organizer Jordan Ferranto. “A place to kind of unwind, relax, enjoy each other’s’ company, make some art, and just kind of be present with each other.” Read...
Nov 21, 2016 | Announcements, News
Dear Friend of Rape Victim Advocates, I am a survivor of childhood molestation and rape. As a child I was molested for years by a trusted family member. As an adult a was raped by a boyfriend and his friend. For more than 20 years I could not discuss the personal...
Nov 10, 2016 | News, Press
RVA Executive Director, Sharmili Majmudar, was interviewed by Broadly, a channel of Vice Media, Kimberly Lawson for her article “Faced with Trump Presidency, Advocates Vow to Protect Sexual Assault Survivors.” Read it here.
Oct 25, 2016 | News
I fight against sexism because I want to be my complete self without conforming to rigid definitions of gender and masculinity. I fight against sexism because I want to be close friends with people all along the gender spectrum. I fight against sexism because I want...
Oct 17, 2016 | News, Press
Central Counselor & Art Therapist, Jordan Ferranto, was interviewed by The Columbia Chronicle about her work in art therapy with survivors. Read the article here. RVA’s next art therapy session, Making Matters, will be help on Tuesday, October 17th at The...
Sep 28, 2016 | News
When we track down passes for a summer festival, once-over the loudly arranged concert flyers at coffee shops and dive bars, ask a friend who they’re belting along to during the ride home, press into the edge of the stage because there’s nowhere else to go, we are in...
Sep 28, 2016 | News
Last September, The Atlantic published a now much debated article about the supposed coddling of American college students. The authors lumped several issues together as evidence of a purported trend towards intellectual laziness and the manipulative use of emotions...
Sep 22, 2016 | Announcements, Events, News
A public conversation with key stakeholders about reporting campus sexual assault and the emergence of mobile apps and technology designed to increase reporting. Featuring opening remarks by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and a guided demonstration of one...
Sep 14, 2016 | Announcements, Events, News
#OurMusicMyBody: Safety, Sexism, & Harassment in the Music Scene Saturday 9/17 3:00-4:30 PM; Beat Kitchen 2100 W. Belmont, Chicago Sexual harassment in the music scene has been widely ignored for much too long. As partners, Between Friends and RVA have come...
Jun 22, 2016 | Announcements, News, Trauma Therapy
Rape Victim Advocates is honored to announce a generous grant from Jean Cozier to expand our Counseling and Communications staffing! Jean Cozier is a longtime Rape Victim Advocates supporter who has an extensive history within the anti-rape movement. She is the...
Jun 3, 2016 | Announcements, Events, News
Our annual fundraiser, Soirée in the City, will be on Thursday June 9, 2016 from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM at the beautiful Morgan Manufacturing venue in Chicago’s West Loop, 401 N. Morgan Street. 300 urban professionals will gather in support of Rape Victim Advocates....
Apr 8, 2016 | Announcements, News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE photos available Contact: Alexa L. Markoff, Director of Development Rape Victim Advocates (312) 443-9603 x21 Rape Victim Advocates Volunteer Receives Governor’s Volunteer Service Award Chicago, IL (April 8, 2016) Rape Victim Advocates (RVA)...
Mar 25, 2016 | Announcements, News
InfoNet is a web-based data collection and reporting system used by rape crisis centers across Illinois. Developed by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority in collaboration with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) and other agencies,...
Mar 24, 2016 | Announcements, Events, News
Click here to visit RVA’s #SAAMChi events and information page.
Jan 28, 2016 | Announcements, News, Press
RVA Executive Director Sharmili Majmudar was interviewed by Fox32’s Mike Flannery. Click here to view the full story at fox32.com Click here to give to RVA
Jan 26, 2016 | Announcements, News, Press
Sharmili Majmudar, Executive Director of Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) in Chicago, IL, spoke at a press conference today regarding the impact of the Illinois state budget crisis on rape crisis services. She was joined by Martha Alicia Montes Madrid, a survivor and...
