Resilience News
Do You Feel Prepared to Vote on November 6?
Midterm elections are right around the corner in Illinois, and in addition to electing representatives in the U.S. House, which has the potential to sway control between democratic and republican parties, Illinois voters will also choose a governor, an attorney general, judges, and other state executive officer roles.
Resilience encourages those who can, to vote, and to do your research before heading to the ballot.
The #metoo movement has drawn national attention on the narratives of survivors and the rights of survivors in schools and workplaces. While it is important to familiarize yourself with the response of systems of government when survivors choose bravely to come forward, we also encourage a commitment to taking down all systems that support not only sexism, but racism, classism, xenophobism, ableism, ageism and heterosexism in your voting. Tackling the intersection of these systems of oppression will always remain at the heart of what Resilience stands for and remains at the very foundation of our work supporting survivors of sexual violence.
We encourage you to study up on the candidates up for election here in Illinois, and make informed decisions around who aligns with your personal beliefs. Here are few resources to help you in your research (we encourage you to also seek your own): read more…
Resilience’s Erin Walton on Windy City Live – “Raising Awareness: domestic and sexual violence”
Watch Erin Walton, Resilience’s Executive Director, speak about sexual assault and our services on Windy City Live’s broadcast: “Raising Awareness: domestic and sexual violence.”
RSVP to join Resilience for March to the Polls! Sign-making, breakfast, & more!
Resilience’s Sarah Layden on Supporting Survivors through the Kavanaugh Confirmation
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 survivors who may be in your life.”
Read more and listen to the conversation with Layden, and Sharmili Majmudar of Women Employed: WBEZ Morning Shift Getting Thru The Kavanaugh Confirmation- Especially as a Survivor of Sexual Assault
Resilience responds to the comments from the President on Dr. Ford and sexual assault survivors
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 Ford’s sexual assault testimony against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
Modern Luxury features Resilience’s Evening of Impact
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!
TRAINING: Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education
Resilience (formerly RVA) is once again holding our annual training to help those working for higher education institutions and those involved in the Title IX complaint resolution processes fulfill their training obligations under Illinois law. read more…
Light Up the Lakefront 2018 #DVAM
Support the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month by attending partner Between Friends’ annual event, Light Up the Lakefront. #DVAM
Monday, October 1, 7:00 pm
North Avenue Beach
We expect all survivors to be treated with dignity and respect, no exceptions.
The confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice is a lifelong appointment, which means one has lifelong privilege to interpret and uphold the laws of our country. A candidate that will potentially have this much impact on our nation should be vetted with the highest integrity of investigative standards. Multiple states have moved towards trauma-informed, survivor-centered practices in addressing sexual violence, including Illinois. As the highest examples of moral and political standards of our nation, we demand our federal government do the same.
We will remain vigilant in our support of survivors. #hilltoo #fordtoo
— from our Director of Programs and Public Policy, Sarah Layden
We will continue to march for your rights! Join Resilience for March to the Polls 2018!
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 to impact the most marginalized communities, Resilience will march to influence the need for those who can vote, to vote. This rally and march is a critical next step in voter engagement, as we mobilize to protect the right to equal protection for all. Our participation is aimed to reflect the power of the anti-gender-based violence movement as we march and galvanize our clients, volunteers, staff, supporters and allies to head to the polls in greater numbers than ever before.
Friday, October 12
Drop-in Sign-Making Party
Resilience Loop Office: 180 N. Michigan, Suite 600
Anytime between: 11am – 7pm
Saturday, October 13
Sign-Making, Donuts and COFFEE
Resilience Loop Office: 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 600
8am (please note time change)
Rally and March
Grant Park
9am – 12noon
RSVP to join us: https://tinyurl.com/resiliencewmc
#RiseUpWithResilience read more…
Resilience Executive Director Erin Walton a Panelist for “The Role of Brand in the Nonprofit Sector”
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 the topic of “The Role of Brand in the Nonprofit Sector.
Twenty-plus nonprofit marketing and communications professionals from a diverse range of nonprofit organizations across Chicagoland attended and discussed nonprofit brand challenges and opportunities they’ve encountered throughout their careers. read more…
Newsletter: August 2018
Rebellious Magazine: Executive Director Erin Walton on Rebranding to Resilience
Rebellious Magazine spoke with Erin Walton, executive director of Resilience, to learn more about our name change.
Below is an excerpt; read the full article here.
It’s rare for an organization that has been around as long as Resilience to choose a new name. Was it a difficult process to come to a consensus about this decision?
Change rarely, if ever, comes without challenge. For us, this was nearly a year-long process.
Once it was decided a change had to be made, how was the rebranding accomplished?
We began with a task force of stakeholders that formed to lead the effort. We reached out to our community partners and friends and ultimately selected a marketing partner that we felt comprehended our mission and vision and could help us articulate our brand in a fresh new way. read more…
Volunteer Spotlight: Alicia Babich
What do you do with Resilience? I’m a Volunteer Medical Advocate and Mentor to the August 2018 Volunteer Class
Pronouns: She, her, hers
What do you do outside of volunteering? Outside of volunteering, I get to manage the Sales Training & Development department at Groupon, who are 8 amazing people between our Chicago and Phoenix offices. I also love my PS4, running, biking, baking, and dancing.
What is one thing you couldn’t live without? It’s a tie between earbuds and the Gilmore Girls box set. It’s a rare time in my life outside of work when I’m not listening to music or reruns of the series instead. Those women give me life.
What do you wish every survivor could hear? When all of this is over, I’ll still be here, and so will you.
In what ways has sexual assault and crisis intervention training impacted the way you engage with your community? The Resilience community is full of inclusive, patient, warm, observant, accepting, intentional people. Sexual assault and crisis intervention training has brought me to them. They create space for dialogue, they elevate dialogue, they manage conflict, they manage relationships. Resilience makes me a better person for every other person I get to know.
Thinking about becoming a Resilience Volunteer? Find out more here.
Take a look inside our rebrand.
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 months of brand exploration, research and interviews with board members, survivors, and others close to the organization, we are thrilled to come to this new name we feel embodies the future of our organization.
Why a new name change? Why rebrand?
Through rebranding, our objectives are to refine our purpose, expand our visibility in the community and enlarge our vision of tomorrow, all to advance our ultimate goal – empower survivors and end sexual violence. Our rebrand will serve as a catalyst to breathe new life into our steadfast commitment to this goal.
- RVA has come a long way in 44 years, when our original agenda was to believe and be present for survivors we met in hospital emergency rooms.
- Today, our services have expanded to address the entire spectrum of sexual violence, from crisis intervention, advocacy and counseling, to prevention education, public awareness and to have impact on public policy.
- We wanted our brand to encompass the full impact of who we are.
What was the process to decide to rebrand? read more…
Crain’s Chicago: This nonprofit changed its name, and its fortunes
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 identity to avoid loaded trigger words. They say the move has paid off.
TUESDAY, August 28: Bystander Intervention Workshop, sponsored by Men in the Movement
Men in the Movement series (MITM) will sponsor a Bystander Intervention workshop, led by the People’s Response Team (PRT).
Kathryn Meyer and Lauren Pesa Join Board of Directors
Resilience’s Board of Directors welcomed two new board members in July 2018.
