Upcoming changes & holiday greetings.
Dear Readers,
As a valued supporter of Rape Victim Advocates, we would like to share with you the upcoming changes happening within our team.
After nearly 9 years as our Executive Director, Sharmili Majmudar will be resigning from her role in order to pursue another opportunity. Although she will be very missed, we are so excited to root for Sharmili as she pursues her professional goals. Her staff, board, partner organizations, and clients appreciate and admire her dedication. Her contribution was essential to the growth of RVA’s invaluable programs.
RVA’s current Director of Advocacy Services, Sarah Layden, will be serving as Interim Executive Director as our organization moves forward in hiring a new Executive Director. Under Sarah’s leadership, our team will be working diligently to keep our much-needed services unaffected by this transition.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Executive Director position, please contact Sarah Layden at advocacy@rapevictimadvocates.org.
Sincerely,
RVA’s Board of Directors
Upcoming RVA Events
12/23 – All RVA offices will be closed December 23rd through January 2nd; we will reopen January 3rd. However, 24 hour crisis support to our partner hospitals will continue to be provided during this time. If you need to speak with someone immediately, please call the Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline at (888) 293-2080 or National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-4673. Thank you for your understanding and we wish you all the happiest of holidays.
1/17 – Making Matters
2/22 – Reiki Clinic
RVA in Action
On December 6th, RVA’s Survivor Engagement Committee hosted their second Speak Your Truth: Even When Your Voice Shakes workshop. This successful event featured a panel of survivors who have shared their stories with their communities. Attendees were survivors of sexual violence who wanted to learn about sharing their stories of survival to enact cultural change or further their own healing. The workshop explored spoken, written, and artistic testimonies and the emotional impact of speaking out.
“I am so grateful to RVA for hosting this event.”
“Such an inspiring event. The information was so helpful and the discussion was exactly what I was hoping for!”
RVA News
- Open art studio offers sexual assault survivors healing in Ravenswood
- RVA featured on Univision Chicago: Apoyo para los abusados sexualmente
- Check out this gorgeous, haunting song. Turnspit will be generously donating all proceeds to RVA!
Volunteer Spotlight
Please join us in congratulating Trista Baker who has been named our Volunteer of Month! Trista graduated from RVA’s 56-hour training in February of 2016. Since completing her training she has provided 144 hours on-call and responded to 5 survivors in the ER.
Trista is being recognized this month after providing effective advocacy and crisis counseling on a complex and long hospital call in November. This unique call required multiple layers of counseling and advocacy work – both of which Trista excelled at while creating and maintaining a calm rapport.
Trista thrived in a situation she could not have trained for, and for that we thank you. Your dedication and commitment to our mission is undeniable.
In the Media
- Calif. Judge Cleared Of Misconduct After Sentence In Stanford Sexual Assault Case
- The Ballerina Who Accused Her Instructor Of Sexual Assault
- Black Female Chemistry Instructor Earns $324K Grant to Research Rape Investigation Methods
- Showrunners call rape-for-shock-value a “plague on the industry”
- Read The Heart-Wrenching Letter One Woman Wrote To Her Rapist