Central MN Sexual Assault Center

It can often feel easier to support your loved ones through tough situations, remember that you deserve to give yourself the same care and love back! 💙

Thank you Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) for visiting our staff in March! (just a tad fashionably late on our part). We were able to strengthen our partnership, do a more official meet and greet, and give tours of our updated space. We are so grateful to have such amazing community partnerships!!

Choose a bug and find the slide for your message of the day! 🦗🐞🦋🐌🐝

Due to an increase in walk-in's during the warmer months, we are in need of backpacks, combs, and hairbrushes. Items can be dropped off at 15 Riverside Drive NE St. Cloud, MN 56304

Consent is as simple as tea! Tea and Consent Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ 🍵

"If you are still struggling with a consent, just imagine instead of initiating s*x you’re making them a cup of tea.

You say: “hey would you like a cup of tea?”, and they go: ‘oh my gosh, I would love a cup of tea, thank you’. Then you know they want a cup of tea.

If you say:’ hey would you like a cup of tea and they’re like: “Ahhh, you know I’m not really sure’; then you can make them a cup of tea or not but be aware that they might not drink it. And if they don’t drink it then, and this is an important bit, don’t make them drink it. Just because you made it doesn’t mean you’re entitled to watch them drink it.

And if they say: ‘no thank you’; then don’t make them tea at all. Don’t make them drink tea, don’t get annoyed at them for not wanting tea, they just don’t want tea."

Last week Katherine led a self care morning where we focused on creating art with a silhouette. We also had a breakfast for lunch potluck! 🥞🍳🎨 this is your reminder to take care of you self. Even a reminder to take some deep breaths throughout your day. You deserve it, always!

Event Announcement!! We have partnered with Shanti Yoga Center for a free truama-informed Yoga class for the community. Take some time for you this Wednesday. Bring a friend! You deserve it 🐦📣🌸🌿

We want to thank all of you for supporting CMSAC and victim/survivors during SAAM. Every social media share, every cup of prevention drink bought, and everyone who attended our Walk Together: Uniting Against Trafficking event. This year’s theme, “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward,” celebrates the resilience of survivors and the communities that have worked for change.
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Reflecting on the history of the movement to end s*xual violence, it’s clear why: It’s impossible to prevent an issue that no one knows about, and it’s difficult to make people aware of a problem without providing a solution. The two work in tandem, and they always have. From the civil rights movement to the founding of the first r**e crisis centers to national legislation and beyond, the roots of Sexual Assault Awareness Month run deep.
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We encourage folks to continue to unlearn victim blaming and r**e culture and support survivors every day, not only during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Sexual violence is normalized because we live in a r**e culture. Prevention involves learning about the harms from everyday behaviors, media portrayals, and societal attitudes that normalize s*xual violence. On social media, in movies, and in tv shows s*xual violence is often used for entertainment, shock value, or desensitizing viewers to real world consequences of s*xual violence. Sexual violence is not limited to extreme cases rather embedded in social norms, language, media, etc. Recognizing these examples and challenging them when we see or hear them can help shift societal attitudes, support victims, and holds perpetrators accountable.

Today our team participated in Denim Day. Denim Day is held on the last Wednesday in April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Peace Over Violence organization established the Denim Day campaign in 1999. Denim Day campaign was developed in response to the Italian Supreme Court ruling overturning a r**e conviction. The survivor in the case was blamed for being r**ed, because she was wearing denim skinny jeans. During trial it was argued that she had to have helped take them off. We wear denim to raise awareness, educate, show our support to survivors, and combat victim-blaming!👖💙