Dear Engaged Bystander: I love this campaign by the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. The message is simple, positive, and engaging. Ending Sexual Violence Takes All of Us. What will YOU do? 

Dear Engaged Bystander:  I had the chance to talk with an incredible activist last week, Cassandra Thomas.  She shared her perspectives on why she cares so deeply about the bystander issue.  I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed having the chance to talk with her.  Warmly, Joan 
 

Dear Engaged Bystander: Here is the background on the case… The Munich Archdiocese of the Catholic Church recently acknowledged mishandling of a sexual abuse case while the pope served as the archbishop there.  In this case “H” was convicted of sexually abusing minors, given a suspended sentence and ordered to undergo therapy. Shortly thereafter, he w

Dear Engaged Bystanders: I am fascinated with stories. In high school we had to learn about Greek mythology and I learned about the power of storytelling. Centuries later (or am I just feeling old), we still have a sense of how this ancient culture thought about love, life, and war. Storytelling is how one generation teaches values to the next. 

Dear Engaged Bystander: The more I hear stories from friends and colleagues, the more I see the power that we each have to influence others. As a mother, I don’t always have  as much time as I’d like to read all the books I’m interested in, but this one  captured my attention. It’s called,   

Dear Engaged Bystander: I am the mother of two kids. I know that affects my perspective. When I look around me, I “see” sex offenders every day. I see an adult alone in the video arcade and wonder why he is there, I see a father taking too many pictures of the young girls at a birthday party, I see a girl on the beach hug a 5-year old boy for way too long and doe

Dear Engaged Bystander:  I was talking with a friend who is dealing with bullying issues in the middle school where she works.  She sees the issues of bullying and sexual violence as intertwined.  It was a welcome reminder that on the ground, all of these issues affect each other. 
 

Dear Engaged Bystander, Clearly there is a lot to say here. 

Dear Engaged Bystander, A friend just sent me a link to a question posed to the NY Times columnist “The Ethicist” titled, “Should the Sex Offender be Invited?” 

Dear Engaged Bystander, There is a new series on National Public Radio about sexual assault on college campuses.  It is a great series and worth listening to if you have a moment.