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Principal and Founder JAC Patrissi to be honored with national award
Photo of JAC Patrissi congratulations 2023 Gail Burns-Smith Award Winner

HARRISBURG, PA – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA) are pleased to honor JAC Patrissi with the 2023 Gail-Burns Smith Award. Patrissi, who is the Principal and Founder of Growing a New Heart and Co-Founder of A Call For Change, will receive the award during the 2023 National Sexual Assault Conference®. 

Respect Together Unites National Efforts to End Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Harassment
Respect Together - United to end sexual abuse, assault, and harassment - logo and tagline

Today Respect Together, a new brand uniting nationwide efforts to end sexual abuse, assault, and harassment, was announced. Respect Together unites under one name the continuing operation of its two major divisions – the re-named Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), focusing on advocacy in Pennsylvania, and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), which provides resources and prevention strategies at the national level. 

Why we need to take sexual assault towards disabled men seriously
Image shows a crowded intersection with the silhouette of cars and pedestrians crossing, while the sun sets in the background.

Last October, Aubrey Taylor and his friend were at a New York deli grabbing something to eat, when a woman came over and began to grope him.

PCAR/NSVRC Reveal New Name
We Are Respect Together

Respect Together, our new name, was identified and embraced following an extensive rebranding process that engaged the voices and insights of many of our state and national partners. The name, paired with our new tagline “United to end sexual abuse, assault, and harassment”, reflects our commitment to work together with a wide array of partners and allies – in Pennsylvania and across the United States – to disrupt the driving forces behind sexual violence to create and uphold safe, equitable communities with a culture of respect for all people. 

Helping Deaf Survivors
forest background with the Thrive together logo and the words "listen. support. empower" underneath

The Deaf community exists subtly. They don’t look or act differently, but they do communicate with a completely different language than most hearing Americans are used to. American Sign Language (ASL) was developed in the 1800’s and has made many strides in allowing the Deaf to communicate. It is recognized as a complete language used by hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. This language has opened so many doors for the Deaf, but too many remain closed because of the lack of accessibility in the hearing world. 

The Role of Culture in Domestic Violence in the Caribbean
watercolor peach color background with text "The Role of Culture in Domestic Violence in the Caribbean"

Intro:  No matter one’s country, ethnicity, race, class, gender identity, ability, health, socio-economic status, religion, or education level, domestic violence affects everyone. Yet, as we explore the issue of activists living in the midst of the very injustices they work against, it’s important to remember the cultural components that surround the work. Domestic violence doesn’t just happen to individuals…it occurs across and within communities.

Survivors of Sexual Violence with Developmental Disabilities in LGBTQ and Transgender Communities Speak Out
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How can bias and discrimination impact survivors with developmental disabilities (DD) within the LGBTQIA+ community?

Survivors with DD within the LGBTQIA+ community often experience bias and discrimination which impacts their access to services. Too often, people do not understand or personally know individuals with disabilities or who are LGBTQIA+.

Below are some of the ways bias and discrimination plays a role in this issue or impacts survivors of sexual violence:

Domestic Violence, Advocacy, and How to Live a Purposeful Life

Light blue inkblot with the title"Domestic Violence, Advocacy, and how to live a purposeful life by Dr. Purposed Carn"

In 2004, Marsheida Dorsey-Carn was murdered by her 18-year-old boyfriend. After serving almost 12 years in prison, that same man murdered a second victim, LaPorscha Baldwin, in a fatal act of domestic violence.

Trans Activists, Visibility & Violence
Peached colored watercolor blotch background with the text "Trans Activists, Visibility & Violence"

“I would have rather been punished for asserting myself than become another victim of hatred” - CeCe McDonald

Fatphobia in the Movement

yellow colorblot with the title "fatphobia in the movement"

I’m writing this at the time when the “New Year, New Me” wind is starting to circulate. The shame of “holiday eating”, the sugar demon, and jokes about elastic waists begin to build their momentum for the year. There will be sign up for bootcamps, restrictive diets, detoxes, and teas that make you sprint to the bathroom. And by the time you read this, you’ll be hearing whispers about a “beach body” or getting “bikini ready”, like it is somehow necessary to prepare to face our biggest nemesis, a body of water.