NSVRC Blogs

These four episodes are part of a series on housing for prevention that we co-created with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Our organizations collaborate on an initiative that supports advocates in meeting the housing needs of survivors. And, in reflecting on that work together, we became eager to talk about the ways that housing is also a tool for preventing violence.   Housing for Prevention: Rebekah Moses in conversation with Mel Pasignajen In this episode of our Housing for Prevention series, Rebekah Moses with GBV Consulting talks with Mel Pasignajen about

Last year was an exciting year for NSVRC, but particularly for our NSVRC podcast series! With almost 12,000 listeners this past year, we are excited to see that our conversations are continuing to be heard and shared. We look forward to continuing these meaningful conversations with you throughout 2024. Check out the top 12 podcasts you listened to in 2023!    Sex Ed: Teaching Porn Literacy   In the second episode of our Sex Ed series, NSVRC’s Jen Grove talks with Boston University School of Public Health professor Dr. Emily Rothman about what it means to be porn literate and

Transitions mark pivotal moments that shape the trajectory of an organization. Today, we share with our esteemed Respect Together community a significant milestone in our journey – a moment of both reflection and anticipation.   After an extraordinary 20-year tenure marked by innovation, passion, and unwavering dedication, our distinguished CEO, Karen Baker, will embark on a well-deserved retirement. As we bid farewell to Karen, we celebrate the profound impact she has had on Respect Together, a legacy that we know will continue to shape our organization and the global movement to end

Longtime Harrisburg local and community activist takes the helm of leading national anti-violence organization based in Central PA HARRISBURG, PA – Respect Together, formerly the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, has announced Yolanda Edrington will step in as CEO of one of the longest-standing anti-sexual violence organizations in the country. Edrington will replace CEO Karen Baker on December 18, as Baker will retire after over two decades as a leader in the statewide and national nonprofit.  For the past six years, Edrington has served as the Chief Operating Officer and Director

Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in the community. SAAM aims to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.  The theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024 is Building Connected Communities, a campaign that helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. We must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another. Communities that make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being

The Respect Together library contains some of the freshest and most up to date resources available. These include valuable books for young children and middle grade students. With over 55,000 unique titles, the library boasts quality research, training materials, audio visual resources, and much more. Looking for research materials or great reading material? Search the online catalog at www.nsvrclibrary.org She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference by Chelsea Clinton The book introduces readers to women scientists who didn’t listen to those who told them “no” and who

At this year’s National Sexual Assault Conference®, NSAC, (which we co-sponsored), we watched as many plenary speakers took the event’s theme, Equity in Action, to speak to the many ways in which our movement must work to make our research, prevention, and services truly equitable in their mission. We have taken some excerpts of their speeches that have showcased their observations of racial history, equity, and progress, as their perspectives are vital to this issue of The Resource, our work, and this movement at large. “Policing, the criminal justice system, and the child welfare system

This is the second excerpt of a two-part interview. Be sure to read the first part here.  5. In 2014, your hashtag #YouOkSis went viral after you intervened with the phrase to a woman who had just been harassed on the street. How fulfilling was it for you to see your own hashtag spark discussion and make people think more critically about the gender-based harassment Black women experience daily? I definitely think it has been one of the most enduring hashtags. That started in 2014, and people still talk about it almost ten years later. I think that it gave people almost a blueprint for how to

This is the first excerpt of a two-part interview. Be sure to read the second part here.  1. Black Twitter has been largely responsible for being the cultural shaker for prominent online and in-person social movements like #OscarsSoWhite, #BlackLivesMatter, and #MeToo. In your opinion, why do you believe Black Twitter is so powerful in shifting online conversation? I think Black Twitter has one of the most cohesive community vibes. When we think about different factions of Twitter, I think you could see people associated with those sections. You have right-wing, liberal, all of those things

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey of 2015, 1 in 5 women are victims of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. The majority of sexual assault victims choose not to report. While the research on the prevalence of sexual violence and reporting in Muslim communities is limited, studies indicate that the prevalence of sexual violence in Muslim communities is similar, or slightly higher. Moreover, there is reason to believe that the likelihood of choosing not to report sexual violence is significantly higher in communities of faith and color. Given that