April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) invited the community to attend a special screening of a recent episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” that addressed the topic of sexual violence and take part in a community discussion about sexual abuse.
“In honor of sexual awareness month, NAM wants to make the public aware of sexual violence and educate our community on how to prevent it,” said Sheryl Johnson, Director of NAM’s Family Violence Center. “Whether it’s giving someone a safe ride home from a party, explaining that a rape joke isn’t funny, or getting security involved when someone is behaving aggressively, choosing to step in can affect the way those around you think about and respond to sexual violence,” she said. “The only person responsible for committing sexual assault is a perpetrator, but all of us have the ability to look out for each other’s safety.”
NAM’s Family Violence Center also hosted a “We Stand By You” event in front of NAM’s main building on National Denim Day – Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Staff members from the Family Violence Center stood in front of the NAM building at 15555 Kuykendahl Rd., Houston, TX 77090 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. where they displayed jeans with emotional messages written on them. They also shared information on sexual assault and wore denim to protest against sexual violence.
If you, or anyone you know, is suffering from sexual or domestic violence and needs help now, please call NAM’s 24-hour Family Violence Hotline at (281) 885-HOPE (4673) or toll free at (888) 750-HOPE (4673).
The Family Violence Center (FVC) is dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence by assisting victims of domestic and sexual violence through crisis intervention, long-term support services, and through community violence and awareness prevention education. In the fiscal year 2017-2018, the FVC received more than 8,300 hotline calls from victims in crisis and individuals seeking assistance. They also offer year-round programs, workshops and different events that bring awareness to the domestic violence problem in the area.
