Event Listings Across New Jersey

Please check below for local events happening in
April - Sexual Assault Awareness Month!

Bergen County	Denim Day in NJ	April 28, 2008
Rutgers University New Brunswick	Healing the Wounded Heart	April 7-18, 2008
Somerset County	Symposium: Relational Healing Approaches to Complex Trauma	May 9, 2008
Sussex County	The Clothesline Project	April 8, 2008

YWCA of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center

"First Annual Denim Day in NJ"
Monday April 28, 2008

On April 28, 2008, the YWCA of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center will launch "Denim Day in NJ 2008", a day-long observance dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence.

Founded in Rome in 1997, Denim Day (and wearing jeans in April) became an international symbol of protest after an Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore jeans. This April marks the 10th year Denim Day has been observed in the U.S., and the first time activities supporting it are taking place in New Jersey.

The YWCA of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center is focusing its efforts on educating young women around the issue of consent, introducing an awareness campaign entitled, "Don't Touch My Jeans 'Til You Know What I Mean." Over 50 high schools and colleges throughout Bergen County have been invited to participate in the campaign, and the Rape Crisis Center is providing them with Denim Day Toolkits filled with ideas and materials for organizing their own events.

Click here to download a flyer about the event. (315kb PDF)

For more information please contact:
Angelae Wilkerson at 201-881-1752
or via email at angelae@ywcabergencounty.org.

About the YWCA of Bergen County
The YWCA of Bergen County, along with hundreds of other YWCAs across the United States and around the world, comprises the world's largest women's movement empowering women and girls. With offices in Ridgewood and Hackensack, New Jersey and program sites throughout Bergen County, the YWCA of Bergen County provides a comprehensive range of programs designed to empower women and eliminate racism within the communities of Northern New Jersey. The YWCA also is the largest provider of child-care services in Bergen County, is a leader in health and fitness programs and runs the county's only 24-hour, seven-days-a-week rape crisis hotline. For more information, please visit us online at
www.ywcabergencounty.org.

back to top

Rutgers, the State University of NJ
New Brunswick Campus

"HEALING THE WOUNDED HEART"

Exhibit Opening: April 7, 2008 at 4:15pm
Busch Campus Center Welcome Desk Area
Exhibit will remain open through April 18th

Come and Create Your Heart: (Supplies will be provided.)
Wednesday April 9, 2008
7:00-10:00pm
Busch Campus Center Room 120A

Thursday April 17, 2008
7:00-10:00pm
Busch Campus Center Room 122A

Healing the Wounded Heart* is an art exhibit that provides a space for survivors of interpersonal violence to express themselves. Survivors and those close to them create art using wooden hearts. The hearts and the artist's message about the work becomes part of the exhibit that bears witness to survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Healing the Wounded Heart is sponsored by:
The Department of Sexual Assault Services & Crime Victim Assistance

For more information please contact:
Laura Luciano at 732.932.1181 or email lluciano@rci.rutgers.edu.

*Healing the Wounded Heart was created in March 2001 by a Texas-based organization called Arte Sana (Art Heals). We thank Arte Sana for allowing Rutgers to replicate their project.

back to top

Women's Health & Counseling Center
Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS)

The 2008 SASS Symposium
"Relational Healing Approaches to Complex Trauma"
With Dr. Christine Courtois

Friday May 9, 2008
8:00am to 4:00pm
Bridgewater Marriott
700 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Complex posttraumatic conditions often develop in the aftermath of chronic cumulative trauma, particularly severe child abuse and neglect. We present today's training to help both beginning and more experienced clinicians understand and more effectively treat those clients who have developed complex forms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is an essential training for social workers, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals. Participants are encouraged to bring case examples for discussion as time permits.

It is our hope that in providing trainings specific to working with survivors of sexual violence, we can ensure that effective, appropriate treatment is being provided in the community where survivors live and feel empowered to seek services to begin or continue their healing process.

Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to identify dimensions of complex trauma.
2. Participants will be able to describe developmental aspects of the complex trauma response, especially concerning the capacity for trust and attachment.
3. Participants will be able to identify relational and attachment strategies to use in working with individuals with complex trauma adaptations.

6.0 Continuing Education Hours (Social Work)

For more information about the Symposium and how to register, you can download the brochure by clicking here. (268kb PDF)

For questions or information:
Ph: 908.526.2335 ext 132
Email: sass@womenandhealth.org

back to top

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Intervention Services, Inc
and the Center for Diversity and Equality at SCCC
present

"The Clothesline Project"
Break the Silence
Bearing Witness to Violence Against Women

Tuesday April 8, 2008
10:50am
Sussex County Community College (SCCC) Campus
Community Members are invited to join students in this event.

RYOT (Rallying Youth Organizers Together) Against Rape
from Pike County, Pennsylvania will perform at 10:50am
in the Sussex Bank Theatre located in Building D

The Clothesline Project welcomes artist/poet Dorian Carmeci,
whose work is based on the theme of healing
from sexual and emotional abuse.

The Clothesline Project is a visual protest that bears witness to the impact of interpersonal violence on our community. Clotheslines are hung with shirts decorated by survivors, or those who care about them, to reflect that personal experiences with sexual assault and domestic violence. The concept of the Clothesline Project is simple - let each person tell her/his own story in a unique way and hang it out for all to see. It is a way of airing society's dirty laundry. T-shirts and art materials will be provided by the SCCC Psychology Club for those who wish to make their own visual statements.

In addition to the Clothesline, RYOT (Rallying Youth Organizers Together) Against Rape from Pike County, Pennsylvania will perform at 10:50 a.m. in the Sussex Bank Theatre located in Building D. This chapter of RYOT exists as a branch of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and works in conjunction with Safe Haven, Inc. of Milford, Pennsylvania. The young people involved with RYOT use their voices and talent to break the chains of silence and ignorance that surround the issues of sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, and unhealthy dating relationships. RYOT utilizes sociodrama to communicate their ideas and messages. Sociodrama is facilitated educational theatre that utilizes dramatization of social issues and necessitates audience participation. The impact of sociodrama is far-reaching, breaking down walls of miscommunication and misunderstanding that often come with the discussion of such intense emotional issues. Audience members are encouraged to participate in this interactive production.

The Clothesline Project also welcomes artist and poet Dorian Carmeci. Ms. Carmeci works in wood, mixed media, and ink, and is an accomplished poet whose work is based on the theme of healing from sexual and emotional abuse. Her display consists of works of art and poetry, and shares her personal survival story. She will be available during the day to speak about her art and her healing journey.

DASI and SCCC join sexual assault programs across the state in April to intensify their efforts to promote public awareness
about sexual assault issues.

For more information, contact the
Sexual Assault Program of DASI at (973) 300-5609.

Click here to download a flyer about the event. (245kb PDF)

back to top