Sexual Assault Awareness Month takes place every year in April. RVAP partners with a variety of campus and community organizations to host a month-long calendar of events. The majority of our events this year will be virtual due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Check out our events below, and keep checking back as we will continue to update it throughout April!

The Clothesline Project

 

Mental Health Presentation Series - The Unseen Impacts of the Pandemic: What Do I Do With All My Losses & Disappointments?
April 1st | 1:00-2:00 pm CST
Zoom Link: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/93046916741

A conversation about loss, grief and the impact of the pandemic on people’s wellbeing with with Linda Stewart Kroon, Director, Women's Resource and Action Center and Katryn Duarte, Assistant Director, Sexual Assault Services, Rape Victim Advocacy Program.

Yoga For Connection
April 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th | 10:00-11:00 am CST
Zoom ID: 411 109 7400

Free Yoga classes to inspire connection through breathwork, meditation, and optional movement.

 

Dungeons and Dragons Therapy Group
Tuesdays and Wednesdays (4/6, 4/7, 4/13, 4/14, 4/20, 4/21, 4/27, 4/28) | 6:00-8:00 pm CST
To Join: Contact kayla-dick@uiowa.edu for the zoom link

Dungeons and Dragons is a collaborative, story telling game where players control a character to complete goals. Players will build skills through story telling such as collaboration, regulation, planning, and other skills. D&D Therapy has two small groups that meet once a week for 2 hours.

 

Queer Art Healing Group: Teal Time
April 12th | 7:00-9:00 pm CST
To Register: https://uiowa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEucu6przgvGdCwjmKb8Q6SauU8jZyR5ui9

Global pandemics suck, art doesn't. Come get together with us and make some art while digitally sharing space. You bring the supplies and the art project you want to work on, we'll bring the zoom link. In this session, we will be making teal themed art with the prompt "what was  your eureka moment?" Not much of an artist? That's okay as this group is for people of all expertise levels! Are your talents more in the kitchen? Cook with us! Too anxious to get creative right now? Just chill in the space with us. All people in the LGBTQIA community are welcome.

Need supplies? We can do a no-contact delivery of some supplies door-dash style! Let us know what you need and we'll see if we can make it happen! Please message us in advance if this is something you need.

Stewards of the Children
April 14th | 6:00-8:00 pm CST
To Join: email sarah-leckband@uiowa.edu for more information and/or to register

This FREE training will teach valuable information about recognizing the signs and keeping kids safe from sexual abuse and boundary-crossing behavior.  It is appropriate for adults or older teens who work with, parent, care for, volunteer with, or know children.

LGBTQIA Culinary Skills Support Group
April 18th | 1:00 pm-4:00 pm CST
To Join: contact esmacy@uiowa.edu

This is a cooking support group for LGBTQIA+ folks. It will meet the first and third Sunday of every month! This is a group for high school aged students and above who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community. Due to covid-19 restrictions we will meet over zoom. All materials are provided to the members for free and will be available for pickup on the Saturday the day before the meeting! If you have any questions or concerns please contact at esmacy@uiowa.edu. 

Healthy Relationships Workshop
April 19th | 5:00 pm CST
Zoom Link: Coming Soon

Participants will discuss healthy relationships and consent from in this LGBTQIA centered event.   

        

Links to Advocacy: Survivors, Consent, and Doulas
April 23rd | 12:00 pm CST
Link to register: https://uiowa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwlcOGvrDssGdcW5lJyUAdm0W5c0lxZtau4

During this 75-minute interactive workshop, participants will explore the correlation between birth and sexual violence and the positive impacts of implementing and promoting everyday consent within their practice. Registration required by Thursday, April 23rd at 10:00 am! This workshop will be facilitated by Storm O’Brink & Shalisa Gladney.

Self Care Potluck
April 23rd | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm CST
Link to register: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5AzLaII52wALFaK?fbclid=IwAR1wZi0Srll5QHvnQVeJlsCrZcXLVTMEmPmbXqXXiU9-AV9ZhRZlkyFWkBg 

Virtual event, participants get to choose between a book discussion "We Will Not Cancel Us" by Adrienne Maree Brown, a cooking tutorial, and henna in this community-centered event.

Queer Art Healing Group: Bob Ross Painting
April 26th | 7:00-9:00 pm CST
Link to register: https://uiowa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtcOqprzooH9Ft_K6LRaEpWHY5ZOeUeoCG

Global pandemics suck, art doesn't. Come get together with us and make some art while digitally sharing space. You bring the supplies and the art project you want to work on, we'll bring the zoom link. In this session, we will be doing a follow along with Bob Ross! Not much of an artist? That's okay as this group is for people of all expertise levels! Are your talents more in the kitchen? Cook with us! Too anxious to get creative right now? Just chill in the space with us. All people in the LGBTQIA community are welcome.

Need supplies? We can do a no-contact delivery of some supplies door-dash style! Let us know what you need and we'll see if we can make it happen! Please message us in advance if this is something you need.

Denim Day
April 28th | All Day

Denim Day is a campaign that was started as a ruling in the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt the victim, by wearing jeans, would have needed to help the person who raped her to remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans to stand in solidarity with the victim. 

We stand with victims/survivors of sexual violence. Join us in wearing jeans on April 28th with your SAAM shirt as a visual means of protesting against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence. 

Learn more about Denim Day here.

You Deserve Healthcare: A Self-Advocacy Workshop for Survivors of Medical Violence and their Allies
April 29th | 3:00-4:30 pm CST
Link to register: https://uiowa.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtdempqzIsHNyDLo_Aden-51sYlLTVB0et

Getting healthcare can be terrifying when you’ve experienced any form of violence- especially violence at the hands of healthcare professionals. Come join us for this interactive workshop in which we talk about options to make care easier to deal with, find ways to get your needs met, and construct a personal plan to get the healthcare you deserve (and on your terms). This workshop will be facilitated by Storm O’Brink (they/them/their), a full-spectrum doula & advocate specializing in advocacy for medical violence survivors. 

 

 

 

 FSL Community Fundraising Week for RVAP and DVIP
April 26th-30th | Hours Vary With Each Restaurant

FSL will be raising money for RVAP and DVIP. Be sure to mention Sexual Assault Awareness Month at Checkout!

April 26th | All Day at Z’Mariks

April 27th | Freddy’s 4:00-9:00pm

April 28th | Chipotle 5:00-9:00pm

April 29th | All Day at Buffalo Wild Wings  

April 30th | Yotopia 1:00-5:00pm 

 

Clothesline Project and What Was I Wearing Display
April 5th-30th | Ongoing
Southeastern Community College in Keokuk, IA

This project will be on display throughout SAAM. The Clothesline Project and What Was I Wearing displays are community art projects that showcase survivors’ stories and bust victim-blaming myths.