Hi Everyone,
I hope this message finds y’all well and having had a restful, restorative Spring Break!
With the semester starting to intensify with projects, deadlines and programs, there are also a lot of exciting things going on in connection to the SACE Office and other organizing efforts on campus. April is Survivor Solidarity Month, and student organizers have put together a calendar of varied and equally important events all getting at the central question: what resources are available on campus for supporting survivors? Read more about these events and hear from some of the student organizers in this Argus article.
In conjunction with the mission and vision of Survivor Solidarity Month, the SACE Office is leading some events and conversations in addition to the calendar of events organized by students.
- “Unpacking Dynamics of Stalking on Campus” (Co-facilitated by SACE Director & Lt. Verrillo of PSAFE): Thursday, April 4th, 12-1 pm, Usdan 108. Join us for a dialogue on the dynamics of stalking on campus, including resources for care and support. Lunch provided!
- “Navigating Survivor Resources for Care & Support” (Collaboration with SACE Office CAPS, Office for Equity & Inclusion, Office for Religious & Spiritual Life, Women & Families Center, and New Horizons). Thursday, April 11th, 3-4 pm, Usdan 108. A program for admitted students and their parents as a part of WesFest, this “meet and greet” will be an opportunity for students and their parents to learn more about resources for survivors on our campus.
- “Trauma-Informed Activism Workshop” (Co-facilitated by SACE Director & Director of the Resource Center, Demetrius Colvin), Tuesday, April 16th from 6:30-8 pm, ORSL Lounge. Join us for a dialogue on how to apply a trauma-informed lens to organizing efforts to raise awareness about interpersonal violence on campus. Food provided! RSVP Here to reserve your spot: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNUE3VmNsAwWDjM-MbKBPqk2XE0B27BuK4lWL5HlA_AtJeSw/viewform
- “Supporting Survivors Training” (Co-facilitated by SACE Director & Rachele Merliss ’19 SACE Intern), Thursday, April 18th, 6-7:30 pm, Boger 112. We will engage in a discussion around how to support survivors on campus, and how to respond to disclosures when a survivor chooses to share their narrative with us. Food will be provided! RSVP here to reserve your spot: https://forms.gle/xDUAMhYpwFs6GrHv5
- “All-Campus Lunch Discussion on Supporting Survivors” (Co-facilitated by SACE Director & Director of CAPS, Dr. Jennifer D’Andrea), Thursday, April 25th from 12-1 pm, Downey House Lounge. Join us for an engaging dialogue to learn how to best support the student-survivors in your classroom, community, or otherwise. Faculty, staff, and students are all encouraged to attend! Lunch will be provided! https://forms.gle/53e8F6yXMjsSBoUr9
In addition, the work of supporting survivors and starting these conversations can be emotionally taxing. There is an ongoing Survivor Healing Space group happening Wednesdays, from 7-8 pm, in the Davison Health Center Solarium. If folks would like to be in community with others in reflecting on the impact of Survivor Solidarity Month on their personal lived experience or otherwise, please feel free to fill out this form for more information. The group is open to anyone who identifies as a survivor: https://forms.gle/84DrHNdKLERcxpKd6
Students are also welcome to set up one-on-one, confidential appointments with me to discuss options for care and support individually. Please feel free to email me at jdebari@wesleyan.edu or call at 860-685-3214 to set up an appointment. Self-care is always important, and is particularly important when we are engaging in these dialogues and this organizing work so deeply.
We hope to see you at some of these events, or stay connected to folks whom can’t attend and choose to attend in spirit. Sending light and positive energy to everyone in hopes of having a great April!
Take care,
Johanna
SACE Director