Freedom House, which provides free, confidential services for victims of sexual assault, is staging unique Sexual Assault Awareness Month events throughout April. Community participation is welcomed and encouraged.
- “Silent Witness” silhouettes, representing sexual violence homicide victims in our communities over the years, are displayed at Princeton’s Rotary Park from April 5th-18th, 2023, and Illinois Valley Community College from April 18th-30th, 2023. As well as, Partnering with area libraries and the Pediatric Resource Center to supply children’s books featuring age-appropriate consent and healthy boundaries.
- Clothesline Project – At Black Hawk College East Campus (during the month of April) – A display of T-shirts with graphic messages and illustrations designed by survivors of violence or by someone who loves a victim who has been killed.
- Law enforcement, State’s Attorney’s Offices, Emergency Room and Health Department staff throughout the region will be wearing teal ribbons to indicate their support for victims
- Earth Day-Wild Flower Seed Balls initiative – Freedom house will distribute seed balls to celebrate the renewal of spring and the idea of “letting healing take root”
- The “Start By Believing,” campaign asks community members, businesses and partnering agencies to sign the pledge. “My name is _____, When someone tells me they were raped or sexually assaulted, I pledge to: “Start By Believing.”
- Denim Day, April 26th – Wear of denim in honor of survivors of sexual violence who have experienced victim blaming
Freedom House, a non-profit 501c3 corporation, is the domestic and sexual violence agency for Bureau, Henry, Marshall, Putnam, and Stark counties in Illinois. Headquartered in Princeton, with satellite offices in Kewanee and Cambridge, Freedom House employs compassionate and skilled professionals to provide free, confidential, quality services to victims of abuse and their families, including a 24-hour crisis hotline (800-474-6031), emergency shelter, medical and legal advocacy, adult and child counseling, awareness and prevention education, and training for volunteers and professionals. In the past year, Freedom House staff provided needed services to more than 900 victims (and families) of domestic violence and sexual assault. For more information about their services or to donate, please call 815-872-0087 – or visit our website: http://www.freedomhouseillinois.org find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.