Local activities to raise awareness of sexual violence include:

Clothesline Project, April 3rd - April 30th, Metropolitan Gallery, Burlington City Hall and at CCV, Pearl Street location; April 3rd - April 24, Burlington College Catherine Slocum 864-0555 x25

The Clothesline Project was started in 1990 by the Cape Cod Women’s Agenda in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Their goal was to create a memorial for the survivors of sexual assault, incest and rape and to pay respect to those whose lives have been taken through violence. The Women’s Rape Crisis Center has continued this tradition since 1997, inviting survivors of violence to design T-shirts to release their pain and to demonstrate their healing and strength. The T-shirts are displayed publicly, hung on a clothesline to allow the “airing of society’s dirty laundry” and to end the silence associated with violence. During April, the Clothesline Project will be shown at a number of different sites, such as, UVM & Burlington City Hall. First Friday Art Hop Reception, April 3rd, 5-8pm, Metropolitan Gallery.

Conference: Dismantling Rape Culture, April 14th, 8am - 4:30pm, UVM Campus, Sarah G. Warrington 656-2925

This conference will uncover various aspects and systems of our society that perpetrate and maintain oppression which sustains rape culture. Attendees will leave with a greater awareness of how our campus and greater societal culture supports violence, as well as a better understanding of how we have the power and responsibility to transform it. For more information and to register, visit: www.uvm.edu/~women/drcc.html. Registration is required.

Red Flag Display, 9am April 22rd - 9am April 30th, Unitarian Universalist Lawn, top of Church St., Burlington, Catherine Slocum 864-0555

Visual display of red flags will be placed on the top of Church Street for six days. Each flag symbolizes one survivor of sexual violence who reported their assault in Chittenden County in 2007. Viewers are encouraged to pause in their daily activities to view the flags and contemplate the courage of each person who came forward in the last year.

Healing Fire, April 23, 10am to 10pm, UVM Women’s Center, 34 So. Williams St., Burlington, Sarah G. Warrington 656-2925

The Healing Fire offers survivors of sexual violence (as well as friends, family and allies) a welcoming and comforting place to break the isolation they may feel while building community with other survivors. People who visit the Healing Fire can make offerings with a piece of wood or by writing a message on a piece of paper and adding it to the fire. You can offer your words, thoughts, hopes, and prayers either silently or out loud.

Safety Dance, April 25, 8pm Monkey House Bar, Winooski

SafeSpace will host “Safety Dance” at Monkey House Bar in Winooski. DV EV will spin tunes until closing time! We will laugh, dance, chat, have free goodies for you to take home, and lots of literature accessible around the issues of date rape drugs, sexual assault, being safe while out, and safe sex!!! We hope that you will join us! There is a suggested donation of $5-$10! Totally worth a night out with very cool people!! Dress like your fabulous self!

31st Annual Take Back the Night Rally, April 29, at Bailey Howe-Library steps, UVM Campus at 5:30pm & Speakout at 6:30pm in Contois, Burlington City Hall

March throughout Downtown Burlington, Listen to our keynote speaker rally us in our efforts to fight against sexual violence. Honor the victims in our community who did not survive their violence as we walk from the UVM campus down to Church Street. Bear witness to songs, poems, and courageous stories at our open mic speakout. Come for support, build a community, and to break the silence!