Alexandria's blog

Lifetime’s R.kelly documentary series had a not-so suprising effect on survivors from all over. After the documentary’s release, RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, saw a 27 percent increase of calls asking for help. The Lifetime series portrayed over 50 interviews with Kelly’s family, colleagues, and the survivors of his alleged abuse. 

The time between Thanksgiving and New Years is truly the season of giving. Whether that is donating to your favorite charity, or giving back to your community by volunteering, there are so many ways to give back. Are you looking for a way to engage in the giving season? Look no further! We have a list of ways you can give back to the community and make a positive impact.

In 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was signed into law in the United States. The VAWA was created in the aftermath of Anita Hill’s testimony against Clarence Thomas’ during his confirmation hearing to the Supreme Court. In an age of growing public awareness of sexual violence issues, and on the heels of Christine Blasey Ford's testimony against Brett Kavanaugh, this act is at risk of not being renewed. If the VAWA expires, it would put the rights and safety of many women and girls at risk. 

During this month of awareness, we wanted to discuss the facts about domestic violence.  We also want to make sure you know there are resources and support available to you (or someone you know) if domestic violence is occurring (or has occurred).  If you or someone you know is a survivors, you can set up a free survivor account on MapYourVoice to tell your story and access resources and support specific to your local area.

Letter to the Editor of The Washington Post Re: Bill Cosby Sentenced to 3 to 10 years in State Prison

Some of you might be asking, why is it important for me to support survivors of sexual assault? Why should you click “support buttons” on MapYourVoice? How does this help in the grand scheme of the global epidemic of sexual assault?

Here are some important reasons your support can make a positive impact:

It is already so difficult for survivors of sexual assault to speak up about or report their trauma. Sexual violence already has an intrinsic psychological characteristic of silencing victim's about assault. Additionally, survivors may dread the common "victim blaming" that so many survivors endure when they finally get the courage to raise their voices about assault. Lastly, not all survivors have a support system that they can count on to be there for them when they finally do report assault.

Are you confused about how MapYourVoice works? Don’t worry! We created an easy to understand infographic to help you quickly understand how to use MapYourVoice! Additionally, it helps user’s understand how the data is helpful in the long run, both personally and on a global scale. We hope it’s helpful!

All summer we’ve been connecting with the communities of caring people across social platforms bringing awareness of MapYourVoice and the unique solution we offers to survivors of sexual violence worldwide.

A big should out to all of our friends and allies!

Now we’re feeling called to raise our voices in strong support of a particular population that needs all of us to stand with them...students and student athletes who have been preyed upon by doctors and coaches.

Even with the best of intentions, supporting a sexual violence survivor in a way that actually lends support and doesn't create further harm is not so obvious. While it's important to be there for a survivor when they need you, it is also important to have some understanding of and be sensitive to the unique situation and set of challenges a survivor faces. We created this "10 Ways to Support Survivors" infographic to help you understand the best ways you can support a friend, family member, or anyone who reaches out for support.