Newsletter Table of Contents:

• From Our Director of Programs
• The State of California Must Get Proactive to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (see below)
• Support Our Work: The Big Day of Giving is Here!
• Events
• Our Impact: The Partnership by the Numbers

Policy Advocacy Day 2019

Tragic new data spanning multiple states revealed that 7% of youth murders between 2003 and 2016 were victims of teen dating violence. Behind every tragedy lies a story of traumatic events stemming from the dynamics of power and control—jealousy, isolation, intimidation, and more. Undoubtedly, this is also a story of missed opportunities to take action. If we could rewind, what would we do? Would we ensure that these schools emphasized safe, healthy relationships in as a part of their culture? Would more preventionists be given the chance to work with youth, empowering them to influence their peers and call in harmful behavior? Ultimately, this comes down to our values. Do Californians want to create a California built on healthy, safe relationships—from the ground level of our communities? We can, and we must.

What we rarely see in media coverage about sexual and domestic violence is the solutions that are taking root in communities to prevent it. With limited resources, California youth are laying the groundwork of consent and healthy relationships for our future. Adult allies—preventionists—are holding space to listen and provide support. This vital, proactive work deserves greater investments, but it only receives 19% of the amount our state allocates toward emergency services. Support after a crisis is crucial—and we must get ahead of the violence if we’re ever going to end it.

At our Denim Day + Policy Advocacy Day event last week, rally speaker Marcella Maggio shared powerful remarks about what’s possible with prevention—as a survivor, educator, speaker on ACEs, and founder of It’s My Life:

“We should have these conversations on a daily basis with our youth, with our communities, and know what the ABCs of a healthy relationship look like. And I’m not talking about the alphabet—I’m talking about awareness, boundaries, consent. Do you know your boundaries? Do you know others’? How do you cross those boundaries? How do you ask? We can have these conversations with $50 million in ongoing funding for prevention education. I know it can help. I saw my students change. But what I heard from them time and time again was, ‘This makes sense. I like what you’re sayin’. And my momma didn’t take this class. My girlfriend didn’t take this class. It’s not gonna change.” We don’t have to be in class to school each other. Let’s start talking. Let’s start knowing what we deserve. Californians, let’s stand together and ask for this $50 million dollars. Because we know that prevention works.” (View Marcella’s full remarks here)

Take Marcella’s words with you, and get involved with the #PreventionWorks campaign. Together with the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, we’re urging Governor Newsom and the legislature to invest in profound social change with $50 million in ongoing prevention funding. This would allow communities to strengthen current work to address root causes of sexual add domestic violence, engage communities more deeply, and expand their work.

As CALCASA CEO Sandra Henriquez said at the opening of Policy Advocacy Day, “We do not have to live in a society that normalizes sexual and domestic violence. That’s why we need ongoing prevention funding. It takes a long time to change attitudes. California must make a commitment to that.” If you agree, help us build people power today. Get involved in the #PreventionWorks Campaign!

➜ Read Next Article: Support Our Work: The Big Day of Giving is Here!