An Amazing Opportunity

I am volunteering with the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and I could not be more excited!  After my first meeting with Alexa Priddy, the Outreach Coordinator, I new that this was the right place for me.  It was a warm, welcoming environment but I could tell from my first step into the office that this organization means business.  There is a map of Colorado on the wall divided into their five different regions and pins to represent their member's.  That showed me, in a nutshell, all of the people that CCASA trains and gives resources to so that they can take that knowledge and new set of resources back to their organization to help victims of sexual assault in their area.

I did not know exactly what to expect when I first decided to volunteer with CCASA, all I knew was that I was going to be doing some very important work that is extremely close to my heart.  I did not know that this organization is the big umbrella for many of the smaller, local agencies that assist with sexual assault victims.  They give resources to smaller agencies for them to be able to do things like film screenings, fundraisers and political rallies.  From the CCASA website, http://www.ccasa.org/membership.cfm/Training, the training sessions they offer include:

• Sexual Assault 101
• Basic Advocacy for Survivors of Sexual Assault
• Intersections Between Stalking and Sexual Assault
• Prevention of Sexual Violence
• Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

 I can see that these training sessions must be an integral part in how these agencies are able to provide proper assistance and support.  They can also ask for training in a specific need that they have, which I find very helpful as to not only offer these exact training sessions for every member.

I expect to do a lot of good on campus by being able to help this organization.  I, along with three other students, will be putting on a film screening on campus in April.  I know that this will do some good, not because I can see into the future or that there is some sort of guarantee, but because I know that creating some awareness in the student community can only help.  This expectation not only comes from a personal knowledge of the need for this campus awareness, but because I know there is still a lot of confusion on the issue of sexual assault among many people, especially college students.

I also expect to learn a lot while working with CCASA, because even though I have a connection to this issue, I know that it is impossible for me to know every fact already.   Not only is there always more to learn, no matter what the subject, but I have already learned that there are so many resources that I had never known about before.  Just in the, "Toward Healing & Justice: A Handbook For Survivors Of Sexual Assault" I received from CCASA, one can find the Colorado Sexual Assault Laws, ways to assist a victim in healing (for themselves as well as for friends and family of the survivor) and so much more.

I am already proud to be a volunteer with CCASA and I can't wait to help accomplish great things along side them!  I know my expectations will come true, and much more than I can even imagine right now!  I am very glad I am being given this opportunity, and am excited to help as many people as I can.

For more information about the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault visit:

http://www.ccasa.org