
2010 Community Awareness Projects by State
"Crime Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect"
The projects and their planned activities
are grouped by state.
Use the alphabetical index to quickly find your state.
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Alabama
Victim Services of Cullman, Inc., Cullman: This sexual assault and family violence program
provides services in a three county area. “Voices of Youth for Crime Victims Rights” awareness
campaign will begin with the distribution of flyers and posters. Paid advertising including radio, television
and billboards will start at the end of March and run until April 22. The advertising will focus on the
poem/song contest with 6-8 graders, the essay contest with 9-12 graders and an awards ceremony.
Contest entries will reflect this year’s theme. The top 20 students for each contest will participate and
compete in “The Slam”, an event held the week of April 12th through the 16th, which is open to the public
and at which they will showcase their written work. The project will also hold a luncheon and awards
ceremony at which the winners will be recognized.
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Alaska
Safe and Fear-Free Environment, Inc., Dillingham: Safe and Fear-Free Environment provides advocacy and assistance to adult and child victims of physical and sexual violence throughout the Bristol Bay region, an area approximately the size of Ohio with a population of 8,500. Plans include inserting NCVRW flyers into the monthly telephone/electric company’s monthly billing statements. A “Let the Light Shine In” community march through town will be led by the Yupik drummers and conclude with a rally and bon fire. Information displays will be placed at each grocery store and school. The project will also include a PSA writing contest with the best entries airing on the radio and cable access channel and printed in the newspaper. Posters and flyers will be created by adults and teens and distributed throughout the region.
Victims for Justice, Anchorage: An Awards Banquet is held each year the Saturday before
NCVRW. The annual Tree Ceremony will be held the following Monday to honor and recognize all victims
of violent crime. The project will also conduct a statewide media campaign, including radio, television and
newspaper ads; promotional materials will be distributed in smaller communities throughout the state.
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Arizona
H.A.V.E.N. Family Resource Center, Inc., Lake Havasu City: Public awareness activities include displaying a banner in the local park, yard signs displayed in front of the police department, county courthouse, and city hall, and radio PSAs and newspaper ads run on five different days. Advocates and law enforcement will distribute pocket resource guides throughout the week and at the child abuse prevention awareness fair. Victim memorial boards will be displayed at the park and, at the conclusion of the week, at the awareness fair.
Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Phoenix: A victims’ rights brochure will be printed and distributed statewide to all County Attorney’s Offices, Office of the Attorney General, victim advocacy groups, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and faith based organizations. These agencies will distribute the brochures to constituents and to the general public. The NCVRW theme and colors will be incorporated into the brochure which will available on and downloadable from the agency's website. The project will also distribute commemorative ribbons and host a statewide victims’ rights award ceremony at the Capitol at which victims’ rights advocates will be honored.
Navajo County Attorney's Office, Victim Services, Holbrook: The Navajo County Attorney's
office will host a one-day conference on victims’ rights for first responders, non-profit agencies, public
entities and the general public. Other NCVRW awareness activities include a poster contest, print ads,
distribution of flyers and information on the public access channel.
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Arkansas
Women's Crisis Center of South Arkansas, Camden: Women's Crisis Center will have an
information/educational booth at the community college during NCVRW. In light of the problem with dating
violence on the Southern Arkansas University campus, the booth will provide information on healthy
relationships and local victim services. The clothesline and silent witness projects will be on display on
campus as well. Reusable grocery bags stuffed with resource information will be handed out at local
grocery stores. The week will conclude with a masquerade ball for students and faculty.
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California
Inter-Tribal Council of Calilfornia, Inc., Sacramento: In order to enhance cultural understanding of an underserved population, the Inter-Tribal Council will hold a day-long training session for victims, advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, service providers and members of the public. The first half will include an overview of Native American history, the rate of crime committed against Native Americans and the barriers to prosecution and providing victim services. The training will include Native American cultural specialists as speakers. The second half of the day will focus on the rights, resources and services. The project media campaign will promote NCVRW within the Lake County regional areas, including posters, flyers, and articles in the tribal newsletters, newspapers and web announcements.
Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Victim Assistance Unit, Salinas: To commemorate NCVRW, the District Attorney's Office will hold a ceremony to honor victims and survivors of crime. The ceremony will be held in the county board of supervisors’ chambers with victims, allied professionals, community and business leaders and the general public invited to attend. A reception for victims and survivors will follow the ceremony. A therapist will conduct a two-hour counseling session on grief and healing. The media campaign includes press releases, media interviews and the distribution of flyers to local businesses.
Riverside County District Attorney, Riverside: The project includes a Victims’ Rights March, which will begin at the District Attorney's Office and end at the historic downtown courthouse. The march concludes with a ceremony honoring victims and their loved ones. Family members will carry posters consisting of a collection of photos, poems and artwork to honor the memory of their loved one. The posters will then be mounted on hundreds of feet of fencing filling the courthouse lawn. Other events held during NCVRW week will include a candlelight vigil, Guardians of Justice Luncheon, press releases and PSAs played at a local movie theatre.
Yolo County District Attorney's Office Victim Services Program, Woodland: The District Attorney's Office will host its Fourth Annual Victim Recognition Ceremony to honor and recognize victims and community heroes for their bravery and survival. Families and friends of homicide victims will be invited to provide a photo of their loved one, which will be enlarged and displayed at the event. NCVRW and local events will be advertised on three billboards and in newspapers throughout the county. Flyers and invitations will be sent to places of worship and local businesses with hopes of increasing attendance at the ceremony.
YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles: Inter-personal violence expert Leah Aldridge will
train 5 to 10 victim/survivors who will share their experiences during public awareness events. The training
will cover basic public speaking skills, handling denial and victim-blaming and working with the media. The
project will also conduct at least five educational seminars for churches, schools or community groups and
three media interviews, disseminate culturally adapted and translated posters, flyers and VST
(Victim/Survivor/Thriver) packs consisting of rights card, action plan and resource card and disseminate
promotional flashlights and key chains.
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Colorado
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Program, Centennial: The Sheriff's Office will hold a poster contest depicting this year's NCVRW theme with area high school students. The project will also host a resource fair, at which there will be a poster contest awards ceremony, an ice cream social and distribution of promotional items. Over 20 community resource agencies will be invited to attend and display information at the fair. The event will be promoted throughout the community via the distribution of flyers placed in local businesses, school, libraries, and government buildings.
Elbert County Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Unit, Kiowa: A mobile educational display will
be designed and built to disseminate public awareness information and materials throughout this
predominately rural county. The display, which will hold brochures from local community agencies and
service providers collaborating on the project, will be transported to various locations during NCVRW.
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Delaware
Delaware Victims' Rights Task Force, Wilmington: Plans for NCVRW include a 5K Race for
Awareness for Crime Victims’ Rights, a proclamation signing with the governor and an award ceremony to
recognize those who have performed outstanding work in the victims’ rights movement. The week will
include the 19th annual Victims’ Tribute, held in central Delaware. The public awareness campaign includes
print media, advertising on DART statewide bus system, billboards, radio PSAs and newspaper
advertisements.
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Florida
Crime Victims Resource Network, Miami: Plans include a walk-a-thon and family day, complete with music, barbeque, children’s activities, resource information, speakers, survivor testimonials and poetry reading as well as an award ceremony and proclamation day. Awards will be given to advocates, law enforcement and faith-based organizations that have empowered victims of crime and their families. Poster boards displaying survivors’ messages and pictures of those deceased will be displayed.
South Brevard Women's Center, Inc., Melbourne: The Women's Center will conduct a media campaign with a radio station and cable television service. The spots will use victims’ voices to summarize their individual stories and providing information on victims’ rights. Victims will be representative of many different types of crimes and different backgrounds. In the Central Florida cable television market, for each spot purchased they are entitled to one matched spot on one of the Tier 2 Networks, which allows them to reach a wide and diverse audience.
Victim Assistance Program, Tampa: During NCVRW, the Victim Assistance Program within the
prosecutor's office will hand out 10,000 business size cards at four department store locations around
Tampa. The cards will include the national theme along with local resource information. Some cards will be
laminated and the non-laminated cards will be handed out at the fragrance counter and sprayed with a
scent chosen by the customer.
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Georgia
Cherokee County Domestic Violence Task Force, Canton: Along with MADD and CASA, the
Task Force will host events in Cherokee County, a suburban Atlanta community. Events include an art
poster campaign in conjunction with the community art program with local school children. The posters
depicting this year’s theme will be on display in a public space during NCVRW. The project will also host a
ceremony in a park to dedicate a plaque affixed to a picnic table, a butterfly release and distribution of
promotional items. There will also be a victim impact panel at the historic courthouse and a candlelight vigil
will be held at the central park of the county seat in Canton. Awareness materials, posters, brochures in
English and Spanish will be distributed throughout the community and in the schools.
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Guam
Office of the Attorney General - Guam, Hagatna: The week will begin with a proclamation
signing by the governor and a flag raising ceremony to highlight the week’s events. Invitations will be sent
to victims, survivors, service providers, government officials and community representatives. The Silent
Witness Silhouettes will be displayed. NCVRW posters, banners and flyers will be distributed to schools,
agencies, organizations and public locations and radio and television spots will be aired.
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Idaho
Family Crisis Center, Rexburg: Along with five sister offices, Family Crisis Center will conduct a media public awareness campaign covering eight counties in eastern Idaho. The campaign will include television ads (to be run during prime television viewing periods), radio PSAs, newspaper ads, and the distribution of 200 full-colored posters throughout the region.
Post Falls Police Department O.A.S.I.S., Post Falls: Located in the rural northern panhandle of
Idaho, the Post Falls Police Department will place 5,000 coffee/beverage sleeves at the eight
coffee/espresso stands in the community for use during NCVRW. The sleeves will have the national
theme and colors on one side and the police department logo on the other.
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Illinois
Family Resources, Inc., Moline: Family Resources is a member of the Quad Cities Crime
Victims’ Rights Week Committee (a bi-state committee covering four main cities). The committee’s
awareness activities include radio PSAs throughout the month of April as well as posters and flyers to
promote the week and its events. The project will hold a Proclamation Ceremony at which local city
officials and police departments will declare NCVRW. At the end of the week, the project will host a "Take
Back the Night Rally," with a speaker, t-shirts and giveaways.
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Indiana
Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Evansville: The week will begin with a ribbon ceremony in front of the civic center complex. Community partners, victims and the public will place ribbons on a set of trees in remembrance of a loved one impacted by crime. Promotional buttons will be distributed and everyone will be encouraged to wear their buttons for the remainder of the week. The trees will be moved to two Walmart locations where the public can add additional ribbons. The media campaign will include radio and television promotions, theatre PSAs, billboards and the distribution of posters, pamphlets, buttons, and giveaways in the Evansville-Vanderburgh area.
Prevail, Inc., Noblesville: Prevail, Inc., which provides education and support services to
victims of abuse in Hamilton County, will conduct two events on two consecutive evenings during
NCVRW. The first event will be an open house at its Noblesville facility. Each attendee will receive a
biographical card describing a fictitious crime victim. People will tour the facility stopping in different areas
to learn about their assigned victim’s journey. Depending upon the type of crime, they could be attending
a support group, safety plan demonstration, or watching an advocate assist with a victim impact
statement. The second public event will be coordinated with the Camel High School Students Against
Violence and Abuse to bring in Judge Tory Bowen-Flynn, who forbids the use the words “rape”, “victim”,
and “assailant” in cases.
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Iowa
Iowa Attorney General's Victim Assistance Division, Des Moines: The project will place newspaper ads in 147 newspapers in all five regions of Iowa (Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest) during NCVRW, including ads in the Des Moines Register and El Viento, a Spanish newspaper based in Des Moines. The ads will focus on this year’s theme and include 4 toll-free lines for crime victim compensation, Iowa Domestic Violence, Iowa Sexual Abuse and the Survivors of Homicide Program.
North Iowa Domestic & Sexual Abuse Community Coalition, Mason City: The media campaign
will include billboards placed throughout a multi-county service area during the month of April, movie
theatre commercials, press releases sent to the areas largest paper and over 20 smaller papers,
advertising in the Mason City Globe Gazette’s Sunday edition and PSAs on nine radio stations. The project
will also work with area banks, restaurants and other businesses to display large outdoor signs recognizing
NCVRW.
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Kansas
Reno County District Attorney's Office, Hutchinson: The week’s activities include a Denim
Day during which employees of local banks and government agencies will wear denim to observe an event
started in 1999 in response to an Italian Supreme Court decision that blamed the victim for the sexual
assault. The District Attorney's office will also host victim centered awareness training for law
enforcement and the public with lunch and handbags filled with resource information provided to
participants, a clergy day breakfast and distribution of handbags and information. The week will conclude
with a community night downtown, where merchants will stay open late and distribute handbags. The
evening will end with a "Walk to Remember" from the downtown to the courthouse that will include candle
lighting and a poetry reading.
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Kentucky
Big Sandy Council on Elder Maltreatment, Prestonburg: Comprised of community partners
from five counties, the Council addresses the problem of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation through
education and developing community systems of prevention and intervention. During NCVRW, the
Council will host a conference open to the public titled “Elder Abuse 101: Raising Awareness” that will be
held at a technical college, centrally located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. The conference will
be marketed through billboards, radio, television, posters, flyers, and e-mail distribution lists. Speakers and
presentations will address elder abuse from different perspectives (forensics, law enforcement,
prosecution, courts, and victim/survivors).
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Louisiana
Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Shreveport: The victims’ rights campaign will help
predominately African American, Hispanic, and Native American women from underserved communities
understand their rights. Through much of April, the project will include four billboards listing emergency
numbers and crime victim organizations’ contact information, a youth poster art and poetry contest through
the schools, distribution of lawn signs and “shoe cards” throughout the community. The project will also
host school assemblies at middle and high schools to distribute crime victim resource information and
conclude with a "Walk for Victims’ Rights" and an educational/information expo. The media campaign will
include guest appearances on television, newspaper ads, radio spots and PSAs.
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Massachusetts
New Hope, Inc., Attleboro: During NCVRW, this domestic violence and sexual assault
advocacy program will conduct a newspaper insert media campaign. Inserts will go into four city
newspapers and one regional newspaper distributed to readers in Bristol and Worcester counties. The insert
will include this year’s theme and promote Clothesline Project displays in the cities of Taunton and Milford.
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Michigan
County of Isabella Prosecutor's Office, Mt. Pleasant: Two crime victims’ rights videos, one for adults and one for children to promote community awareness will be shown at a community forum involving a variety of victim organizations. The videos will also be shown at the annual memorial ceremony and aired during NCVRW on local public access TV and the university channel. The project also includes a reading project with second graders, titled “Hands are for Holding and Helping, not Hitting and Hurting.” The book “Clover’s Secret” which indirectly deals with domestic violence will be read by the prosecuting attorney who will be available to answer students' questions.
Dial Help, Inc., Houghton: Dial Help provides immediate response to victims of all crimes in 15 rural counties, including crime scene response, assistance with protection orders, court and medical advocacy, and compensation assistance. NCVRW activities will include an online forum titled “Victims of Crime Web Chat: Fostering Fairness, Dignity, and Respect.” The forum will provide the public an opportunity to share their stories, receive support from other survivors, and get support from a knowledgeable moderator who can direct them to resources. The site will highlight victims’ rights, service organizations, and provide chat rooms related to different types of crimes. The media campaign will include radio, television, newspaper ads, and a wide distribution of flyers and promotional magnets. A large banner announcing the online forum will be displayed in a high traffic area.
Kent County Victim Witness, Grand Rapids: The Victim Witness program will begin the week
with an event at the courthouse to bring attention to victims’ rights and will highlight a victim who will share
his/her experience with the system. The public awareness campaign during the week will include
luncheons, workshops, and panel discussions hosted by community partners. A collaborative video will be
created which highlights the services available to county residents. A Facebook page will be created
listing all community events. The week will wrap up with a service fair and candlelight vigil at the Grand
Valley State University downtown campus.
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Minnesota
Minnesota Alliance on Crime, St. Paul: Two community forums will be conducted entitled, “Child Abuse: Little Victims, Huge Consequences” addressing rights and resources available for abused children. One will be held in Minneapolis and the other in the rural area of Pine County. Speakers will include survivors of child abuse, service providers and community partners. The forums will include a panel discussion, resource fair, food, and childcare for attendees. Gas/transportation vouchers will be provided to make the event more accessible to the public. Promotional magnets and pens will be provided.
New Horizons Crisis Center, Marshall: New Horizons serves a five county area in southwest Minnesota and works with individuals and families who have been victimized by general crime, child abuse and sexual assault. The NCVRW project includes “Walk Against Violence”, a walk from a park to the courthouse followed by a balloon release and reception. Patricia Francisco Weaver, who wrote “Telling: A Memoir of Rape and Recovery,” will speak at an evening community event at Southwest Minnesota State University. Theatre advertising focusing on crime victims’ rights will begin during NCVRW and run for a full year for a total of 11,880 times. One hundred posters with tear-sheet pads containing contact information will be widely distributed.
Pillsbury United Communities, Brian Coyle Center, Minneapolis: An estimated 35 organizations
and 100 community members will participate in a conference style resource fair targeting Somali, Oromo,
Korean, and other East African and Asian nationalities. Attendees will receive guides to the numerous
resource tables set up in the gym with theme rooms focusing on crime related issues and services.
Towards the end, attendees will gather to hear a panel of crime victims share their experiences. The
resource fair will include a neighborhood safety walk. An extensive culturally appropriate media campaign
will be conducted including television, radio, flyers, posters, newspapers, the Internet and door knocking.
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Mississippi
Gulf Coast Women's Center for Nonviolence, Inc., Biloxi: Gulf Coast Women's Center will host an event entitled, “A New Deal for Victims-Fairness, Dignity, and Respect,” on the Biloxi Town Green in downtown Biloxi. Six coastal counties will be invited to participate which will be coordinated with local law enforcement, victim service organizations, district attorney’s office, and the military base. The event will include speakers, presentations by school children, entertainment, vendors, and community partner designed activities.
The Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention, Hattiesburg: NCVRW will begin with proclamations
signed by the mayors of the two largest cities (Laurel and Hattiesburg) and mayors from some of the
small communities in the eleven county regions. Area youth will be invited to participate in an art or poster
project reflecting this year’s theme. Regional law enforcement, advocates, judges and victims will select
the winning art pieces and winners will receive trophies. A regional candlelight vigil will be held at the
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, where the youth artwork will be displayed. An educational event with a
keynote speaker and victim impact panel will be held. Lesson plans appropriate for civic, history, and
government classes for a variety of grade levels will be developed. A day of training for social workers,
the ministry, medical professional, law enforcement and survivors will promote the process of healing
following the trauma of being victimized.
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Missouri
Crime Victim Advocacy Center of St. Louis, St. Louis: The 29 members of the Regional
Planning Committee for the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area Victims’ Rights Week Event will hold the
same event at two locations; a shopping mall in Missouri and a mall in Illinois. At the malls, committee
members will distribute free Hershey’s chocolate bars with customized wrappers, imprinted with the theme,
colors, and a website link to NCVRW events. The inside wrapper will contain a list of rights guaranteed in
Missouri and Illinois. The committee will also print informational cards listing resource information and
upcoming events that participating agencies have planned to commemorate NCVRW. Candy bars will be
available for planning committee members to distribute at their individual events. The media campaign
includes purchased radio airtime, newspaper ads, and an on-site local broadcast of the kick-off event.
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Montana
Montana Board of Control, Helena: Similar events will be held in Helena, Missoula, and at the
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Reservation. Each event will begin with speeches from local elected
officials, followed by a one-mile walk to a city park where a bench honoring victims will be dedicated.
Balloons and posters containing victims’ right information and data will be placed along the walking route.
Walkers will be provided water, granola bars, fruit, a theme pin and/or scarf. At the end of the walk victim
service providers will have information and resource booths. A newspaper ad inviting the public to
participate will run in each community prior to the event.
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Nebraska
City of Beatrice - Gage County Victim Assistance Program, Beatrice: Billboards located in the
southern, northern, and eastern part of the county and in the city of Beatrice and throughout Gage County
will be displayed during April, May and June. During April, the billboard will promote NCVRW and during
May and June they will promote services provided by the victim assistance program. Information booths
will be set up at the Gage County Fair in July and brochures, business cards and promotional pens will be
given out to the public. During April, volunteers will distribute posters and gift bags containing information
and pens, to local businesses, agencies and hospitals.
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Nevada
Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence, Reno: NCASV is a member of the Alliance for
Victims’ Rights, which is the coordinating agency for NCVRW events in Washoe County. NCVRW events
include displaying the Victims’ Memorial Quilts in one of Nevada’s northern government agencies,
possibly the governor’s office. The Alliance will hold the 17th Annual Candlelight Vigil at the Mills B. Lane
Justice Center in Reno honoring survivors of crime. The annual “Bringing Respect and Honor to Victims
Awards” will be presented at the vigil. Other events include the Labyrinth Garden Walk (a place dedicated
to victims of violent crime) and the Holly Quick Memorial Garden (bricks are purchased to create a
pathway leading to a butterfly rock garden). The media campaign includes radio, television, print media,
and advertising on Facebook. The Alliance will provide media tool kits to all local media outlets.
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New Hampshire
YWCA Manchester, Manchester: The NCVRW project will include the 10th Annual "Take Back
the Night" March, Rally and Candlelight Vigil to End Sexual Violence, New Hampshire Clothesline Project,
Survivor Art and Poetry Night and the “Hands Are NOT for Hurting” campaign with local schools and youth
organizations. Three service providers in the areas of child abuse, domestic and sexual abuse and racial
violence will be honored at the "Heroes for Justice Awards." The awareness campaign includes PSAs on the
Manchester Transit Authority Bus system and in local movie theatres. The project also includes a Family
Health & Safety Clinic, which will include presentations and information on crime prevention. Trainers from
LIVE: Lessons in Violence Evasion, will present two workshops on personal body safety and evading
potential assailants, one for women 13 years and older and one for kids ages 7-12.
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New Jersey
Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, Flemington: A Community Resource Fair will be held in Flemington, the county seat of Hunterdon County. The project will also celebrate the re-opening of the renovated Child Advocacy Center. An art contest will be held with the senior art majors from four county high schools. Students will be asked to paint a happy and serene picture appropriate for display at the Child Advocacy Center. Area service providers and community agencies will be invited to set up information displays. Activities for children include a small petting zoo. The event will include a tour of the Center, a dedication ceremony and refreshments.
Jersey Battered Women's Service, Inc., Morristown: On Sunday, April 18th, a front-page
sticker promoting NCVRW will appear on the Daily Record, Morris County’s major newspaper reaching
45,000 people. The sticker will direct readers to a half-page inside ad which will contain a list of rights and
local service providers’ contact information and website address. The information will be provided in
English and Spanish. All service provides/agencies will be invited to send two representatives to
participate in the planning meetings to create the ad.
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New Mexico
Esperanza Shelter for Battered Families, Inc., Santa Fe: A “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” march,
starting at the state capitol to the Santa Fe Railyard will be held. Once at the Railyard, there will be
speakers, including lawmakers, business owners, members of the faith community, local youth and
victims/survivors. The event will include vendors, music, food, and outreach/resource materials. Local
youth will participate in a poster/t-shirt contest centered on this year’s theme.
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New York
Family Services, Inc., Poughkeepsie: A countywide awareness campaign will include the dissemination of 10,000 take out coffee cup sleeves imprinted with the theme, a local hotline number and website. Participating sites, including independent delicatessens, coffee shops, restaurants, diners, and college and hospital cafeterias, will display flyers and brochures. A quarter-page newspaper advertisement listing the project and participating businesses will be taken out. The project also includes an awards ceremony honoring community “champions” of victims’ rights.
Mental Health Association of Genesee County, Batavia: The Genessee County Crime Victims' Rights Week Coalition will hold many activities for NCVRW. The week will begin with a flag raising at the county courthouse, a tour of the courts facility and a gathering to honor crime victims/survivors. On Tuesday, there will be an open house at the Child Advocacy Center. On Wednesday, there will be a Criminal Justice Advisory Council Breakfast and Thursday will include Criminal Justice Day-Informational Sessions. The week will conclude with a candlelight vigil/awards ceremony and balloon walk. During the week a banner and flags of different colors representing different types of crime will be displayed on Main Street. A ten page special supplement will appear in the Batavia Daily Newspaper containing articles, information and upcoming NCVRW activities, along with letters and essays written by crime victims. A series of articles will run in the daily newspaper including a “question of the day” to which readers may call in to answer.
Montgomery Co Sexual Assault Support Services of Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson, Inc., Amsterdam: To promote NCVRW, letters-to-the-editor and feature articles will be sent to local newspapers. Guest speakers will be booked on local radio programs. Along with partner agencies, the project will provide programs in schools, senior centers and other community venues. Partner agencies will mass distribute awareness ribbons attached to information cards in English and Spanish. A dedication reception will be held at the county office building to honor all crime victims and to promote crime victims’ rights. The dedication will include a keynote speaker, tree planting and installment of a memorial stone on the courthouse grounds.
Office of the Richmond County District Attorney, Staten Island: The District Attorney's office will try to convey victim-related information to non-English-speaking immigrant residents through a student art and poetry contest held for their English-speaking school age children. A color photograph of the winning art piece will be displayed in the local Sunday paper, along with information on the upcoming candlelight vigil. The winning poems will be printed in the vigil program at which students will have the opportunity to read their poems. The vigil will be held at the Richmond University Medical Center, situated in an area with the county’s highest rate of violent crime.
Safe Horizon, Brooklyn: In partnership with the Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims and the
New York State Attorney General, the project will conduct New York City's 25th annual Crime Victims
Candlelight Vigil at the West End Collegiate Church, which is centrally located and available by various
forms of public transportation. The church sanctuary will be transformed with banners, paintings, quilts,
group crafts, children’s art, 9/11 photography and flowers. The vigil includes “Voices of Victims” and an
address by a keynote speaker.
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North Carolina
North Carolina Division of Community Corrections, Raleigh: The Victim Services Interagency Council of North Carolina will host its annual Crime Victims’ Rights Ceremony at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. The ceremony will include a keynote speaker, a candlelight vigil, a memory flower ceremony, and a reception. Attendees can view the Victims’ Expression, a display through art, poetry, pictures, and stories. A DVD of the display will be given to attendees. The event will be marketed through English and Spanish language newspapers, radio and television stations throughout the state.
Shelter Home of Caldwell County, Lenoir: To commemorate the lives of homicide victims, life-
size wooden silhouettes will be displayed on the courthouse lawn during NCVRW. A “Crime Prevention
Fair” will be held at which partner agencies will have information booths. A motivational speaker and
survivor will speak at the Caldwell County Solutions Against Violence meeting. A balloon release will be
held on the downtown square to be followed by a victims’ luncheon. NCVRW will end with the distribution
of collected teddy bears for the “Hug a Bear” campaign. Teddy bears will be given to partner agencies,
which will in turn, give to the children with whom they work. The awareness campaign will include a banner
displayed across Main Street, a billboard, television, radio, and newspaper advertising and imprinted
grocery bags. Information bags will be distributed to the schools and flyers will be handed out at local
restaurants.
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North Dakota
North Dakota Victim Assistance Association, Stanley: The Association will advertise on 11
billboards throughout North Dakota during the month of April. The billboards will promote NCVRW and refer
readers to their association’s website. The website provides information about victims’ rights and services
in North Dakota, local phone numbers and information about the North Dakota crime victim compensation
program.
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Ohio
Columbus Urban League, Columbus: With a focus on raising the awareness of NCVRW among Columbus’s faith community, an event will be held at the New Birth Christian Ministry. The event will include expressive dance, music and poetry. Author and victim advocate Yvonne Pointer will be the keynote speaker. There will be an emphasis on involving people 25 and younger, as this population is hit hard by violent crime. The event will highlight the sharing of resource information, including the state’s victim compensation program. The event will be promoted on the League’s weekly radio show, PSAs on local news and radio outlets, newsletters, and the Attorney General’s Calendar of Events.
Medina County Domestic & Sexual Violence Task Force, Akron: All agencies providing services to victims of crime in Medina County will be invited to participate in a four-week digital billboard advertising campaign. The digital billboard is located on the heavily traveled Route 18. The campaign will also include four traditional billboards and an advertisement in Medina’s daily newspaper. Each agency’s individual display will be approved by that agency, but the campaign will maintain continuity by incorporating the logo and colors into each display.
Mental Health America of Licking County, Newark: One of the programs this agency runs is a
violence prevention and youth asset building program named PAVE. It also runs YES House, a youth
clubhouse and community service program. During NCVRW, groups of speakers will interact with the
youth involved with these two programs. The project includes a public workshop to increase law
enforcement’s interaction with the public and explain the victim’s journey through the criminal justice
process. The week will include a program on “Victims with Disabilities,” a poster contest with students
addressing diversity and victimization and “Peacemakers’ Showcase,” an event showcasing teens anti-
violence messages through interactive displays and poetry. The event will end with a "Take Back the
Night" Rally and vigil.
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Oklahoma
YWCA Enid, Enid: With collaboration from numerous community partners, the Garfield County
Domestic Violence Task Force will sponsor a community resource fair. The focus of the fair is
community safety and will be held on a Saturday at the high school field. Community agencies and
partners will have information booths and activities for the public. Food, bands and kids activities are
planned as well. T-shirts will be given to the first 200 attendees and bags for collecting resource
information will be handed out as people arrive. This will be the first time the City of Enid has had an event
at which all agencies come together to inform victims of their rights.
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Oregon
Oregon Crime Victims Law Center, Portland: The Law Center was established to provide free
legal representation to crime victims in criminal cases in state, federal and tribal courts. To promote
NCVRW, The Center will hang banners on streetlights on major traffic arteries throughout Portland and
Salem. The Center will also prepare public service announcements for Oregon’s major print and television
media outlets which will feature a public official or local personality as well as crime victims who will relate
their experiences with the criminal justice system.
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Pennsylvania
Berks County District Attorney's Office, Reading: NCVRW will begin with a Resource Fair at a
local shopping plaza at which the Sheriff’s Department will provide child ID cards, many agencies will set
up information tables, and the mother of a homicide victim will sign her book of poetry entitled, “Slamming
Open the Door.” The local radio station will be at the event to promote upcoming events as well. On
Saturday, the District Attorney's office will hold its annual “Victims’ Rights Walk” near a municipal minor
league baseball stadium at which there will be information tables, speakers, “Walk a Day in Our Shoes”
display, quilt display and balloon release. A website will promote the events, solicit donated items as
giveaways during the activities, and for volunteers to help at the events. Advertisements will be in English
and Spanish.
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Tennessee
Edgehill Family Resource Center - Organized Neighbors of Edgehill, Nashville: The Resource
Center serves one of the poorest areas and has identified crime as one of the residents’ main concern.
On Saturday, April 24, the Center will sponsor a Community Awareness Forum at the community center
which will include a number of workshops to educate the community about the impact of crime. Presenters
will include service providers, faith leaders, law enforcement, and crime victims. The event will include
resource displays and a recognition luncheon. The event will be promoted through print and electronic
media.
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Texas
Coryell County Crime Victims' Office, Gatesville: The week will begin with proclamations presented to the cities of Gatesville, Copperas Cove and to the County Commissioners. Elementary school students will be asked to submit poster artwork depicting general themes of non-violence and crime victims’ rights. Winners of the contest will be announced at an event that will include national and state speakers, a presentation by a mother whose daughter was murdered by an abusive boyfriend, music, a victim memorial flower wreath, and candlelight vigil. Throughout the week, church bells will toll at noon and awareness pins/ribbons will be distributed and worn by community leaders and event attendees. The week will be promoted in church bulletins, and through radio, television and print media.
Houston Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Houston: The Coalition will host a Community
Walk for victims over a 7-day period. Teams of walkers will signup to walk at a time and place convenient
for them. Walkers will be provided t-shirts and information cards to give to people who are interested in
learning more about why and for whom they are walking. The suggested distance is 3-5 miles so each team
will walk about one hour for victims. The walk will be promoted at the well-attended annual Houston
Children’s Festival where HCAHT will have a booth to recruit walkers. Interested walkers will pick up
registration packets at a local theatre where NCVRW will kick off with a movie and speaker. The events
will be promoted with flyers, banners, PSAs, on Facebook, and through local schools, agencies and
churches.
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Utah
Salt Lake City Corporation Police Department Victim Advocate Program, Salt Lake City: A
different event will take place each day of NCVRW, starting with an interfaith candlelight event. The
Mayor’s Office and the Salt Lake Police Chief will issue a proclamation and introduce a new brochure
describing the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendment. Victims and advocates will
participate in a mid-week radio show discussing victims’ rights. A survivors’ quilt will be unveiled at
various public locations. A tree ceremony will be held at which community members will be invited to tie
ribbons on the tree representing the impact crime had on their lives. Crime victims and advocates will
conduct a “Honk-and-Wave” event, where they will stand at major intersections and on freeway ramps,
wearing t-shirts and holding signs. The week will conclude with a community event with a keynote speaker.
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Vermont
The Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, Waterbury: The Center will create radio and
web PSAs for local stations and partner websites. The message will direct the public to look for information
at their local grocery stores and co-ops during NCVRW. NCVRW information packets, victim service
information, and an updated resource directory will be distributed to the grocery stores and co-ops
statewide. Local service providers will explain the project to store owners and encourage them to hang
posters in their windows and provide flyers and imprinted grocery tote bags to their customers during the
week. The Center will also host the annual Honor Survivors’ Day Ceremony at the Vermont Statehouse at
which Meg Garvin, Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute, will conduct a
symposium with key decision makers to identify priorities and strategies for advancing victims’ rights in
Vermont.
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Virginia
Fairfax County Police Department, Victim Services Section, Fairfax: For almost twenty years, victim service providers have joined together to recognize NCVRW by holding a candlelight vigil. Collaborators are members of the Northern Virginia Crime Victim Assistance Coalition. Victims conduct the part of the vigil program giving recognition to selected individuals who have distinguished themselves through their service to victims. The vigil will take place indoors and use battery operated candles. A large ad will run in the Washington Post promoting NCVRW and area activities.
Spotsylvania County Victim Witness Assistance Program, Spotsylvania: A publication with the theme of crime prevention and risk reduction will be produced and disseminated by the local newspaper during NCVRW. The publication, highlighting all allied agencies and programs covering all types of crimes, will include a resource guide on the issues of violence and its impact on the individual, family and community. It will provide parents with services available for children and teens for risk reduction and services for those with disabilities, the elderly and culturally specific services. A Spanish language publication will be distributed to the Latino and immigrant communities and at events sponsored by collaborators.
Victim Services Unit of the City of Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Office, Newport
News: “The Empty Place at the Table" exhibit representing victims of violent crime will be displayed in
restaurants in six communities. The exhibit will educate restaurant patrons about the individual nature of
crime and the impact on the community. An informational event, open to the whole community, will be
held at Newport News City Park on Saturday, April 24th. The event will include information booths, safety
and crime prevention demonstrations, activities for children, and guest speaker, actress and sexual
assault survivor Gabrielle Union. The event will have a special focus on preventing child abuse and
include a pinwheel display and a butterfly release.
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Wisconsin
nic foundation, Inc., Shawano: This program was started in memory of a young man murdered
in a small rural Wisconsin community and is dedicated to promoting violence prevention educational
initiatives throughout Northeastern Wisconsin. The foundation will work with youth to create NCVRW
promotional votive candles with the message “light a candle for all victims of crime” attached and wishing
seeds/dust with attached message “making your own wish for peace.” The project will conduct storytelling
crime prevention lessons at local schools and a library and hold a candle lighting ceremony on Tuesday,
April 20th in the rural community of Clintonville. The ceremony will include keynote speakers,
victim/witness statements, a dramatic performance by elementary students, musical tribute, poetry
reading, and candle lighting to honor crime victims. The foundation will display a gallery art show from
their “Building Character through Art” contest. Families that attend will receive a resource book on raising
children of good character.
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