# Activities continue to raise awareness for sexual assault prevention

/ Published April 18, 2020
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., 
Throughout the month of April, the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center is usually packed with activities and events to help raise awareness and educate the workforce on resources available to help prevent sexual assault and to help those that have survived it.

                Distribution recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month                            April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and this year’s theme is “Protecting our people protects our mission.”            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Department of DefenseVIRIN: 180430-D-D0441-011This year the activities are a bit different since most of the workforce is teleworking and those onsite are focused on mission essential taskings. All activities this year are focused on raising awareness without distracting from the mission.

“Awareness is critical because knowing about this issue means that if it happened to someone, they would know where to go for help,” said Robin Rogers, Defense Logistics Agency Sexual Assault and Response coordinator.”

Teal Tuesdays will continue. Associates are encouraged to wear teal every Tuesday in April. Teal was selected as it is the official ribbon color designated for sexual assault awareness.

Another event is to wear denim April 29. Denim Day is a call to action resulting from a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a sexual assault convention was overturned based on the justices belief that the victim's jeans were so tight that she must have helped the attacker remove them, thereby implying consent. The women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans the next day in solidarity of the victim. In April 1999, Denim Day was established in the United States. Today, Denim Day is promoted worldwide in response to this case as a protest erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

                Participants in Bring Your Child to Work Day create messages to promote awareness and prevention for bullying and other abuse.                            Chalking the walk                            Participants in Bring Your Child to Work Day create messages to promote awareness and prevention for bullying and other abuse.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jeff LandenbergerVIRIN: 180426-D-YU183-021Lastly, associates are encouraged to bring Chalk the Walk to their driveways and sidewalks, by creating positive messages for their community to see while on their neighborhood walks.

“We would love to see those teleworking and onsite raising awareness and showing their support,” Rogers said.

Associates may send pictures of their artwork and of their teal and denim support to the SARC to showcase the DLA Disposition Services support for awareness and prevention.

While awareness is important, so is ensuring associates know where to go for help.

“Many survivors don’t know who they can talk to about their assault, where to turn or even identify that it was an assault,” Rogers said. “They may feel alone, confused, scared or embarrassed. For survivors and their support people, knowing where to turn to in a crisis is a step that can impact the rest of their journey.”

If you or someone you know has been assaulted, need assistance or would like additional resources, contact DLA Disposition Services Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or call the DLA SAPR Hotline 1-800-841-0937.

                Chalk the Walk                            Positives messages were created along the sidewalks around the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center during the 2018 Chalk the Walk event.  Associates and their children left inspiring message to promote Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Awareness.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 180401-D-D0441-702                Chalk the Walk                            Positives messages were created along the sidewalks around the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center during the 2018 Chalk the Walk event.  Associates and their children left inspiring message to promote Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Awareness.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 180401-D-D0441-700                Chalk the Walk                            Positives messages were created along the sidewalks around the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center during the 2018 Chalk the Walk event.  Associates and their children left inspiring message to promote Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Awareness.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 180401-D-D0441-701

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Visit the DLA Sexual Assault and Prevention webpage for more information.