Sexual Violence Awareness Month
For many survivors of sexual violence, the harm doesn’t end when the assault is over. The trauma, advocates say, can follow a person for years — or a lifetime — especially in a society that often silences victims and misunderstands the complexities of healing.
At the Sexual Violence Center (SVC), a Minneapolis-based nonprofit, support starts with listening. “We’re here to walk with survivors, not lead them,” said Olivia Long, a victim support advocate with the organization. “Sometimes it’s helping someone get to court safely, or just being present while they breathe and process.”
SVC is hosting a “Take Back the Night” event, concurrent with Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The event, intended to celebrate community healing for sexual violence survivors, takes place at Boom Island – Pavillion C in Minneapolis, on April 30, from 6 to 8 pm.
SVC serves Hennepin, Scott and Carver counties, offering a wide range of trauma-informed services at no cost. These include a 24-hour crisis line, peer counseling, hospital and legal advocacy, and community education. All services are confidential and grounded in dignity.
The need for those services is urgent and widespread. In 2023, Minnesota reported more than 2,050 rapes — with over 40% of victims under the age of 18, according to data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Nearly three-quarters of those assaults occurred in a home setting. Among youth, the Minnesota Department of Health reports that by 8th grade, at least 8% of students have experienced sexual violence; by 11th grade, that number rises to at least 16%.
“Not everyone reacts to trauma the same way,” Long said. “Some freeze. Some go quiet. Some need music, others need community. Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all — and we don’t expect it to be.”
Despite growing awareness, public misconceptions about sexual violence remain common. These include assumptions about how a survivor should respond — such as reporting immediately, resisting physically, or acting in a certain way to be believed.
“There’s so much judgment placed on survivors,” Long said. “But when you’re in survival mode, there is no right way. People need to stop projecting their expectations onto those who are already hurting.”
For BIPOC and LGBTQ+ survivors, the experience is often compounded by systemic barriers in institutions like law enforcement, health care, and immigration systems.
“There needs to be systemic change,” Long said. “Stop criminalizing victims. Believe people when they tell you what happened. And if they’re in crisis, give them somewhere safe to go. Help them stabilize before expecting them to relive their trauma for a report.”
Stabilization at SVC can involve everything from assistance with Harassment Restraining Orders to emergency transportation or hotel accommodations. While the center doesn’t operate a shelter, it partners with housing organizations and provides referrals, food assistance, and help with Safe at Home applications.
“A lot of folks fall into homelessness after trauma,” Long said. “Or they go back to the person who harmed them, because there’s nowhere else to go. Or they turn to drugs just to cope. If there’s no intervention, it just gets darker.”
For many, healing is not found through clinical treatment alone, but through connection, safety and validation.
“Some survivors don’t want to keep retelling their story,” Long said. “They just want a quiet room. A place to be where they know they are safe.”
That trauma-informed approach extends to SVC’s staff and volunteers. The organization’s new office space includes decompression rooms and flexible schedules to support advocate wellness.
“Our advocates meet with people during some of their most painful moments,” Long said. “If we’re burnt out, we can’t support anyone else.”
Volunteers are required to complete a 40-hour training before engaging in crisis response or hospital advocacy. Long said that even small acts — like being present during a rape kit exam — can make a lasting impact.
“We never push people to do more than they’re ready for,” she said. “But just sitting with someone — being a calm, compassionate presence — that alone can be life-changing.”
While the work is heavy, Long said it is also filled with hope.
“A world without sexual and domestic violence would be one where everyone’s boundaries are respected. Where survivors are heard, not doubted. Where justice means transformation, not just punishment,” she said. “That’s what we’re working toward.”
“Survivors are not alone,” Long continues. “We’re here. We’re listening. And we’re walking with you.”
For immediate support, call the Sexual Violence Center’s 24-hour crisis line, 612-871-5111. To learn more, get involved, or for more information about the upcoming event, visit www.sexualviolencecenter.org.
Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@spokesman-recorder.com.