Survivors
You are called a survivor for a reason. After all the pain you have been through: you survive. Through the moments of feeling strong and the ones of hurting: you survive. Whatever this path looks like for you, take your time and be kind to yourself. None of these emotions are supposed to make sense because what happened to you doesn't make sense. Sexual violence is morally wrong. And no matter the details of your experience, your story is valid and your emotions are valid. We are here to support you in your healing process. Our community at Piedmont for Consent has a Survivors and Allies group where you can share your thoughts and stories or listen to others. We need each other to lean on. Because nobody said you have to survive alone.
Starting Conversations
Opening up to people can be scary and vulnerable. Choosing someone who you trust and know well can be helpful, but also, some people are more comfortable talking to someone they don't know that well.
Bay Area Women Against Rape
Founded in 1971, BAWAR was the first rape crisis center in the country. It was founded with the two-part goal of establishing a place where survivors of sexual violence could receive the quality counseling and advocacy they need, and to provide community education around these issues.
Although our name is Bay Area Women Against Rape, we serve anyone affected by sexual violence. BAWAR defines sexual violence by the narratives of the survivors who experienced the violence. We are here to believe and validate the community we serve in a trauma-informed, culturally appropriate and accessible way.