To draw attention to Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Starting Point will lead a discussion on the book “I Lived Through This” at the Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:00. Copies of the book are available at the library.
In “I Lived Through This: Listening to the Stories of Sexual Violence Survivors” author Anne K. Ream expertly presents the stories of survivors who are at once woven together by their common struggle and yet stand apart in their unique and individual triumphs over having been sexually violated. The book addresses the many myths and roadblocks that a victim encounters once they have disclosed and the many different routes one may take to make peace with a life forever altered. The stories are from people from across the United States and around the world, helping to highlight the progress we have made while at the same time acknowledging the long road ahead in ending sexual violence worldwide.
Starting Point advocate Raetha Stoddard will be leading the discussion. Along with her direct service work Raetha is the prevention specialist for the agency. She will help the group explore the individual stories in the book and relate the common issues in the book to her work in Carroll County, exploring the barriers to victims/survivors in seeking justice, healing and normalcy. The discussion will also focus on the commonalties and differences to overcoming adversity and difficulties of any kind, and the difficulties and healing aspects of disclosure.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is the hope of the author and that of Starting Point that discussing this difficult topic openly will help to remove the stigma that victims feel and will ultimately help to create a greater understanding and a more compassionate community.
There is much we can do to end the violence but we must learn how to discuss it first. Please join us for this dynamic discussion.