Transitioning Times

LUNAFEST®, the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women's issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, will be hosted by Transitions of PA at The Campus Theatre in Lewisburg on April 25, 2018.    This unique film festival highlights women as leaders in society, illustrated through nine short films by women filmmakers. The films range from animation to fictional drama and cover topics such as women’s health, body image, relationships, cultural diversity, and breaking barriers. All proceeds from LUNAFEST will benefit Transitions of PA and Chicken & Egg Pictures, a nonprofit organization that supports women nonfiction filmmakers whose artful and innovative storytelling catalyzes social change. Thus far, LUNAFEST, which is created and funded by LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®, has raised more than $3 Million for nonprofit organizations across the US and Canada. The event beg...

            When it comes to sexual harassment and assault, taking a few steps backward in regards to protections is never a good thing. April was sexual assault awareness month (SAAM), where we highlight the problem of sexual assault a little more heavily than usual. Much advancement has been made over the years in combatting sexual assault; however, the fight is far from over. On March 27 th , just a few days before he would make a declaration that April would be SAAM, President Donald Trump signed an executive order overturning the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Act, signed by President Barak Obama in 2014. Among other protections, this act would require companies who have federal contracts to be open about what they’re paying their employees and not allow them to keep sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination allegations or cases in private. This is called an arbitration clause, which companies put in employees’ contracts “to keep sex discri...

On April 18, 2017, Transitions hosted a mock sexual assault trial at the Northumberland County Courthouse. It was well-attended, with a full courtroom of approximately 100 people. This was a public event and invitations were distributed widely to high schools and colleges in the area as well as community organizations. The mock trial was created by the DC Street Law Clinic through Georgetown University . Actors were provided with statements given by their characters but otherwise improvised during the trial. The two attorneys spent the most time preparing for the trial. There was only one rehearsal prior to the event.  This mock trial was created in 2009, but the issues it raises continue to be relevant. College students are at a higher risk of being victimized; statistics state 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college. There has been a lot of discussion in the past few years about sexual violence on college campuses, including from then- Pres...

April 26 th , 2017 marks the 18 th celebration of Peace Over Violence’s Denim Day .  If you are not already familiar with this event, Denim Day is the annual violence prevention day sponsored by a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, Peace Over Violence.  Over 11 million people across the country participated in 2016.  It is held in April every year as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Denim Day campaign began after the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans at the time of the assault, and the justices believed she must have helped her rapist remove them, thereby implying consent.  The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive...

Studies show that as many as one in four girls and one in six boys will experience sexual abuse by the age of 18.  Nine out of ten child abuse victims know the abuser.  Child sexual abuse can have long-lasting impacts on the victim, including behavior problems, poor school performance, and substance use.  April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Transitions of PA and  Susquehanna Valley CASA – Voices for Children have partnered to bring Matthew Sandusky, adopted son of Jerry Sandusky, to the Lewisburg Area High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2016.  Matthew will share a message of hope as he talks about his journey of healing to support and encourage others.  Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.  This event is free to the public, but registration is required.  Tickets are available by visiting www.transitionsofpa.org . Matthew is the 2015 recipient of Darkness to Light’s Voice of Courage A...

This April, we have provided NO MORE placards to participants in training and other people we meet to allow them to give their reason for saying NO MORE. Below you will find their reasons.  To view them individually, go to our Facebook !

Italy, 1992.  A teenage girl is picked up by her 45 year-old driving instructor for her first lesson.  Instead of teaching her how to drive, the instructor rapes her for over an hour and threatens to kill her if she tells.  The brave young woman discloses the assault to her parents and they support her in filing charges against the perpetrator.  He is arrested, charged, and convicted of the crime. However, in 1999, on appeal from the perpetrator, the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction "because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them...and by removing the jeans...it was no longer rape but consensual sex."  This truly horrible decision by the Italian Supreme Court inspired a national and international movement called "Denim Day."  Wearing jeans on this day demonstrates a protest against the erroneous and harmful attitudes about sexual assault. This year Denim Day is April 23, 2014.  Show your support t...

Thank you to Rosemary Neidig for coming to Barnes & Noble in Lewisburg to sign copies of her book Every Two Minutes: One Woman's Journey through Sexual Traumas. Pictured below, from left to write, are Transitions' Programs Director Heather Over, Transitions' CEO Susan Mathias, author Rosemary Neidig, Director of Bucknell's Women's Resource Center Tracy Russell, and Debbie Fitzgerald from Barnes & Noble at Bucknell.

            This is the tagline for End Violence Against Women International’s new campaign, Start by Believing.  Besides the obvious (though apparently, not always obvious enough!) action of not committing rape, the most helpful thing we can do for survivors is to believe and support them when they come to us and ask for help.  It is traumatic enough to be victimized in the first place; rapists rob their victims of their peace of mind, sense of safety, and temporarily their control over their own body and choices.  However, it is equally painful and demeaning to have the bravery to tell someone your story and then be doubted, brushed off, or vilified for speaking up.  Not only does this skeptical response hurt the survivor, but it also allows the rapist to continue on free of consequence—and most importantly, free to rape again.             One common p...

Transitions is happy to report that we we were able to take part in this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign.  We participated in at least 6 Health Fairs and Community Events, distributed hundreds of coasters/brochures/tagged lollipops/other materials, posted several articles/links to our Facebook page and blog, and joined Susquehanna University in collaboration on their newly formed Sexual Assault Task Force. We were able to reach hundreds, if not thousands, of people in our communities. At just one health fair Transitions received compliments from individuals and agencies alike, heard personal stories of how Transitions was able to help that individual standing before us, their friend, co-worker, or family member, and received several requests for further information, training, or outreach programs, including a request to present programs at a summer camp for clients of a local foster care/counseling agency. Several agencies also offered to provide free...

As Sexual Assault Awareness Month comes to an end, it beckons for everyone to reflect on how to continue opening other’s minds to the pandemic of sexual assault. This is not a 30-day sprint to educate the world about an ongoing oversight in public health, but should be seen as a month to brainstorm and reflect on progress, milestones reached, and the steps that need to be taken in the next year to continue the awareness.             A particular area of interest in sexual assault research and awareness is campus sexual assault. Many researchers have looked at a variety of causes and consequences of being sexually assaulted while attending a university. A recently published article investigated one of the many possible reasons why sexual assault is hardly ever reported, institutional betrayal. These institutions are often entrusted and are depended on by the individuals that are enrolled. When a sexual assault is reported a...

  April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).   SAAM’s purpose is to educate our communities and raise awareness about sexual violence. Over the years, the national campaign for SAAM has emphasized the prevention of sexual violence. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) has unveiled the 2013 campaign. The focus of this year’s campaign is healthy sexuality and child sexual abuse prevention.   Their slogan is “It’s time…to talk about it!   Talk early, talk often.   Prevent sexual violence.” SAAM was nationally recognized for the first time in April 2001.   The roots of SAAM date back to the first documented Take Back the Night march that took place in Brussels, Belgium during The International Tribunal on Crimes against Women. The Tribunal was held March 4-8, 1976. As a result of this march a movement known as Reclaim The Night was born. Reclaim The Night marches occurred throughout Europe, Australia, and India...

Sexual assault can affect anyone men, women, and unfortunately even children.   Every year, an alarmingly high number of children become victims of sexual assault and many of these children never get the support or assistance they need after such a traumatic occurrence.   In the spirit of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we hope to raise awareness on the importance of educating children, parents, and communities about child sexual abuse prevention, in hopes that far less children are affected by sexual assault. Child sexual abuse can be a devastating event in the life of a child.   Many children are embarrassed, scared, or too confused to come forward with the abuse that has happened to them.   In many cases these children live the majority of their childhood and perhaps the rest of their lives without ever telling about the abuse that has happened to them.   When a child goes on without disclosing abuse it can follow them and affect them even into adul...

April has been designated by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) as Sexual Assault Awareness month.   Granted, sexual assault is not a pleasant topic, especially when it involves children, which is the focus of this year’s awareness.    When we hear of cases where adults have used children as a means to gratify themselves sexually, most of us are appalled and outraged.    It is always an additional shock to find out that many people knew or suspected the wrongdoing all along, and did nothing to stop it. Surely if bystander adults only knew of the dire, sometimes life-spanning, physical and mental health issues that face our young victims, more people would step forward to prevent all forms of sexual harm to children.   No matter how objectionable the topic, this is a serious issue that needs to be at the forefront of our thoughts, our plans, and our policies, not just here at Transitions, but in our homes, schools, churches, and comm...

As the month of April begins, we here at Transitions are preparing for another sexual assault awareness month .   It is during this month that we focus on spreading awareness and informing the community about sexual assault, its prevalence, its effects, and who it can happen to.   This year, during the month of April, one of our focuses is on sexual assault and alcohol use. According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), alcohol is involved in more incidents of sexual violence than any other drug.   When an individual is under the influence of alcohol, even if they consent to drinking, they may not be able to make sound decisions.   If they participate in sexual activities, it can be considered rape .   A drunken person (man or woman) is unable to give consent when they are drunk.   Giving someone alcohol in hopes that they will loosen up or lower their inhibitions and have sex is rape. Some people may not realize that using alcohol in...