March 8-14 was NO MORE Week, part of a national campaign designed to raise awareness around domestic violence and sexual assault by saying “no more!”
In our little corner of Southwest Colorado, there exists an alliance between four nonprofits that are working to make communities of the region safer. Each agency provides confidential services to victims and their children, and these agencies include the Volunteers of America Southwest Safehouse, Sexual Assault Services Organization, Alternative Horizons and Archuleta County Victim Assistance Program. These partners have worked together for many years but have been brought together in this unique new partnership as part of a rural violence prevention grant, which funds unique collaborative strategies to serve victims in our region.
The NO MORE campaign is changing the way we as a society look at sexual assault and domestic violence. Often, we blame victims for the terrible crimes that happen to them. The campaign challenges this archaic thought process, establishing where blame rightfully belongs: with perpetrators of violence. The NO MORE campaign locally highlights the region’s resources, making them more available to victims. Most importantly, these four victim-support agencies are coming together to send a powerful message throughout Southwest Colorado: that we as a region are at the forefront of change – change that improves outcomes for victims and creates safer communities for future generations.
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, please call the local 24-hour hotlines: Sexual Assault Services Organization at (970) 247-5400, Alternative Horizons at (970) 247-9619, Volunteers of America Southwest Safehouse at (970) 259-5443 or Archuleta County Victim Assistance Program at (970) 264-9075. For questions regarding the NO MORE campaign, you can contact me at (970) 903-1276 or via mistyfowlds.sart@gmail.com.
Misty Fowlds, Outreach coordinator, 6th Judicial District
Pagosa springs
