Blog

   June 5, 2020

At MCRCC, we know that racial justice is foundational in realizing a community free of all types of violence. MCRCC denounces white supremacy and police brutality. 

The murder of Black people by law enforcement in the United States is not something that began in 2020, but a tragic and disgusting history in the United States of America. According to The Washington Post's database tracking police shootings, 1,252 Black people have been shot and killed by police since January 1, 2015. In August of last year, the LA Times reported that being killed by police is a leading....

June 2, 2020

This week, we made the following statement across our social media platforms:

As the fight against oppression and racism continues, know that MCRCC stands with you! For us to end sexual violence, all forms of oppression must be eliminated. The senseless acts of violence against POC such as: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, Sean Reed and unfortunately, so many others is heartbreaking and is 100% unacceptable. 

Those who commit acts of violence must be held accountable. We all have a responsibility to speak up and speak out against....

   May 28, 2020
 

We asked our staff to share highlights from work lately. Here are some things that have been keeping us inspired:

A memorable presentation I will not forget

Devan, Prevention Educator: 

“I regularly give presentations to youth on a variety of topics connected to sexual violence. Before shelter-in-place I had a presentation scheduled with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte's Youth Leadership Group in Soledad. However, we shifted to do this via Zoom. I always love talking to students who are already involved in activism work because the conversations and topics are....

   May 20, 2020

It’s now been about two months of stay-at-home orders. Time to check in with ourselves and see what’s working well in our daily lives, and what could work better for us. It’s time to evaluate our stress levels and make sure we’re taking care of our minds, bodies, and spirits. Our team has a list of things that can help reduce stress. By no means are we prescribing that you do everything on this list! But, if you’ve been looking for ideas or confirmation that you’re doing enough, some of these tips might be helpful: 

• Maintain a daily routine – consistency and....

May 18, 2020

by Erin Ortiz, Community Engagement Specialist

What’s in a name? Sometimes, a lot. What we decide to call something matters. Naming our 24-hour hotline a “helpline” vs. a “crisis line” could make the difference between someone feeling comfortable enough to call for assistance, or not. In light of this, we have recently decided to change the name of what we formerly called our “crisis line.” It’s now called our helpline.

It’s a small yet significant change of wording, and we want you to know that nothing else about the phone line has changed. It operates the same way and....

Updated May 15, 2020 (original post March 27, 2020)

Update: There are emergency funds available for undocumented Californians. Here is the link for those living in Monterey County. Applications open Monday, May 18. 

We want you to have access to information about resources that are available now, and which agencies may have adjusted services due to the Shelter in Place order. 

United Way Monterey County has this 90+ page resource guide available to the public that has up-to-date information on services available at various agencies under the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. 

Their....

   May 7, 2020 

by Deborah Pembrook, Human Trafficking Outreach Manager

So many in our community are experiencing loss. This can be economic, such as the loss of hours, jobs and whole businesses. It can be the loss of routine and everyday comforts. It can also be the loss of privacy and help from the tribe of people who assist with child care or with work.

And it can mean the loss of those who have died from COVID-19. My family is one of the 73,000 families in the U.S. and 263,000 families worldwide who have experienced this tragic loss of someone we love.

In her book, Trauma and....

(pictured above: our Spring 2018 Advocate cohort)

May 6, 2020

by Amber Wasson, Crisis Intervention Services Manager

I would like to take this opportunity to brag about our amazing volunteer Advocates.  These selfless individuals continue to give of themselves and stay involved with MCRCC by supporting survivors during this unprecedented time. They have continued to hold help line shifts and be available to respond to forensic exams. I am awed by them and their willingness to give especially during a time that has been daunting for many. 

In the first few weeks of the shelter....

  May 4, 2020

by Lorelei Ahlemeyer, Campus Advocacy Program Manager

I was sitting on the couch the other day scrolling through social media and was flabbergasted by all of the varying responses I was witnessing to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Initially, I was quite shocked at the anger and outrage I was observing; however, then it started to make sense. America is grieving. I am grieving. Everything was shut down all of a sudden, schools were closed, celebrations were cancelled, and life as we knew it was significantly altered indefinitely. When we think of grief, we often think of death....

April 30, 2020

by Robyn Guzik, Community Engagement Specialist

You see, wearing denim on Denim Day is actually an act of protest. It’s a protest against harmful attitudes about sexual violence. In fact, Denim Day started as a global response to a 1999 Italian Supreme Court decision to overturn a rape conviction because the survivor was wearing tight jeans. The Court overturned the conviction because, since the survivor was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped remove them, therefore the act was considered consensual - not rape. 

Soon after, advocates around the nation and....