Advocacy & Social Justice

Survivors Should Feel That They Can Claim the Word Rape If It’s Right for Them. 

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There is a particular kind of silence that follows sexual violence. Not the silence of peace, but the silence of confusion. The silence of replaying moments over and over in your mind trying to determine if what happened to you was “bad enough” to count. The silence of wondering whether your pain is valid because your story does not resemble the versions of rape society has taught us to recognize.

Survivors Should Feel That They Can Claim the Word Rape If It’s Right for Them.  Read More »

Building Trauma-Responsive Communities in Rural Appalachia

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The Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program (SAOP) has been a cornerstone of support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and related traumas in rural Appalachia. Since beginning my journey as an intern with SAOP in May 2025 and transitioning to a full-time advocate in June 2025, I have witnessed both the profound challenges survivors face in this region and the remarkable strength communities show in responding to trauma.

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Safety Exit