By Arooj Ashraf, La Prensa Correspondent Cleveland Rape Crisis Center has partnered with Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center to make sure the Latino community can access and benefit from its resources. At an open house held on Sept. 9, 2010, ‘Mi Casa es tu Casa’, CRCC invited the community to meet with its staff and learn about the free resources available. |
 Megan O’Bryan and Pastor Max Rodas |
| “We see survivors as young as 3 years old, basically since they can talk, to adults, men and women,” said Sarah Bartholomew-Fisher, Volunteer Coordinator at CRCC. The center provides access to hospital advocate, justice system advocates, individual and group therapy, support groups and camps for children who witnessed or experienced abuse. CRCC’s ‘Men of Strength’ 16 week outreach program engages boys and young men in conversations regarding their perceptions of masculinity to counter the many damaging views of women portrayed in the media.
Megan O’Bryan, President and CEO of CRCC is committed to helping Latinas and is seeking the community’s help to increase awareness so victims and survivors can be better served. Citing statics O’Bryan said one in six women and one in 33 men are survivors of assault, “The victimization has the same rate among Latinas,” she said. An estimated 11 percent (149,274 people) of Cuyahoga County’s population have been raped some time in their lives and are in need of healing services. CRCC receives about 3,000 calls per year on its 24-hour crisis hotline, and the rate of rape in Cleveland as increased by 14.8 percent even though only 30 percent of assaults are reported. Studies show most perpetuators are known to the victims, and among Latinos, the majority tend to be non-parent family members. O’Bryan said nearly 15,000 victims live in the greater community at any given moments who have not sought help; “Why are we not being utilized as a resource?” She requested feedback and recommendations from community leaders. Pastor Max Rodas of Nueva Luz commended the effort and said the need for such services is huge; “They have done their research and shown a commitment to the community as evident by tonight.” Rodas said as the partnership expands more satellite offices will have to be opened, “No Latina will come downtown to seek help, it is intimidating,” he said. CRCC is housed on the 14th floor of the Leader Building, on Superior Ave. and E. 6th St., with suites renovated to meet the center’s needs. The space includes, meeting rooms for therapy session, arts and crafts rooms, children’s play room and offices for case workers, and staff. “I thought I knew what sexual violence was, I had no idea,” Rodas said, adding Latino pastors are being trained to understand and identify victims, and help them get help. CRCC offers a 24 hour help hotline and in partnership with Nueva Luz will ensure bilingual case workers are available to meet victims at hospitals or police station. O’Bryan said the center understands the needs for bilingual services and while there are no bilingual staff members, they are committed to improving. On the Internet: To learn more about CRCC, or volunteer visit: www.clevelandrapecrisis.org |
|
Building relations to stop sexual violence: Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center partners with CRCC
Arooj Ashraf: A Journey of Imagination 