April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The mission of SAAM is to increase public understanding of sexual assault and educate communities on how to prevent it. We know that a single month isn’t enough to address the significant and widespread problem of sexual assault. However, April holds space for the attention, prevention efforts, and survivor support we hope to strengthen and expand throughout the year.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024 Events
All Month
Teal Chair Project
Various Local Businesses
The Teal Chair Project serves as a reminder that no one has to go through the aftermath of sexual violence alone. The chairs are intended to also remind us that sexual violence happens right here in McLean County. Stop by a participating local business to show your support!
April 13
Self-Defense Class
1:30-4 pm | YWCA McLean County Gym
Taught by ISU Officer Jessika Jones, and sponsored by IL State Senator David Koehler, this initiative aims to empower participants with the confidence to protect themselves, emphasizing awareness and prevention strategies. Register for free below.
April 15
Support Table
10 am - 1 pm | Heartland Community College
YWCA Stepping Stones will be in attendance to raise awareness of our services among college students. Stop by the support table to learn about our services, meet our staff and show your support for survivors of sexual assault.
April 15
Consent Day Support Table
11 am - 3 pm | Illinois State University
Explore consent and its vital role in healthy relationships for Consent Day. Visit with campus student organizations, learn how to empower yourself to communicate consent, and take a pledge to commit to consent and helping end sexual violence.
April 15 - 19
The Clothesline Project
Heartland Community College
The Clothesline Project is a visual display bearing witness to violence against individuals. During the public display, a clothesline is hung with shirts decorated to represent an individual's experience, made by the survivor or a loved one.
April 18
Support Table
10 am - 1 pm | Heartland Community College
YWCA Stepping Stones will be in attendance to raise awareness of our services among college students. Stop by the support table to learn about our services, meet our staff and show your support for survivors of sexual assault.
April 24
Wear Denim Day Support Table
11 am - 2 pm | Illinois State University
Denim Day is a campaign that aims to raise awareness about sexual violence and education. It began as a protest against the 1998 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans. Denim Day's purpose is to start conversations about attitudes surrounding sexual assault, such as victim blaming.
April 27
Final Steps Awareness Walk
10 am - 12 pm | Miller Park
Join us in supporting survivors and Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a peaceful and accessible walk around the pond at Miller Park. Tables will be stationed along the route to provide information about Stepping Stones, kid's games and a therapeutic art activity.
Registration is not required, but encouraged to reserve a SAAM shirt. Register below.
April 29
Our Side Screening
7 pm | Normal Theater
Join us for the Midwest premiere of OUR SIDE, a documentary exploring post-traumatic growth and healing for survivors of sexual violence, partially filmed in Bloomington-Normal. A panel discussion with the filmmakers and local survivors, advocates, and experts in the field of sexual violence will follow the screening.
Tickets are free, but are limited and first come, first served.
April 01
The Clothesline Project
11 am - 2 pm | Illinois State University
The Clothesline Project is a visual display bearing witness to violence against individuals. During the public display, a clothesline is hung with shirts decorated to represent an individual's experience, made by the survivor or a loved one.
April 02
Sexual Assault Panel Discussion
6:30 pm | Illinois Wesleyan University
Join Stepping Stones advocates and volunteers for a conversation highlighting our support services and affirming survivors' rights.
April 05
The Clothesline Project
Downtown Bloomington First Friday
5-8 pm | McLean County Museum of History
The Clothesline Project is a visual display bearing witness to violence against individuals. During the public display, a clothesline is hung with shirts decorated to represent an individual's experience, made by the survivor or a loved one.
Self-Defense Class
YWCA McLean County, in partnership with the office of Illinois State Senator David Koehler, is offering a free self-defense course designed to equip individuals with practical defense skills. Taught by ISU Officer Jessika Jones, this initiative aims to empower participants with the confidence to protect themselves, emphasizing awareness and prevention strategies.
Final Steps Awareness Walk
Join us for a relaxing walk around the pond at Miller Park to raise awareness of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and show support for survivors!
By participating, you can help support survivors and raise awareness about the compounding impact of sexual violence. Participants will walk together to show their support for survivors and help create a safer and more supportive community.
Let's lace up our sneakers and walk together to show our support for survivors of sexual violence!
The Clothesline Project
In the summer of 1990, a coalition of women's groups on Cape Cod developed a program that would educate, break the silence and bear witness to violence against individuals.
The concept was simple - let each person tell their story in their own unique way, using words and/or artwork to decorate their shirt. Once finished, they would then hang their shirt on the clothesline. This very action serves many purposes:
- It acts as an educational tool for those who come to view the Clothesline
- It allows those who are still suffering in silence to understand that they are not alone
- It becomes a healing tool for anyone who makes a shirt - by hanging the shirt on the line, survivors, friends and family can literally turn their back on some of that pain of their experience and walk away
The Teal Chair Project
The Teal Chair Project raises awareness about incidents of sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking, and other forms of interpersonal violence and the impact that not only has on survivors but on their families and the community as a whole.
Teal Chairs remind us that no one has to go through the aftermath of sexual violence alone. The chairs also remind us that sexual violence happens right here in McLean County.
Look for the teal chairs at one of our local business partners:
Be Strong Gym
Bird Nest
Bloomington Normal Barber College (BNBC)
Bloomington Police Department
Bloomington Public Library
Bobzbay Books
BrightPoint
Bryant Miller Salon
Butter Twice & Again
C&N Beauty Supply
Campustown Supply Inc.
Clinton Power Plant
Coffeehound
Coffeehouse
Common Ground Groceries
Cookies by Design
Court Services at the McLean County Courthouse
Crossroads Fair Trade
Dollar General on Hamilton Rd.
Dollar General on Towanda Ave.
Dollar General on Airport Rd.
Dollar General on Oakland Ave.
Faded World at Neveah Beauty Co.
Family Community Resource Center
First Christian Church
Fortify Salon
Fox and Hounds
FUSE Program at the McLean County Health Dept.
Fusion Brew
Graham Crackers Comics
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Restore
Hair Alchemy
HCC - Counseling Services
HCC - National Guard
Home Sweet Home Ministries
Illinois Art Station
ISU - Criminal Justice Studies
ISU - Health and Wellness
ISU - Office of the Provost
ISU - Performing Arts Center
ISU - School of Dance
ISU - School of Music
ISU - Speech and Hearing Clinic
ISU - Student Counseling Services
ISU - Woman and Gender Sexuality Studies
Illinois State University Police Department
Illinois Tattoo Co.
Illinois Wesleyan University
Inside Out Art
Insomnia Cookies
Intergrity Counseling
Hermana Studios
K9 Country Club
LaLa Boutique
Main Street Yoga
Marquise Jewelers
Master's Touch Salon
McLean County Democrats
Mid Central Community Action (MCCA)
NeuroRestorative Academy
Normal Police Department
North Street Records
Office of IL Representative Sharon Chung
Oh Baby Hair Salon and Spa
One Hope Project
Our Favorite Things Boutique
Paul Mitchell Hair & Beauty School
Paul's Upholstery
Polka Dot Parlour
Power & Fitness
Project Oz
Pub II
Reckless Saint
Red Raccoon Games
Refine 309
ReMax Rising
Serendipity Mercantile
Shake It Up Cocktail
Shorty's Barber Shop
Smoker's Den 2
Smokin Aces Tattoo
Society the Salon
SpiceWorks
The Bistro
The Garlic Press
The Junction
The Olive Bin
The Smoke Shop
Threshold to Hope
Under Wraps
University Galleries
Uptown Gifts
Velvet Daisy
Vera & Buck Floral Studio
Victim Witness at the McLean County Courthouse
Vitesse Bike Shop
Western Avenue Community Center
Windy City Wieners - Normal
Windy City Wieners - Bloomington
Workout Company
Yarn Garden