TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) inited the South Tucson community to gather on Tuesday for a Take Back the Night event focused on sexual assault awareness.
South Tucson Mayor Bob Teso read a proclamation at the YWCA’s The House of Neighborly Services, 243 W 33rd St in support of increased awareness.
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Program Manager with the SAAF Carrie Eutizi says the event is a community resource fair with youth activities.
The evening programming featured:
- Mayor Teso's proclamation
- “Survivor Speak Out” sessions
- Community artist performances
This year's theme "The Truth About Teal" addressed myths and truths about sexual violence with a goal of raising awareness.
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It also aimed at supporting those who have survived rape and other forms of sexual assault.
The following groups plan on attending or are involved:
- University of Arizona Consortium on Gender-based Violence
- YWCA Southern Arizona
- Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault
- Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation
- Arizona Youth Partnership’s Starting Out Right Program
- Tohono O’odham Community College
- University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women
- Culture of Peace Alliance
- Homicide Survivors
- Tucson Youth and Peace
- ThinkSafe Seminars
- Goodwill Metro/REC
- PPEP, Inc.
- STOPIT coalition
- D-W McGarrity
- Pascua Yaqui Survivor Advocate Team
- University of Arizona Survivor Advocate Team
Not only does Take Back the Night encourage people to speak out against sexual violence, but it also helps survivors advocate to lower sex-crime incidents.
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Caleb Fernández is a digital content producer for KGUN 9. After earning his bachelor's degree from Penn State in Advertising/Public Relations, Caleb went to New York where he learned production assistance, photography and art direction. Share your story ideas and important issues with Caleb by emailing caleb.fernandez@kgun9.com or by connecting on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
