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MARSHALL -- Durable denim and sidewalk chalk will play important roles in the 2019 Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign conducted locally by New Horizons Crisis Center.
New Horizons will kick off its campaign as of Monday, with the goal to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities on how to prevent it.
"We want to add to what we've done in the past for April," said Kendra Wies, a Marshall-based New Horizons Volunteer Coordinator and Regional Advocate. "It's a good opportunity to inform the public. By being visible, we want to encourage a culture of respect."
Both the yearly Denim Day (April 24) and the Chalk-a-Block Sidewalk Art Competition (scheduled for April 11 with an April 24 rain day if needed) have proven results in many locations.
Denim Day originated from a controversial Italian court case from the 1990s, in which a sexual assault conviction was overturned by the Italian Supreme Court based on the size of someone's jeans. It led to a public outcry, one that included members of Italy's parliament symbolically dressing in denim to show support for the victim.
Many other groups, among them members of the California legislature, decided to do the same thing.
It grew each year, eventually leading to the first Denim Day LA in 1999. By then the focus of denim events had broadened to involve all of the myths about sexual assault and the need to demonstrate support for all victims.
For the first time in 2019, New Horizons plans to add photos of staff from partnering agencies, such as law enforcement and social services, when they dress in denim clothing.
"It's worthwhile to include our partners," said Julie Walker, the Southwest Minnesota State University based advocate for New Horizons. "We all work together as agencies to provide counseling and services to victims as soon as possible, when it will do the most good."
The chalk art contest at both Marshall High School and SMSU will involve two different entry categories, one for high school students and another for college students and community members. Both divisions will portray the 2019 campaign theme "I Ask," which emphasizes how asking is an important part of the process for respectful treatment of others.
After evaluations from a panel of judges, New Horizons will award scholarship prizes for the top three high school entries and prize packages for the top three older participants.
Registration is not required, but is encouraged to guarantee adequate drawing space. Those who enter must furnish their own chalk.
"Chalk art is a great way for artists to interpret our theme and for community members to think about what their drawings represent," Walker said. "People are basically on the same page as far as not wanting sexual assault to happen. The drawings will be a positive, proactive way to help with awareness and prevention."
Campaign events during April will also include a month-long teal ribbon display on all West Main Street lamp posts in Marshall's business district, which will offer information cards for anyone who might need services from New Horizons or who wants to donate time as a volunteer. Cards will be restocked by volunteers and staff when needed. An open house scheduled for April 26 will round out the campaign.
Walker said part of New Horizons' mission is to counsel assault victims in a way that helps them to see how their experiences are not their own fault. She's never had a situation when victims don't question if there was something they could have done or not done.
New Horizons Executive Director Carrie Buddy said long term increases in sexual assault reports to law enforcement might not be a bad thing, not if it signifies how incidents that went unreported in the past are being reported now.
"There's definitely more reporting now," Buddy said. "We don't necessarily believe that it means the assaults are happening more frequently."
Crisis response statistics for 2018 show 203 responses by New Horizons in a four-county area (Lincoln, Lyon, Murry and Redwood counties).
Of the 60 direct victims of sexual assault, five were male. Twenty two victims, more than a third of the total, were minors under the age of 18.
A total of 4,408 service responses were documented, about 21 different service examples per crime victim. They included 1,707 responses for crisis counseling, intervention and follow-up, 1,519 instances of information or referral, 585 for criminal justice and legal advocacy, and 557 for personal advocacy.
Their were 19 items involving support during evidence-related medical exams, 17 for financial assistance, and four for safe housing.
Marshall Police Chief Jim Marshall said crisis responders from New Horizons consistently prove their value as they work to meet the needs of crime victims.
"They're an excellent resource," Marshall said. "They offer much-needed services to victims who are facing difficult situations."