Photo by Jenny Kirk Among the volunteers hanging teal ribbons in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month recently in Marshall were (from left) Halley Morlock, Deanna Larsen and Miranda Larsen.

MARSHALL — Large teal ribbons began popping up this week in area communities such as Marshall and Redwood Falls as New Horizons Crisis Center organizers and other volunteers sought to raise awareness regarding sexual assault.

“We’re hanging up teal ribbons all around downtown for Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” Redwood County program coordinator Halley Morlock said. “We’re getting the word out there, which is really important. I work with New Horizons and we decorated in Redwood (Monday). It was great.”

Marshall advocate Holly Johnson said the April effort had been taking place in Marshall for many years. While awareness and support are important year-round, Johnson said the ribbon campaign has been quite meaningful.

“Sexual assault and sexual violence really affects everyone,” she said. “Obviously it affects the victims themselves, but also family, friends and community members — everyone is impacted. So each year, the ribbons will be up through the month of April. We’ll take them down at the end of the month. We really appreciate the city’s willingness to let us put them up every year.”

Despite the annual repetition, a lot of people still do not know what the teal ribbons symbolize, the organizers said, so they make sure to address that.

“We have little tags on the ribbons that state what it’s for,” said Johnson, the crime victims services program director at New Horizons. “This year’s theme is ‘I ask.’ So I ask for consent. And that’s for all parts of our lives. I think these (ribbons) will bring up a really good discussion piece when people notice them and see the card. Hopefully they’ll want to talk about it.”

Morlock said there has been some positive strides in the last few years.

“More people are talking about it and supporting survivors coming forward,” she said.

Anyone can be an advocate. Deanna Larsen, who teaches martial arts and self-defense classes in Milroy, was among the volunteers hanging the teal ribbons recently in Marshall, and she brought her pre-teen daughter, Miranda, with as well.

“I think as a mother, it’s just a great way for her to learn and do hands-on advocacy,” Larsen said. “It’s a great way to start with our little ones. (New Horizons does) good work.”

Miranda Larsen said she enjoyed helping hang ribbons around the community last year as well. “It’s mostly a tradition,” she said. “It’s great. It’s good for me to learn.”