On Tuesday, June 22, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center will hold an open house to commemorate a decade of service to the sexual violence prevention field
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center was established in 2000 as the nation's first resource center devoted exclusively to sexual violence. For the past decade, the NSVRC has collaborated with sexual assault coalitions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several community-based and national-allied projects to prevent sexual violence. To commemorate 10 years of service, the NSVRC is holding an open house on Tuesday, June 22.
The free event will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the NSVRC's office at 123 N. Enola Drive, Enola, Pa. The opening ceremony will commence at 2 p.m. with remarks by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape Executive Director Delilah Rumburg, NSVRC Director Karen Baker and the Executive Director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County Mary Onama. The community is invited to attend and learn about the resources and services that the NSVRC has available to the public.
"We have learned a lot in the past 10 years," Baker says. "By working together and sharing our expertise, we can begin to reshape our communities into ones that are more safe, respectful, inclusive, and honoring of each and every person."
In 1999, the CDC awarded PCAR a grant to create a centralized facility for sexual violence-related resources. A year later, the NSVRC opened with nine employees. With insight from the PCAR staff, advisory council and colleagues across the country, the NSVRC's staff and outreach has grown. Today, the organization's 23 employees provide technical assistance to nearly 20,000 people in all 50 states, eight U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, and 62 other countries. The NSVRC's library is home to more than 29,000 documents.
"We are pleased that the CDC has continued to support our work with a cooperative agreement for the next three years," Rumburg says. "The work of the NSVRC is revered nationally and internationally and PCAR has been proud to be a part of that work."
In addition to developing and disseminating materials, the NSVRC highlights prevention initiatives throughout the country and facilitates connections between anti-sexual violence advocates. NSVRC also offers training and technical assistance, referrals, consultation, systems advocacy, online tools and library resources.