Vigil for Survivors of Sexual Assault

It was my privilege to attend a Vigil for Survivors of Sexual Assault as part of a program for Sexual Assault Awareness Month offered by the Women and Families Center in Meriden, CT.  There is a network of Women and Families Centers in CT – with centers in New Haven, Middletown, Guilford and Meriden – and they all provide confidential and free sexual assault crisis services.

The program was both heartbreaking and inspiring.  Heartbreaking because the numbers are up – 70% increase in reports to the Meriden Center of children being assaulted, 62% overall increase in calls to the center, 25% increase in hospital visits.  Inspiring because so many of the speakers – all survivors – have gone on, despite lingering medical complications and trauma, to make positive contributions.