Denim Day 2016

From ThisIsBoise.com

On Wednesday, April 27 the Treasure Valley united for the annual global awareness day Denim Day. You can read the history of Denim Day here.

We are proud to announce that we saw 100 different businesses and organizations participate in Denim Day at 115 different locations. These locations were not only here in the Treasure Valley, but across Idaho and even state lines. We had businesses from California, Florida, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington all participating in the WCA’s Denim Day.  You can find a list of participating organizations here.

We are so grateful to each organization and individual who participated this year. If you participated and are not on the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the name of the participant (either an organization or individual) and we will include you on our list.

Participants wore jeans or other denim to bring awareness to the issues of sexual assault and victim blaming—not only on a global scale but right here in our community.

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) recently released a study that in America every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted. Studies have also shown that more than one in ten girls will be raped by the time she graduates high school. Many might state that those are national statistics and our community does not face this same epidemic. Unfortunately, Idaho faces the same problems. Here in Ada County alone, law enforcement received 4,447 calls for service related to domestic abuse, sexual assault and child abuse in 2015. Across the state, 9% of Idaho students reported they were forced to have sexual intercourse when they did not want to.

WCA Staff with 103.5 Kiss FM staff

These issues are occurring here in our own community and they not only demand our attention, but also action. Denim Day was a day for our community to show solidarity with to all survivors of sexual assault and encourages individuals to think about the ways one can help reduce violence in our communities. It is a day for us to bring awareness to the danger of placing the blame on the survivor of an assault, rather than where the blame lies—with the perpetrator.

To help bring awareness to these issues, on Denim Day the WCA was at locations throughout the Treasure Valley hosting outreach tables and other events. All were fantastic events and several had important and inspirational moments.  You can find a list of these events on the Denim Day Press Release here.

Special thanks to the local media who helped us advertise Denim Day and raise awareness about the dangers of victim blaming – together we can work to change our culture and make the Treasure Valley a happier, safer and healthier community.

Shout out to:

• Boise Weekly
• Idaho Statesman
• 97.9 Nash FM
• 94.9 The River
• 103.5 KISS FM
• KTVB
• Idaho on Your Side 6 and Fox 9

At The College of Western Idaho in Nampa the Psychology Club hosted an open forum on sexual assault and victim blaming. Attendees were able to hear how we need to increase education around consent, how victim blaming leads to under-reporting of sexual assault and unlike any other crime sexual assault victims are more likely to be perceived as lying. The speakers encouraged the whole community not just attendees to help create a culture that is comfortable talking about these issues, supporting survivors and working towards solutions.  We can all work to change our culture and it starts by having these conversations.

Our amazing friends at Guru Donuts not only spread the word about Denim Day to their many supporters and customers, they also donated 100% of net proceeds from their sales on Denim Day to the WCA! The whole team worked hard all day long to supply the community with their delicious donuts and raised over $700 to be donated to WCA services. We are so grateful for this wonderful and generous community partner.

BSU Gender Equity Center Staff

The BSU Gender Equity Center joined the WCA on campus for a two days of tabling in the quad. We quizzed students on healthy relationship skills & victim blaming, spread the word about Denim Day, and painted denim patches with messages of solidarity with survivors. On Denim Day itself, the WCA partnered with the Gender Equity Center to host a free screening of the critically acclaimed documentary, The Hunting Ground.

Through the support of the Franklin Chick-Fil-A, we were able to raise over $800 for the WCA as well as reach hundreds of patrons with the Denim Day story. All employees wore “Ask Me About Denim Day”‘stickers as well as denim ribbons. Thanks for your support Chick-Fil-A.

The Village at Meridian provided information to all their tenants about Denim Day and allowed the WCA’s outreach team to join the Live for 175 festivities hosted by 103.5 KISS FM. We were able to participate in the efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of child abuse, the cycle of abuse and the dangers of victim blaming.

Thank you to all who participated in Denim Day this year. Our community continually inspires us and reminds us that we can create change by coming together. We hope to see Denim Day grow even more in the coming years.  Please continue to bring awareness to these issues throughout the year and help us support survivors.

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