Nevada’s First Lady and AlertID Team Up for Denim Day
Nevada’s First Lady and AlertID Team Up for Denim Day
Raising Awareness, Promoting Prevention and Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence
Las Vegas, NV (Apr. 29, 2015) – Nevada’s First Lady, Kathleen Sandoval, and AlertID Founder, Keli Wilson, are teaming up to encourage all Nevadans to participate in Denim Day by wearing denim on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. It makes a social statement with a fashion statement. Denim Day’s aim is to raise awareness, promote prevention and support victims during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The Denim Day campaign began in response to the Italian Supreme Court overturning a man’s rape conviction because the victim, a young woman, was wearing tight jeans. The court ruled it impossible to take off tight jeans without the victim’s help, and that the sex was therefore consensual. The next day, in solidarity, women, including professionals, judges and others, wore denim jeans to support the victim. Today, by wearing denim jeans on Denim Day, participants remind the world that victims are not responsible for their victimization.
Kathleen Sandoval, Nevada’s First Lady and Director of Operations for The Children’s Cabinet in Northern Nevada, plays a very active role in assisting and protecting families and children throughout the state. The Children’s Cabinet is promoting Denim Day and programs to help victims including the Safe Place program, which allows threatened individuals to seek help at any McDonald’s or on any RTC bus. In addition, the First Lady is encouraging her office, the Governor’s Office, and state employees to join her by wearing denim to raise awareness of sexual assault.
“Denim Day provides an excellent opportunity to increase awareness throughout the world that sexual assault is NEVER justified no matter what a female wears. No ALWAYS means NO…no matter the situation”, said the First Lady.
AlertID’s Founder, Keli Wilson, emphasizes the importance of prevention. “Sexual assault is a serious problem in our communities, and by being aware of our surroundings, using tools like AlertID and working together; we can not only help support victims, but also prevent others from becoming victimized”.
Sexual Violence Prevention Tips & Resources
• Be aware of your surroundings – Join http://www.AlertID.com to stay informed of the potential nearby dangers including crimes and sex offenders in your area.
• Be assertive — don’t let anyone violate your space.
• Walk with confidence – the more confident you look, the stronger you appear
• Lock your door and your windows, even if you leave for just a few minutes.
• Watch out for unwanted visitors. Know who’s on the other side of the door before you open it.
• Avoid walking alone – particularly at night. Also, vary your route and stay in well-traveled and well-lit areas
• Trust your instincts – if you feel uncomfortable in a situation, don’t be afraid to leave
• Park in well-lit areas and lock the car, even if you’ll only be gone a few minutes
• Have your key ready to use before you reach the door – this includes home, car, or work
For more tips and resources on Sexual Assault, please visit: http://alertid.com/search/sex-crimes.asp
Resources for Victims:
Safe Place: If a child feels threatened in any way, go to any McDonald’s or any RTC bus for help. You can also call toll-free at 1-800-536-4588.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-888-656-HOPE (4673)
Rape Crisis Center (Southern Nevada):
Provides counseling, advocacy and support to help victims begin the healing process and navigate the legal system. The RCC is also committed to the prevention of sexual assault through educational programs and community outreach. The Rape Crisis Center 24-hour Hotline number is 888-366-1640. For more information, visit http://www.therapecrisiscenter.org.
About AlertID
AlertID, your neighborhood safety network, is free to use and helps protect families and neighborhoods. AlertID’s mission is to help people live safely by providing a secure way to receive trusted public safety alerts and share information with family members and neighbors. AlertID uses technology to help citizens and federal, state and local authorities share information about crime, sex offenders, natural disasters, missing children and severe weather that can threaten public safety. AlertID is accessible to members online as well as by email and mobile app. For more information visit http://www.AlertID.com
About Children’s Cabinet
The Children’s Cabinet exists to keep children safe and families together by offering services and resources that address unmet needs, through a unique and effective cooperative effort between the private sector and public agencies in Northern Nevada. For more information visit http://www.childrenscabinet.org.