Creating Supportive Communities for all Women.

The Women’s Advisory Council for Youth of Ophelia’s Place—a group of girls ages twelve to eighteen—will be organizing the Eugene event, Rising in the Rain, with the support of the ASUO Women’s Center and Grrrlz Rock. The event will be held on February 14th from 1 to 4 PM at Mac Court at the University of Oregon.

The “Rising in the Rain” event was inspired by the One Billion Rising, the international movement to raise awareness of sexual violence against women and girls, launched by playwright Eve Ensler, creator of “The Vagina Monologues” and highlights the startling statistic that one in every three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. Although the One Billion Rising focuses on dancing as a central part of the movement, we feel that educational community training is also a fundamental part of change. Therefore, the Raising in the Rain event will feature dance, music and educational workshops for young community members centered on how to be an ally.

We are reaching out to local agencies and organizations as well as community members who would like to join forces to create a safe place where our local youth can learn about issues including Red Flags About Dating Violence With a Focus on the LGBTQ Community, How to Be a Good Ally to LGBTQ and Transgender Women of Color and Local Resources; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Violence Against Women in the Media; Cultural Competency; Alcohol, Consent and Sexual Assault and Enthusiastic Consent.

We encourage local organizations that serve women to reserve a table to provide information about local resources and programs. Any level of involvement is welcomed, we need volunteers to help with the set up, dance performers, musicians and sponsors. If you are interested in supporting the “Raising in the Rain” event please contact risingintherain@gmail.com

About

The One Billion Rising “is an energy, a platform, a global movement, a catalyst, a worldwide decision to end violence against women, a demand for justice, a paradigm shift, an invitation, a gathering of the ready, housed everywhere, housed in our hearts, you, us, REVOLUTION.”

Change can happen if grassroots movements and marginalized communities are in the lead. Change can happen if…WE ACT NOW AND WE ACT TOGETHER.