Local Community Organizing team seeks input to help guide its efforts to reduce sexual assault and dating abuse.
Artwork submission by Sabrina Sussler.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — RISE and Stand Strong are partnering with The Sock Drawer to showcase local youth artwork during the March Art After Dark, in an effort to raise awareness about teen dating violence and youth leadership in San Luis Obispo.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three teens in the U.S. experience verbal or physical abuse from a partner before they turn 18, with more than half experiencing dating violence on school grounds. Statistics reported by the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) in 2019 show that the City of SLO leads the County in reported rapes and that crime overall is up 2 percent. Through an art exhibition entitled Youth Voices,RISE aims to elevate young artists and their experiences growing up in San Luis Obispo.
The idea for Youth Voices was born from a group of RISE Close to Home youth volunteers, from San Luis Obispo High School, Mission Preparatory School and Cuesta College, as a way of giving local teens a voice to tell their stories and connect them to community resources.
Close to Home is a community- driven initiative, born out of the need to engage people in violence prevention and give them the power to tell their own stories and design sustainable solutions. Close to Home is made up of 24 community members, ranging from 14 to 43 years of age, all committed to making San Luis Obispo happier and healthier for everyone.
“I think seeing art created by youth about their experiences will be extremely beneficial for community members across San Luis Obispo,” said Community Organizer Arti Kothari Allard. “This is a really unique opportunity to see what teens really go to and bridge the generational divide in here in San Luis Obispo.
RISE is accepting all artwork centered around youth relationships, whether those relationships are romantic or platonic. Organizers have held workshops at San Luis Obispo High School and Atascadero High School to collect art and are accepting art across SLO County. Artists have to be 21 or younger and can remain anonymous, if they choose to. To submit artwork or for more information about how to volunteer with RISE and Stand Strong, email Janae Sargent, Education Program Manager, at jsargent@riseslo.org.
RISE and Stand Strong both service survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse throughout San Luis Obispo County. This is the second art showcase aimed at raising awareness about dating violence. In October, the agencies partnered to showcase artwork created by survivors of domestic violence at The Sock Drawer.
Art After Dark runs the first Friday of every month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. More information about participating businesses and how to attend can be found at downtownslo.com
About RISE: RISE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to transform the lives of sexual and intimate partner violence survivors, their families and the community through services and education that promote safety, healing and empowerment. RISE provides the following programs: 24-hour crisis line, case management, restraining order assistance, accompaniment and advocacy, two emergency shelters, individual and group counseling, and prevention education.