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Biography :
Kelly Addington and Becca Tieder are experts on sexual assault awareness and prevention and sexual empowerment. They have been nationally recognized for their achievements in sexual assault education and prevention and featured on CNN, multiple regional affiliates of NBC, ABC, and CBS, National Public Radio, The St. Pete Times, The Tampa Tribune and over two dozen Business Journal’s throughout the country. While in college, these two lifelong friends endured an experience that forever changed their lives. They saw this as an opportunity to share their story and empower others to change our sexual culture. They created an original program, Let’s Talk About “IT” to get students to do just that, talk about IT! Since 1999, Kelly and Becca have worked with college and high school students throughout the nation encouraging them to open up and talk about the core issues of sexual assault while offering solutions for improved communication, safety and the chance to create a community with zero tolerance for sexual violence. They inspire and empower young people to take action. Co- founders of a national campaign to end violence, Unite for Change, these women are serious about bringing the entire nation together to stand up and speak out!
Kelly & Becca, Sisters 4 Empowerment
Over the years, Kelly and Becca have continued to grow as experts on the issues that so greatly impacted their college experiences. Their mission is a hefty one, to end sexual violence. They believe that the key is education and communication and they both know that the power to make a difference lies within each of us, which is why they share their personal story of surviving sexual assault and empower individuals with the desire and tools to help make their community a safer place and challenge them to use this knowledge and personal power for change. Kelly and Becca believe that, "Life is best if lived without fear but with awareness" and so their mission is carried out with that core philosophy in mind.
One of their goals is to teach people how to encourage honest communication with one another and provide an atmosphere in which we can feel comfortable and confident in talking openly about sex. By doing this we are nurturing an environment in which we can all be secure in our personal choices, be respectful of ourselves and those around us and become confident in who we are and what we stand for. This creates a unified force of educated, respected and sexually empowered individuals.
Kelly and Becca present the issue of sexual assault, as it has never been seen before. They address sexual assault, rape trauma syndrome, supporting survivors, the issues of alcohol, sex under the influence and date rape drugs head on by using honesty, sincerity and humor and are quick to point out that we can all be a part of the solution to end sexual violence. They are committed to working with the With Jess community to provide education and resources to help promote sexual assault awareness and education, and hope to continue to inspire others to create change, to stand up and speak out.
These women are not afraid to take chances and will do everything in their power to end sexual violence. This is about focus, determination, hope and promise. Their hope is to help bring new meaning to the term sexual revolution, because this truly is a revolution. Combating sexual assault and dating violence requires community action and they look forward to many others joining them in this movement. Kelly and Becca invite you to come together as a nation, a powerful force, and one voice to say, NO, to sexual violence.
Supporting survivors: How to help a friend
People who have been sexually assaulted often experience a range of emotions and reactions, and no two survivors of assault will feel exactly the same. As a friend, family member or partner, your help during this process is essential. Survivors need a great deal of support and caring as they begin to address and work through surviving this very frightening experience. Remember that your primary role is to be a friend. You are not a counselor, or a lawyer, or a doctor; your friend should turn to professionals for the best information on emotional, legal and medical issues.
Steps you can take to help:
Believe them
Believe your friend unconditionally. Expect a friend in crisis to be confused and don't criticize. It's not your role to question whether or not they were sexually assaulted.
Help them explore their options
Don't pressure them to do what you want to do. Empower your friend! Let them know he or she is not alone and remind them of available resources ( campus counselor, campus or community rape crisis center, women's center, hospital, police department, peer educators, etc ).
Allow them to react
Remember, there are many ways for a survivor to respond after being raped. Don't ask a lot of probing questions.
No more violence
How would your react? It's important to remain calm and as hard as it may be, it's important to refrain from offering to "hurt the person who did this to them." Although it's natural to want to protect your friend, and aggressive reaction is not a good response.
Listen to them
Offer your support and offer your time. Let your friend know that they can talk to you about their experience when they are ready.
Let the survivor be in control
Encourage them, but let them be in control. They decide if they want to talk with someone, press charges, etc.
Encourage them to seek help
Talk about the kind of support he or she needs and keep talking about it because their needs will change as they work through the crisis. If they suspect they have been drugged encourage them to go to the hospital immediately to have a rape kit done and to be tested for drugs in their system.
Seek professional help
Insist that your friend seek help if the crisis escalates to the point of being worried about their safety or long-term well being.
Never blame them
Say clearly and with care, "It was not your fault."
Get help of yourself
Don't blame yourself for the feelings you may have after learning someone close to you has been sexually assaulted. It's important to pay attention to your own needs and express them to your friend and others. |
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