This summer, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center plans to open a new office at Shaker Square on the east side of Cleveland, thanks to funding from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office that was announced last fall. The new location is intended to make comprehensive healing services for survivors or rape, sexual abuse and sex trafficking more accessible to residents who live or work on the east side of Cleveland.
The Center signed a lease agreement with the Coral Group for 13209 Shaker Square in Cleveland, the space between Dewey’s Coffee Shop and CVS in the northeast quadrant of the square. The 4,890 square-foot office will provide space for counseling, support groups, victim assistance, and crisis intervention services. A grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office allows this help to be available at no cost to those who use it.
“Survivors of sexual violence deserve access to healing services, no matter where they live,” said Sondra Miller, president & CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. “We chose Shaker Square for our next location because of its accessibility from several east-side neighborhoods. With free parking and several options for public transportation, this new office will help even more survivors access our specialized support.”
Later this summer, when the new office opens, the Center will operate in 20 locations throughout Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties and on several college campuses.
“While we have expanded services regionally in recent years, our commitment to the residents of the City of Cleveland has never been greater,” added Miller. “More than 80% of residents near Shaker Square are African-American and we know that African-American women and girls experience higher rates of sexual violence. It makes sense for us to expand where the need is greatest.”
“Shaker Square is so pleased to partner with Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in opening its new service location on the East side of the city,” said Peter Rubin, President, The Coral Company. “Cleveland Rape Crisis Center continues the long Shaker Square tradition of serving the community.”
Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the U.S. have been raped at some time in their lives. Rape is one of the most under-reported crimes, with nearly two-thirds of rapes never reported, and only 12 percent of child sexual abuse reported to authorities.
The new office location is made possible by funding through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program administered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Crime Victim Services Division.
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About Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
The mission of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse, promote healing and prevention, and advocate for social change. In 2018, the Center provided counseling, advocacy and crisis intervention services to 10,000 rape and sexual abuse survivors and reached 54,000 people through its prevention, education and training programs in Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties. For more information, visit clevelandrapecrisis.org or call 216-619-6194. The Center’s 24-hour Crisis & Support Hotline is 216-619-6192 (call/text) or clevelandrapecrisis.org/chat.
About The Coral Company
Coral, proud owner and community steward of Shaker Square, is celebrating 31 years in business and continues to be guided by the corporate mission under which the Company was founded – to be the premier provider of real estate services in every market Coral serves. Coral’s management portfolio includes more than 5 million square feet including community association, residential, commercial, multi-family, mixed-use, and civic assets.
Coral’s corporate creed is to “Only promise what you can deliver, and always deliver what you promise.” Coral’s team members must possess the 3 C’s which are; Commitment, Creativity, and Capacity. The Coral team of 90 experience professionals is proud of the management portfolio that Coral represents and is dedicated to continuing Coral’s growth.
This month marks 45 years since the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s hotline answered its first call. We discuss what’s changed over the last 4.5 decades — and the ongoing fight to change our culture to prevent sexual violence from happening in the first place.
Ohio’s college graduates carry some of the heaviest student loan burdens in the country. Now, one Cleveland suburb hopes to attract new homeowners by offering to help pay off student debt.
Plus, in the genre of science fiction, taking a little artistic license and bending the facts is part of the drama. But a new film series allows you to watch sci-fi movies through the lens of someone who really knows the facts — a scientist at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
To learn more about this video 45 Years of Supporting Survivors
Video By: Ideastream
From the rise of the #MeToo movement to allegations against high-profile celebrities, public officials, priests and powerful business executives, sexual violence has never been more prominent in our national headlines. In the midst of these news stories, an unprecedented volume of local survivors of rape and sexual abuse have been speaking out, sharing their experiences and asking for help.
Sondra Miller, President & CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, will share strategies to prevent sexual violence and outline why listening more deeply to survivors is our first step to get there.
Date: Friday, April 5, 2019, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $22 for The City Club of Cleveland members, $37 for nonmembers
Location: The City Club of Cleveland, 850 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Tickets and tables are available at The City Club of Cleveland website.
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s Crisis & Support Hotline received its first call forty-five years ago today, on February 4, 1974. The hotline was founded in response to Cleveland’s long-standing need for services to assist survivors of sexual assault.
A 1976 grant allowed Cleveland Rape Crisis Center to begin expanding services and hire four full-time staff members, the “Founding Mothers”: Lynn Hammond, Carrie Zander, Lorraine Schalamon and Jeanne Van Atta.
To mark the 45th anniversary of our first hotline call, we invite you to view our gallery of archival photos, newspaper clippings, and publications from the early history of the Center.
In the docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, survivors bravely came forward to share their experiences with the world. Survivors of rape and sexual abuse are speaking out about being preyed upon, groomed, victimized and even blamed for their victimization, even when others knew what was taking place. All too often, survivors of color, specifically Black women, are overlooked, discounted, or simply not believed. Join us for a much-needed conversation regarding sexual violence in our community and how we can change the narrative.
Moderator:
Teresa Stafford, Chief Advocacy Officer, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
Panelists:
Shelley Hunt, Director of Victim Services, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
Joshua Hill, Prevention Specialist, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
Aqueelah Jordan, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office
Imani Capri, Empowerment Speaker and Social Justice Advocate,Courage to Change: Total Life Empowerment
On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, Rena Romano will share her story of survivorship in a keynote speech for Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s Faces of Change Luncheon from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, 100 Lakeside Ave. E., Cleveland, OH 44114. Click here to purchase tickets.
Rena Romano is an author, keynote speaker and certified speaking and mindset coach. An award-winning career in construction sales led her to start her own business sharing the successful strategies that brought her success. Her achievements accelerated with a shift in perspective of her painful past, transporting her from victim to “Sur-THRIVER.”
Acknowledging and celebrating her survival, she shares the strategies she discovered to help others reconnect with their inner strengths, to thrive, and to be the change they want in their life. Rena is a member of the National Speakers Association, a veteran of the TEDx stage, and was a featured guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
“We are thrilled that Rena Romano will bring her powerful message of survivorship as our keynote speaker,” said Sondra Miller, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center President & CEO. “Rena is a terrific example of someone who is not just surviving, but thriving after trauma.”
The Faces of Change Luncheon is a community event that raises awareness and financial support for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. This event seeks to attract 1,000 people and raise $285,000 to benefit the Center’s programs.
Rita Andolsen, Director of Communications & Community Engagement at MetroHealth, and Jeffery Weaver, Executive Vice President & Group Head – Portfolio Management at KeyCorp, will co-chair the event.
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center will honor Jeanne Van Atta with a Face of Change Award during the luncheon. Ms. Van Atta is one of the original founders of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. The all-star Sing Out! Chorale will also make a special appearance. Click here for sponsorship and ticket information, or call 216-619-6194 ext. 106.
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About Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
The mission of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse, promote healing and prevention, and advocate for social change. With 80 employees and 100 volunteers, the Center reaches more than 40,000 people each year through its counseling, advocacy, prevention and training services in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties.
For more information, visit clevelandrapecrisis.org or call 216-619-6194. The Center’s 24-hour rape crisis and support hotline is 216-619-6192 (call/text) or clevelandrapecrisis.org/chat.
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s Chief Advocacy Teresa Stafford joins WKYC to speak about Human Trafficking Awareness Month. (Story by WKYC)
“We could not let the month of January go by without letting you know that this is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. To fill us in on the most important things you need to know about human trafficking, Teresa Stafford- who is the Chief Advocacy Officer at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center- joined Hollie and Alexa.”
Teresa Stafford speaks about Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Earlier this month, Lifetime channel aired a six-part docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly, detailing a decades-long history of sexual assault and abuse allegations against R&B singer R. Kelly. I applaud the survivors and family members who courageously spoke out and said, “We have had enough, and we will not stay silent.”
The docuseries is challenging to watch. While it is empowering to see survivors speak their truth and advocate for change, it is maddening to know that so many abuse allegations have surfaced from so many victims over such a long period of time, without consequences for those responsible. It is infuriating to see how people, systems, mass media and society-at-large have protected the abuser, allowing his horrific behavior to continue and more victims to be harmed. And it is sobering to recognize that one of the reasons that little has been done is because the victims are Black women and girls.
This is a familiar pattern to us at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. Study after study shows that African-American women are victimized by sexual violence at higher rates than many other populations. African-American women are also more likely to be victimized multiple times in their lifetimes. Their stories and experiences are often overlooked, discounted or simply not believed. This is not OK. And this must change.
Survivors of color: we want you to know that your voice matters. Your experiences matter. Your safety and healing matters. You did not deserve what happened to you, but you do deserve to believed and supported.
At Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, we will continue to center the voices of survivors of color as we support all survivors and work toward our vision to eliminate sexual violence.
Sondra Miller
President & CEO
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
Call or Text (216) 619-6192 or (440) 423-2020 or chat online today.
