Teresa Stafford Speaks about Human Trafficking Awareness Month (WKYC)

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

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center has named Teresa M. Stafford as Chief Advocacy Officer.

As Chief Advocacy Officer and member of the Center’s executive team, Ms. Stafford will provide strategic oversight of the Center’s victim services and advocate for system-level changes needed to ensure all survivors, especially those from marginalized communities, are supported and have access to healing services.

“Teresa is a fierce advocate for survivors of rape and sexual abuse,” said Sondra Miller, President & CEO, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.  “We are proud that she will bring her extensive training and advocacy experience to her new role at the Center.”

Ms. Stafford provides training locally and nationally to law enforcement agencies regarding the dynamics of sexual violence and working with survivors of sexual assault, as well as consultation to communities developing Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs).

In addition to her current role, Ms. Stafford is the Cuyahoga County and Lake County SART Coordinator, serves as a member of the Ohio Attorney General’s SART Training Team, and the Cuyahoga County Untested Sexual Assault Kit Taskforce, and is a former Board President of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

Among the many recognitions Ms. Stafford has received for her work are the Gloria Pointer Award for Supporting Families of Victims, the Ohio Attorney General’s Robert Denton Achievement Award, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s Visionary Voice Award, and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s Peter DeMarco Exemplary Service Award.

Ms. Stafford has served at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in several roles since 2006, most recently as Senior Director of Victim Services and Outreach.  She has also served the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office as Witness-Victim Coordinator.

Ms. Stafford is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and holds a degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University.

CLEVELAND — Survivor after survivor claim they were sexually assaulted by R&B Singer R Kelly, many of them as teenagers, in the Lifetime documentary ‘Surviving R Kelly’.

“Maybe they stayed in silence because they didn’t feel like they had a way out,” said Teresa Stafford of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.

Stafford watched the three-part series and says the women’s stories are all too familiar.

“We actually see a lot of young ladies that have been, you know, groomed, into believing that somebody loves and cares for them and then the person is actually taking advantage of them and victimizing them and causing them harm to them,” said Stafford.

Stafford says this is especially true within the black community.

To read more visit News 5 Cleveland.

This article was originally published by News 5 Cleveland.

Prevention is Possible

So far this year, over 9,000 K-12 students have received vital rape prevention programming from Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.  Through classroom education and after-school programs like Girls in Motion, Youth 360, and Las Chicas Pueden, youth learn healthy relationship skills, resiliency, and how to be a catalyst for change.

“There is support from the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Wednesday night after a state senator proposed a bill that would eliminate Ohio’s Statute of Limitations on rape and sexual assault cases.

“‘For the decade I’ve been working here we have been trying to remove the state of limitations,’ said Sondra Miller, President & CEO of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.

“Right now, the time frame is 25 years.

“‘If someone reports or for any reason the charges can’t be brought forth within 25 years, the case is thrown out no matter what evidence is presented,’ added Miller.

“The bill was introduced at the Ohio Statehouse by Michael Disabato, the whistle-blower of the OSU Doctor Richard Strauss case.”

Continue Reading: Proposed legislation eliminates statute of limitations on rape, sexual assault cases

This article was originally published by Fox 8.

Jackie is a survivor of sexual abuse and rape as a child. She found Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and now shares her story to encourage others to find help and recover.

Whether you were hurt yesterday or decades ago, we are here to support you. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center provides services to all survivors of rape and sexual abuse, including a crisis and support hotline, hospital support, victim assistance, counseling and more.