April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month! Please join us for these events, and let's work together to end gender-based violence.

[ID: A colorful list of the events listed above. At the top is "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" surrounded by flowers, music notes, a rainbow, and a peace sign.]

Hello. I am Isabel Carmichael. I am an advocate, preventionist, and above all, a survivor doing this work.

As we enter April, I think about how Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February perfectly primes us as we enter Sexual Assault Awareness Month by fostering the importance of stories that are often pushed to the margins—that is, the stories of violence experienced by youth. One of the distinctive attributes of teen dating violence is the way ageism is ingrained into the stories of many folks who have experienced it. Their stories are often written off, either as a learning experience or that “everyone has a bad dating experience at some point.”

Young survivors exemplify the broader idea that no violence can truly end without centering these stories at the margins in our anti-violence practices. Their stories shine a light on our shortcomings. Now more than ever we need to prioritize popular education and ensure we are interlocking folks' lived experiences into advocacy movements.

This generation of youth is no stranger to violence. I was in elementary school when the violence at Sandy Hook Elementary took place. Gun violence and interpersonal violence were daily occurrences through a screen. We have found so many young people moving to the frontlines of gender-based violence activism, which comes as no surprise. Growing up with this violence, coupled with the rise of the #MeToo movement during our formative years, embedded so many progressive values into our being.

Nobody enters the cycle of violence for the first time as a perpetrator. The same systems of power and control that exist in our world are present on an interpersonal level. We have to combat all levels of these abusive behaviors, which, for many advocates, sometimes feels like an uphill battle—in particular with youth, who are given fewer and fewer resources in school to learn about social emotional education and healthy relationships. From prevention to direct services and restorative practices, we are all experiencing systems of power and control that are limiting and, at times, debilitating.

Advocating for healthy relationships and survivor justice right now is more needed than ever. I find myself coming back to the basics in these uncertain times to understand root causes. People abuse because it is a learned behavior. This era of the world is teaching many young people, in particular, that you can get what you want, not just in spite of, but with, harmful behaviors that are rooted in power and control. In many ways, our world is teaching that rape, hate, and violence are viable tools to gain the power and control that is idolized.

I find solace in community. There is so much joy in resistance, there is joy in rest, there is joy in connecting with other advocates. I’ve been looking to other activists and gender-based violence organizations to ground myself, to find folks who understand how sometimes these days, it feels like the sky is falling on our work.

I have found myself looking at survivorship more expansively, because liberation does not exist in silos, and we should not either. We must draw inspiration and connection with other movements seeking to end violence. We would not have queer rights protected the way they are today if it were not for Black trans activists. We would not have any of the social change that we are lucky enough to have today if it weren’t for the voices that have been pushed to the margins.

This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I am prioritizing community care, for myself, my team, and the survivors I work with. The same values I see reflected in my work, I see within so many parts of the UIC community. I am happy to be working in this field, and alongside all of you. As always, CAN and WLRC are here for survivors and allies alike. Survivors deserve to be celebrated each and every day. Celebrate community and strength this Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Share your thoughts in our weekly poll!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to support survivors, educate ourselves, and advocate for safer communities. Awareness and action can take many forms, from learning about consent to uplifting survivor voices.

What does supporting survivors and promoting awareness look like to you? How can we create safer, more supportive spaces for those affected by sexual violence?

Check back next week for your responses and a new question!

Last week, we asked, "How are you spending your spring break? Are you resting, catching up on schoolwork, or doing something fun? How do you feel about this break?" Here are some of your responses:

Thank you for sharing your wonderful responses!

[ID: "Question of the Week" in yellow block letters inside a yellow-orange frame on a purple-blue gradient background.]

Monday, April 7 | 12:30pm - 2:00pm
EIEP Lounge, 2065 SELE
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion with inspiring women leaders in engineering to explore the concept of "tokenism," learn how to recognize its manifestations, and discover strategies to challenge it effectively.

[ID: "PERSIST(Σ): Beyond Tokenism: Women Thriving in Engineering" in white text, surrounded by multiple outline silhouettes of people, with one shaded in in magenta. At the top is the PERSIST(Σ) logo, a stylized gear with a flower in the center.]

Tuesday, April 8 | 1 - 3pm
UIC Quad
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for a celebration of life in memory of UIC student Ruth E. George. We'll have fun activities from campus and community partners and cupcakes & coffee. Let’s come together to create a safer UIC community!

[ID: "Together for Ruth: A Birthday Celebration for Campus Safety, Connection, & Community" and event details in pink and purple text, surrounded by balloons, cupcakes, and colorful shapes on a yellow background. At the top is a photo of Ruth George.]

Wednesday, April 9 | 12 - 1pm
WLRC & Zoom
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

How do survivors of gender-based violence advocate for change? During this conversation with survivors and those who support them, we will celebrate how we have raised our voices, learn about survivor-led movements, and explore ways to get involved.

[ID: "HEALS: Healing for Engagement, Action, & Leadership by Survivors" in white text over a purple background, with flames rising from the bottom center.]

Thursday, April 10 | 2 - 4pm
WLRC & Zoom
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for a screening and discussion of the documentary Ahead of the Curve, featuring Curve Magazine founder Franco Stevens and filmmaker Jen Rainin, winner of the 2025 UIC Alumni Association Alumni Achievement Award.

[ID: A person wearing a sleeveless top and sunglasses, looking to the side with a jacket slung over their shoulder and one hand resting on a stack of magazines. Around them is text describing the Ahead of the Curve event.]

Monday, April 14 | 5 - 6pm
245 Student Center East
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Join us for an Adult Learners (25+) workshop with Commuter and Off-Campus Life! We will dive into themes and activities that highlight identity, power and control, and how we can cultivate safe and consensual working spaces.

[ID: "Safe Beats, Stronger Communities: A Conversation & Open Mic" in bold orange, magenta, and black text on a pink background. In the center are silhouettes of musicians playing instruments.]

Thursday, April 10 | 4 - 6pm
605 Student Center East
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for a conversation with industry experts, artists, and activists about creating safe and consensual live music spaces, while also celebrating talent through an open mic.

Sign up to perform and be part of a night that promotes connection, safety, and community through music!

[ID: "Safe Beats, Stronger Communities: A Conversation & Open Mic" in bold orange, magenta, and black text on a pink background. In the center are silhouettes of musicians playing instruments.]

Wednesday, April 16 | Afternoon TBD
WLRC
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Are you on the e-board of a UIC student organization focused on women, equity and inclusion, or social justice? Want to learn more about how WLRC can support the great work you do? Join us for an open conversation to network and build community with other student org leaders and our staff team!

[ID: A group of people in various shades of pink clothing, each raising a flexed arm muscle. At the top is "Student Organization Roundtable.]

Survivors, we are here for you! Please reach out to the Campus Advocacy Network any time you need support, information, resources, answers, and/or advocacy related to safety, healing, or gender-based violence (sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, stalking, harassment, family abuse).

We can connect in person at WLRC or via Zoom, phone, text, or email. Our services are free, confidential, and open to all members of the UIC community.

We can help you build a safety plan, connect with resources (like mental health support or legal assistance), process your experiences, and stay informed about your rights and options. We can assist you as you navigate processes like requesting academic accommodations, communicating with Financial Aid and the Registrar's Office, filing a report with the Office of Access and Equity, and/or petitioning for an Order of Protection, depending on your needs.

We are here not only for survivors and those facing gender-based violence, but also for those in roles where there may be a need to support survivors on campus, such as instructors, mentors, advisors, student leaders, friends, or colleagues.

To connect with an advocate:
- Call: (312) 413-8206
- Text: (312) 488-9784
- Email: can-appointment@uic.edu
- Submit an Ask an Advocate form

[ID: Four members of Mujeres en Medicina, smiling, hold a section of clothesline from WLRC's Clothesline Project, where t-shirts tell the stories of surviving violence or offer messages of support, such as "Women owe you nothing," "You are loved," and "I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become!"]

Everyone at UIC has a role to play in preventing violence and supporting survivors in our community. 

If you are an ally supporting a survivor in your life (whether that is a friend, family member, student, or employee), contact us to discuss questions around advocating for survivors, campus and community resources, mandated reporting, and more.

If you are a student leader, instructor, or supervisor, please consider inviting CAN to speak to your class through our Don’t Cancel Your Class! program, or request a training for your department, college, student organization, or other campus unit. 

[ID: A coffee cup, paper, paper clips, buttons, and pencils scattered around text about the Don't Cancel Your Class program, all on a teal background.]

If you are teaching, please share information about CAN during class and in your syllabus:

"If you have experienced sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, stalking, or harassment, there is help available. The Campus Advocacy Network provides free and confidential services to UIC students, faculty, and staff who have experienced or are experiencing interpersonal violence. Pregnant and parenting students are also welcome to contact CAN for resources, information, and support.

If you would like to speak with an advocate, please email CAN at can-appointment@uic.edu, call (312) 413-8206 and leave a voicemail message, text (312) 488-9784, or fill out CAN's Ask An Advocate form online at can.uic.edu/ask. To learn more, visit CAN's website at can.uic.edu."

[ID: The text of the CAN Syllabus Statement in dark blue on a white background, with a teal green border.]

Arab American Cultural Center: Global Middle East Studies Inaugural Annual Symposium
Thursday, April 3 | 9:30am-7pm, BSB Suite 153, Institute for the Humanities
Join GMES for our first Annual Symposium—a day of dynamic presentations, interactive workshops, and community-driven discussions showcasing multidisciplinary research and creativity.

Disability Cultural Center: 2025-26 Community Care Cohort Internship: Info Session - Apply by April 11, 2025!
Friday, April 4 | 1-2pm, In-person & Zoom
Learn more about the internship, get questions answered, and connect with current interns.

Heritage Garden: Volunteer Day
Friday, April 4 | 1-2:30pm, Lecture Center B2
Join us for some  hands-on gardening and learn how Heritage Garden interns are connecting horticulture with environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, and social justice. 

Asian American Resource and Cultural Center: Healthcare Horizons
Monday, April 7 | 1:30-2:30pm, 723 W Maxwell St
Join APAMSA, Pre-Health Mentor Network, and AARCC for Healthcare Horizons! Hear UIC med students discuss career paths, applications, and unique insights for Asian Americans in medicine. All are welcome!

Gender and Sexuality Center: Queer and Trans Focus Group
Tuesday, April 8 | 12:30-1:30pm, 183 BSB
The Counseling Center and GSC invite Queer and Trans students to share experiences and needs with our staff.

Black Cultural Center: Black Table Talk
Wednesday, April 9 | 12-1pm, 207 Addams
This is a great opportunity for faculty and students to connect, share their research and explore new collaborations over a casual lunch.

Heritage Garden: Spring Seed Swap
Saturday, April 12 | 12-2pm, Lecture Center B2
We invite gardeners, organizations, and community members interested in learning more about gardening, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

About the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change (CCUSC): Founded as a direct result of campus activism, the CCUSC work collectively to produce knowledge and shift university culture, validating the multidimensional lived experiences of historically and currently excluded communities. Informed by social justice frameworks, the Centers support students, faculty, and staff as they build a strong identity and sense of belonging, becoming change agents for a more just campus and society.

The Centers connect our communities and design intercultural and engaged-learning opportunities, student mentorship programs, cultural programming, advocacy, collaborative research, and community partnerships. Through these efforts, the Centers expand the educational and transformational mission of UIC.

[ID: The above statement about who the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change are, on a purple background.]

In light of potential threats to our communities, both here at UIC and throughout the Chicago area, it's important to know what our rights are when interacting with immigration and other law enforcement officers.

UIC's administration has shared official protocols for such interactions on campus. In short:

UIC's Rigo Padilla Pérez Undocumented Student Resource Center provides a comprehensive set of resources you can use on campus and in the community, including printable cards in multiple languages. They can also provide Know Your Rights trainings by request.

For more detailed info, check out this presentation from Sanctuary for All UIC, a collective of students, faculty, and staff imagining a sanctuary for all at UIC.

We are here for you and will continue to share resources and information with our campus community.

[ID: A two-page flyer with Know Your Rights info from ICIRR, which is available on its website.]

Native American Support Program (NASP): Conversations about Native American Research and Support at UIC
April 16 & 17 | Various Times & Locations
NASP is hosting experts to enhance Native and Indigenous recruitment, retention, and career development at UIC. The event includes opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to participate and provide feedback.

Gender & Women's Studies: Fall 2025 Course Offerings
Explore Gender & Women’s Studies and Social Justice courses for Fall 2025! The flyer on their website includes course descriptions, dates, and times. 

Black Studies & Gender and Women's Studies: Open Study Hours
MTWTh | 1-5pm, 1250 UH
Come connect with fellow students, study together, and build community.
Tea, coffee, and snacks will be available. Drop in whenever it fits your schedule!

Asian American Student Academic Program: Low Sensory Space at AASAP
Tuesdays | 9:30-11:30am, 2720 SSB
Looking for a quiet or low-sensory space? Every Tuesday, AASAP will have low light levels, little sound/relaxing music, and calming tools available.

Office of the Dean of Students: U&I Care Meals
Click above to access emergency meal assistance through the U&I Care Meals Program! Limited meals are available each term for UIC students facing urgent food insecurity.

Commuter and Off-Campus Life: Upcoming Events
Click above for exciting events, resources, and opportunities designed for UIC commuter and off-campus students!

Career Services: Upcoming Events
Click above for career prep workshops, career fairs, and more!

Daley Library: Upcoming Events
Click above for fun and engaging events for UIC students!

Counseling Center: Upcoming Events
Click above for popular workshops, peer-support groups, drop-in groups, and other events!

Little Sparks Program: Services and Opportunities for Student-Parents
The Little Sparks Program supports student-parents as they complete their education by providing childcare funding and wrap-around support. They offer things like child care; tuition assistance; diapers, wipes, and formula; student-parent network & events; and community resources.

Resilience: Upcoming Events
Resilience is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group trauma therapy, and medical and legal advocacy in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Resilience provides public education and institutional advocacy in order to improve the treatment of sexual assault survivors and to effect positive change in policies and public attitudes toward sexual assault.

- April 7: Women of Color Support Group
- April 8: Survivor's Book Club: Free Support Group
- April 9: Intro to Crochet for Anxiety Reduction

HEART: Reproductive Justice Fellowship: Apply by April 7!
HEART’s six-month RJ Fellowship supports 10 Muslims in leading reproductive justice projects with training, funding, and a $1,500 stipend plus a $1,000 grant.

Metropolitan Family Services: 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training
April 7 - April 15 | 9am-4pm, 7300 Main St., Downers Grove
This ICDVP-certified in-person 40-hour domestic violence training qualifies for CDVP/PAIP, offers CEUs for various licenses, and provides reduced rates.

Chicago Abortion Fund: A Home Here: Post-Abortion Community Circles
Tuesday, April 8 | Virtual
For our April circle we will make room to hear stories and experiences from people who have had multiple abortions. We’ll also talk through stigma around having multiple abortions and where we think those stigmas come from.

YWCA Evanston/North Shore: 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training
April 14 - April 25 | 9am-2pm, 1215 Church St., Evanston
A 40-hour domestic violence training site, approved by ICDVP, covers all required topics through a trauma-informed lens for those working with affected individuals.

KAN-WIN: Youth Peer Advocate Leadership (YPAL) Program: Apply by May 26!
June 9 - July 22
YPAL is a program for high school aged people to receive in-depth training on issues of gender-based violence, be in conversation with other young people interested in combating gender-based violence, and explore ways to contribute to the anti-violence movement. 

UIC Women’s Leadership and Resource Center
& Campus Advocacy Network

1700 Student Services Building (MC 363)
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 413-1025 ∙ wlrc@uic.edu ∙ wlrc.uic.edu

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