From Staff Reports
JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Crisis Center invites the communities of the Birmingham metro area to an entire month of awareness-raising and survivor-centered events throughout the month of April. Events will include a candlelight vigil at Avondale Park for survivors of sexual assault, a night of readings and spoken word at the Magic City Acceptance Center, the Wounded Hearts Workshop, where survivors of sexual assault are invited to create art pieces to promote personal healing, and a Wellness Wednesday event at Cahaba Brewery’s Taproom in Avondale, where 10% of all beer sales benefit the Crisis Center’s Sexual Assault Support Services.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a nationally recognized, month-long event created to facilitate public awareness about issues of sexual violence and promote prevention education to empower communities to help end sexual assault. Sexual Assault is an issue of public health, human rights and social justice and affects people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, income levels and races.
All of the Crisis Center’s public events are free. All are welcome. Below is a complete listing of events with descriptions.
The Crisis Center’s mission is to serve the unmet needs of people experiencing personal crisis or mental health issues and respond with services that promote coping, emotional health and well-being, and serves the community of Central Alabama, which is defined as the five county area surrounding Birmingham including Blount County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Shelby County and Walker County.
For more information about these events and the mission of the Crisis Center, visit www.crisiscenterbham.org.
The Crisis Center is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.
EVENT: CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
DATE/TIME: April 14 at 7 p.m.
PLACE: Avondale Park
In partnership with the US Department of Justice, the Crisis Center invites the public to light candles and hold space for survivors of sexual violence at Avondale Park. We will gather at the 5th Avenue entrance to the park at 7pm and light candles as the sun sets to remember all those who have suffered. This event is a part of National Crime Victims Week.
EVENT: SPOKEN WORD & READINGS WITH PULSE POETIC SOCIETY AND I AM THE F-BOMB
DATE/TIME: April 19 at 7 p.m.
PLACE: Magic City Acceptance Center
In a wonderful collaboration, I Am The F-Bomb members will read personal accounts, stories
of survival and hope, each introduced by a spoken word artist from Pulse Poetic Society who will deliver a poem inspired by the story they introduce. Please join us for an inspiring night of story-telling and strength. 7PM at the Magic City Acceptance Center.
EVENT: WOUNDED HEARTS WORKSHOP
DATE/TIME: April 27 at 5:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Crisis Center
Each year, the Crisis Center invites survivors in our community to come and participate in a therapeutic creative workshop where the individual may design a “wounded heart” to tell an aspect of his or her story of sexual assault and personal journey of healing. Held at the Crisis Center conference room at 5:30 PM. For details, call 205-458-8984.
EVENT: WELLNESS WEDNESDAY AT CAHABA BREWERY
DATE/TIME: April 27, 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
PLACE: Magic City Acceptance Center
Our friends at Cahaba Brewery are donating 10% of their beer sales to our SANE and Rape Response programs all day long! The taproom is open from 3pm – 10pm. Join us for a beer in their gorgeous taproom, celebrate hope and help a survivor!