In This Newsletter
Message from the Director
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Advocacy Updates
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Message From the Director
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Hello WGAC family! Welcome to the Fall 2019 semester! We have some exciting updates to share…
Advocacy –
Our advocacy team has grown and now includes THREE fulltime advocates… one of which is brand new to campus. Victoria and Courtney are likely familiar faces from last year, and Jenna moved to CSU from Utah over the summer. Their offices will all be in the student services building so please stop in and say hi if you’re in the area!
Programming –
Our programming crew has gotten a little smaller this summer after Carl left for another exciting job. We already miss him and hope he is living his best life working in Denver. We will be launching a search this semester to hire a new Men’s Program Coordinator and in the meantime, we have suspended the Men in the Movement program. Stay tuned for more updates.
Guiding Philosophies-
WGAC core staff uses a set of 10 guiding philosophies as a compass for our actions and decisions. Given that this is the start of the semester, I would like to highlight number 2: We believe in open doors and are invested in knowing and understanding one another. This philosophy is especially important when welcoming new people to our crew so please take advantage of our open-door policy to stop by and welcome Jenna (she/her) to campus. WE also have new student staff members who would love to meet you!
As always, we believe that feedback is love so please let us know if there are ways that we can better serve you or the community. We are nothing without you.
m.
p.s. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and the book of faces.
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Jenna Matsumura (left)
She is a cis, queer, biracial woman of Color. Before moving to CSU, she worked at the University of Utah supporting women’s enrollment and retention. Jenna found her way to gender advocacy through her undergraduate studies in Environmental and Sustainability Studies at the U of U as well as her graduate internships through the Higher Education and Student Affairs program at the University of Vermont. Her approach to advocacy and student affairs is rooted in critical thought, intersectional feminism, and justice.
Victoria Benjamin (right)
Victoria is a first-generation college graduate and CSU alum, having earned a dual Bachelor’s in Sociology and Women’s Studies in 2017. She is currently finishing up her master’s degree in the Department of Ethnic Studies. She’s an intersectional feminist with a background in massage therapy and energy work. Victoria also served as an advocate at Crossroads Safehouse during her undergraduate education. Her personal experiences as a white, cis-gender, working-class single mother and survivor helped her understand the nuanced importance of contending with dominant identities, especially Whiteness, while also healing from trauma. Victoria loves the month of October, spending time with her partner and children, watching stand-up comedy, making herbal infusions, and raging against white supremacy and the patriarchy.
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Support Groups for Victim/Survivors
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Each semester the WGAC offers a variety of group options for primary and secondary survivors to heal in community with one another. Below are the offerings for this semester. Students of any gender and ability level are encouraged to join. All groups are free of charge. Interested individuals can contact wgac@colostate.edu for more information.
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SUPPORT GROUP FOR SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE
A support group for survivors of sexual assault, child sexual abuse, relationship violence, and/or stalking. This group meets on Friday afternoons from 4:00-4:50pm while the semester is in session. Space is created for students to process their experiences, discuss coping strategies, and learn more about how to manage the impact of trauma. There are no structured topics discussed each week, but themes do often arise during each group session. CSU students of any gender identity or expression who identify as a survivor of interpersonal violence are welcome to attend after a brief consultation with one of our advocates.
THE BODY & THE MIND: A GROUP FOR SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL TRAUMA
Trauma can be an overwhelming experience both emotionally and psychologically. When our minds cannot understand or process experiences, they often stay with us in our bodies. Movement, breathwork, and mindfulness-based practices can provide treatment beyond talk therapy helping to alleviate the body’s experience of trauma. This is an 8-week group providing mindfulness skills, movement, and a space for survivors of interpersonal violence to explore the ways trauma manifests in the body. Each week will include a short practice and a time for processing together as a group. This group will run for 8 weeks from October- November, Thursdays from 3:30pm – 4:45pm.
HEALING AND MINDFULNESS IN NATURE
Participants will learn and practice mindfulness techniques by grounding in their 5 senses. We will set the intention of noticing how our body interacts with the natural world. This all day workshop will be spent walking a paved path along the Poudre River (approx. 4.5 miles). This workshop will be October 5th, from 10am-4PM.
SECONDARY SURVIVORS WORKSHOP
This workshop is available for partners, family and friends of gender based violence survivors. In this workshop we’ll be covering topics from how trauma affects the brain to how you can best support your loved one to how vicarious trauma can impact support systems. This workshop will be 5:30-8:30 on Monday, October 7th.
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We Believe You Podcast
A podcast for survivors of interpersonal violence that covers topics relating to confidential advocacy, resources for victim/survivors, and healing from trauma.
New season available this Fall!
Episodes available to download on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and KCSU
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