Options has several community activities and exhibits coming up during April in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Below is a list of all of the public events that community members are encouraged to attend or visit.
Ellis County Community Forum
Date: March 29
Location: Hays Public Library
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Options and Jana’s Campaign will present the findings from last year’s Quality of Life Needs Assessment and gather community input on where to focus our next efforts. We want to hear from YOU to help our community safe!
What Were You Wearing? Art Exhibit
Date: March 31-April 4
Location: Fort Hays State University, Taylor Gallery
Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Join Options and Jana’s Campaign in this exhibit that highlights real survivor stories. This art installation challenges the belief that what a person was wearing attributed to their sexual assault. An advocate will be present during open hours.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Date: April 10
Location: Fort Hays State University
Time: 2:30pm
There is an old saying: “You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” To get people listening, learning, and talking, Options is joining in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes at FHSU campus. This event is a campus-wide march to bring awareness to sexual violence.
Red Flag Garden
Date: April 14
Location: Fort Hays State University, Quad
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Us 4 U and Options are partnering to put on the Red Flag Garden to showcase problematic relationship behaviors. Each red flag we “plant” will have a different behavior that is a “warning sign” for abusive relationships.
What Were You Wearing? Art Exhibit
Date: April 16
Location: Colby Community College, Fireside Lounge in the Student Union
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
This art installation challenges the belief that what a person was wearing attributed to their sexual assault. The exhibit asks viewers to understand that sexual assault is NEVER about the clothing the survivor was wearing. The sexual assault violates the survivor’s mind, physical being, and emotions; it is not simply woven into the fabric of the survivor’s clothing. An advocate will be present during open hours.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – Colby
Date: April 23
Location: Colby Community College, Union
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
There is an old saying: “You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” To get people listening, learning, and talking, Colby Community College and Options are hosting Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. This event is a campus-wide march to bring awareness to sexualized violence.
Ellis County Community Forum
Date: April 24
Location: Hays Public Library, Schmidt Gallery
Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Options and Jana’s Campaign will present the findings from last year’s Quality of Life Needs Assessment and gather community input on where to focus our next efforts. We want to hear from YOU to help our community safe!
Spring Art Walk and Hays High School Student Advisory Bake Sale
Date: April 26
Location: Eclectic Threads (1012 Main St, Hays)
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Hays High School Student Advisory Board will be present at the Spring Art Walk for a bake sale where all proceeds will be donated to Options. There will be delicious goods of all kinds (cookies, breads, cereal bars, etc.).
Also join us for our new art installation, “Not Just An Object.” This exhibit features stories from local survivors regarding their experience with sexual assault
If you need any additional information, have a question, or a concern, feel free to reach out to Options at our 24-hour toll free helpline by calling 800-794-4624. You can also reach us via text by texting HOPE to 847411 or click “Chat with an Advocate” on the right of your screen.
Written by Anniston Weber
This grant project is supported by the State General Fund for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, sub-grant number 25-SGF-07, as administered by the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program. The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Kansas Governor.