Summer 2007 Coalition CQuarterlyommentary Newsjournal of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault Happy 30thequality, Anniversary will deliver Poet Nikki Giovanni, the keynote address. She IN THIS ISSUE actress Gabrielle Union teaches at Virginia set to help ICASA Tech University and was recently in the celebrate milestone spotlight following he celebration to recognize 30 her uplifting speech years of anti-rape work is set. during the memorial TheTT work is ongoing. services following Nikki Giovanni The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual the shooting tragedy Assault will celebrate its milestone on the Virginia Tech 30th Anniversary with an evening of campus. recognition on Sept. 27, 2007 at the Union, a leading Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. movie actress who It’s an evening to celebrate 30 years has appeared in Ye Yearsars of work by rape crisis center staff and movies such as 3300 volunteers to assist victims of sexual Daddy’s Little Girls, INSIDE ... violence; 30 years of answering 2 a.m. Running with Viewpoint .................................. 2 hotline calls; 30 years of providing Scissors, Deliver Us counseling; 30 years of meeting from Eva and Bad Profile on Nikki Giovanni .......... 4 victims at the emergency room or in a Gabrielle Union Boys II, is also a courtroom; 30 years of changing staunch supporter of rape crisis Profile on Gabrielle Union ........ 5 legislation; 30 years of believing centers. She has advocated in victims; and 30 years of hope. Washington D.C. on behalf of ICASA Timeline ........................ 6 “The anniversary is a celebration in increased funding for rape crisis honor of the strength rape survivors centers. Union is a rape survivor and Sexual Violence have shown through the decades and speaks glowingly of the support and Prevention Symposium ............. 7 the efforts of rape crisis center staff to care she received from a local rape support those survivors and their crisis center in her native Nebraska. Sound Off ................................. 8 friends and family,” ICASA Executive “We are thrilled that these two high- Director Polly Poskin said. “ICASA is a profile women will be joining us for the Center Information ............. 12-15 leader in the anti-rape movement and anniversary celebration,” Poskin said. we will continue to work on behalf of “Their commitment to speak out on Justice for All ..................... 16-17 victims until we reach our ultimate behalf of rape survivors and children goal, which is an end to sexual inspires those of us working in this Attorney’s Report .................... 18 violence in our society.” field.” The celebration will be highlighted Loretta Durbin, wife of Illinois Thumbs Up ............................. 19 by the appearance of poet, activist Senator Richard Durbin, is the Nikki Giovanni and actress, activist evening’s honorary co-chair. The event ICASA Gabrielle Union. will recognize early founders of ICASA 2007 Moxie Awards ........... 22-23 Dr. Giovanni, a world-renowned poet, author and longtime advocate for Celebrate continued on page 6 VIEWPOINT AnniversaryThoughts reason on turning 30 to celebrate ICASA’s And most important is the accomplishments by In I 1976 there wasn’t an ICASA. UNYIELDINGUNYIELDING EFFORTEFFORT In 1977 there was. In 2007 there still is. rape crisis staff to HELPHELP more hirty years old. Happy anniversary to us. victims, TEACHTEACH more people, ThereT are times that I and probably most others don’t appreciate what a and CHANGECHANGE more laws. This effort milestone anniversary this is. In general, those within the warrants APPLAUSEPLAUSEAP anti-rape movement .. spend the vast be living in a state that has ICASA. It is at strength of the coalition behind it. majority of their time these events that you begin to see the These are good things. These are working to achieve impact ICASA has had across the nation. things to celebrate. what has not yet It’s there that you meet the people who And most important, is the the been done. use the material ICASA has produced or unyielding effort by rape crisis staff to Laws not passed. are emulating the laws ICASA has help more victims, teach more people, Money not given. Attitudes unchanged. helped pass in Illinois. and change more laws. This effort And most importantly Laws in the state of Illinois have warrants applause. This effort is what Sean victims not reached. been completely revamped since drives ICASA forward. Black It’s a lot to think ICASA’s inception. The 1983 about and the legislation completely changed the way In 1976 there wasn’t an ICASA. thoughts aren’t really happy. It can be rape victims could be treated in Illinois In 1977 there was. overwhelming to think about the work courts and provided the foundation for In 2007 there still is. that still needs to be done. It can be a multitude of other states to follow. depressing to think about the barriers That is progress. Earlier this summer, I was reading that still exist for rape victims. It can be Future legislation focused on the year’s biggest blockbuster, which downright disheartening to think about statutes of limitations, marital rape, included these lines, the beliefs many in this country still prevention programming and other “That’s right, Harry … come on think hold for rape victims. issues. That is more progress of something happy,” While those thoughts can’t be Services to victims have grown “Something happy?” he said, his ignored all the time, we can’t dwell on exponentially in the state. What once voice cracked. the negative. We instead can use it for was a coalition of nine rape crisis “We’re all still here,” she whispered, fuel to inspire changes in services and centers is now a coalition of 34 thriving “We’re still fighting. Come on, now.” laws and attitude. We must remember rape crisis centers. Those centers Good advice for us non-fictional and think about how far the movement provide counseling and advocacy characters to remember. Let’s has come. services to victims that would not have remember where we’ve come from, been reached 30 years ago. enjoy the success ICASA has helped In 1976 there wasn’t an ICASA. What was a non-existent prevention deliver, but keep fighting to end sexual In 1977 there was. programming campaign is embedded in violence so that ICASA’s 60th In 2007 there still is. each ICASA center. Media campaigns anniversary can be a celebration of have specifically targeted stopping even greater accomplishments. Since ICASA was born, things are rape. ICASA’s evaluation of education better. I realize this most when I travel programs led to the creation of curricula across this nation, attending sexual that can now be found in every state Sean Black is Communications violence prevention conferences or across the country. Centers have made Coordinator for ICASA. making presentations. It’s at these inroads to schools and other community Viewpoint is a regular opinion events that I realize how fortunate I am to groups that have thrived with the column in Coalition Commentary. 2 Coalition Commentary, Summer 2007 NEWS WHAT IS ICASA? The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault is a not-for-profit corporation of 34 community- based sexual assault crisis centers working together to end sexual violence. Each center provides 24- hour crisis services, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual assault and conducts educational programs in Illinois communities. MISSION STATEMENT The purpose of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) is to end sexual violence and to alleviate the suffering of sexual assault victims. This work is inseparable from ICASA's commitment to eliminate oppression in all its forms. To accomplish these goals, ICASA advocates for public policy that prevents sexual violence, guarantees sensitivity to victims, and promotes social justice. ICASA uses the power of public education to change beliefs and attitudes about the causes and consequences of sexual violence and the devastation of oppression. Through community programs that provide advocacy, counseling and MARKET DAY Participants at ICASA’s Statewide Sexual Assault Conference consider the options during the education, ICASA works for a safe, marketplace section of the Racial Justice Institute. The Institute used Open Space Technology to free and just society. enable participants to set the agenda to focus on efforts best suited to their skills. SUBMISSIONS ICASA welcomes submissions and reserves the right to edit all submissions. The Coalition Commentary is published quarterly. On the web CONTACT INFORMATION ICASA 100 North 16th St. Springfield, IL 62703-1102 @ Phone: 217-753-4117 Website: www.icasa.org STAFF www.icasa.org Executive Director: Polly Poskin Crisis Centers, Facts & Stats, Publications, Editor: Sean Black News, Legal Issues, Library, Espanol ICASA est. 1977 Coalition Commentary, Summer 2007 3 NEWS ICASA’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Activism fuels Giovanni’s work Poet a champion for equality for women, children ikki Giovanni is a world- renowned poet, writer, commentator,NN activist, and educator. Over the past thirty years, her outspokenness, in her writing and in lectures, has brought the eyes of the world upon her. One of the most widely-read American poets, she prides herself on being “a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English.” Giovanni remains as determined and committed as ever to the fight for civil rights and equality. Always insisting on presenting the truth as she sees it, she has maintained a prominent place as a strong voice of the Black community. Poet, activist Nikki Giovanni will be the keynote speaker at ICASA’s 30th Anniversary Celebration on Her focus is on the individual, Sept. 27, 2007 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. specifically, on the power one has to within the next year published a Giovanni’s spoken word recordings make a difference in oneself, and thus, second book, thus launching her have also achieved widespread in the lives of others.