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Remember Victims at April Commemorations
Two upcoming events remind us of the tragedy of violence in our community.
Tonight, Thursday, April 23,
military and civilian communities come together for the Suzanne Collins Annual Lantern Procession to End Sexual Violence. U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Collins was tortured, raped and murdered in 1985 on the day she was to graduate from avionics training at Naval Air Station Millington.
At 7 p.m. at the Glen Eagle Golf Course in Millington, Rear Admiral Annie B. Andrews, Capt. Doug Walker and other officers from NAS Millington will be joined by Deborah Clubb from the Women's Council and Susanna Parkinson, sexual assault response coordinator for the base, in comments. Cpl. Collins was on an evening run on base in 1985 when she was abducted and taken to nearby Orgill Park where she was beaten and raped and died as a result of those injuries. The Wolf River Pipes and Drums will lead the procession "to remember Suzanne, raise awareness of sexual violence and support each other as we attempt to make our world a safer and gentler place," Ms. Parkinson said. "In coming together to honor Suzanne's memory, we are also creating an environment of acceptance and support for all victims of sexual violence." The event is sponsored by Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Fleet and Family Support Center and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Refreshments will be served following the procession in the clubhouse at Glen Eagle Golf Course. On Thursday April 30, the Shelby County Crime Victims Center and Rape Crisis Center will celebrate special anniversaries during the annual Crime Victims' Rights reception. The event at Christ United Methodist Church, 4488 Poplar Avenue, begins with reception at 5:30 and awards at 6 p.m. A special video presentation will recount the 40th anniversary of the RCC and 20th anniversary of the CVC. Annual awards will be presented to honor those who give of themselves to help victims of crime in their time of need: Criminal Justice Professional of the Year; Victim Service Professional of the Year and Victim Advocate of the Year.
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Rape Kit Backlog Task Force
Making Progress
Join
Memphis Says No More
Launch in June
In December 2013, Mayor A C Wharton created the Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Task Force with members from multiple state, county and city offices and community advocate Deborah Clubb to oversee testing of all untested kits and to establish policies for prompt testing of new kits. In just over a year of work, the task force has raised $6 million, analyzed or shipped 5,986 kits to four labs, held public meetings to update the community, trained law enforcement on rape investigation and advocated for additional investigators and compassionate victim notification.
As a result Memphis Police Department detectives have initiated 453 investigations. Of 76 indictments requested as of mid-March, 39 rapists have been identified, including 20 believed to be multi-case offenders. MPD also has found 49 suspects were already convicted of the crime and 62 cases were past the statute of limitations - and 33 victims have died.
Most indictments are for Aggravated Rape which is a Class A felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
And the work continues, every day.
Coming in June --- launch of Memphis Says No More, a local awareness and prevention campaign building on the powerful national No More campaign organized by a coalition of groups combatting domestic violence and sexual assault.
Watch for details of a special Community Conversation for Men on June 25, followed by the fourth annual Memphis Walk a Mile in Her Shoes down Main Street Mall and public launch of Memphis Says No More on Beale Street. We will need help inviting men to the Conversation and to join the Walk a Mile. If you are ready to volunteer or can help sign up men to participate, please contact Deborah Clubb at dclubb@memphiswomen.org.
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Women's Council Board News
Recent additions to the Women's Council board are Dr. Joy Clay, interim director, Center for Research on Women, University of Memphis; Alex Dileo, a junior and student leader at Rhodes College; Erma Elzy, theater and video director; Hattiloo Theater director; Dr. Cathy Meredith, associate clinical professor, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, University of Memphis. Board chair Dr. Carol Danehower was named Eye of the Tiger during Homecoming 2014 at the University of Memphis. Danehower has spent 22 years at the University of Memphis. She currently is a full time faculty member in the Department of Management and a research affiliate of the University of Memphis Center for Research on Women. In addition to her leadership with the Women's Council, Danehower has served as chair for the TECW in 2011 and 2012; a member of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners)-Memphis and on the Advisory Board for the Memphis Institute for Leadership Education (MILE) at the U of M.
Dr. Owen Phillips, MAWC vice president, was named Woman of Achievement for Heroism during National Women's History Month. Owen was recognized for her support of women's right to full reproductive health care and for speaking out in television commercials in opposition to a state constitutional amendment.
The award essay stated: Owen Phillips stood up and spoke out and her words were broadcast and published across the state and beyond, on the Internet. Her heroic stance brings a reasoned, experienced voice to a difficult and urgent topic.
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New Date for April WomenTalk
It's time to talk again - but not until Monday April 27.
The April WomenTalk will shift to Monday, April 27, 5:30 to 7 p.m. when everyone is invited to once again gather to talk about our challenges and how we unite to respond. The legislature is wrapping up its session; stored rape kits are being shipped and cases investigated; Memphis mayoral candidates are lining up; Hillary is running for president - let's talk!
Gather at our office - 2574 Sam Cooper Blvd. at Bingham.
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Join the Memphis Alliance Against Violence
The Women's Council is forming an advisory board to guide and grow our initiative "Violence at Home. Victims at Work. Employers Confront Domestic Violence." If you are an employer or business owner who would like to participate, please contact Deborah Clubb at:
dclubb@memphiswomen.org.
The group is chaired by First Horizon senior vice president/manager for corporate security Shelia Bramlitt.
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The effort to get a woman onto the $20 bill gives you the opportunity to vote!
You likely know three finalists nominated by committee: Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman. One added by popular demand - Wilma Mankiller, first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation - could be less familiar.
To vote and to urge friends and family to vote, here's the link:
http://www.womenon20s.org/vote2 The more votes we register, the larger the mandate to compel the President to make this important change.
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About Memphis Area Women's Council
The Memphis Area Women's Council is a non-profit dedicated to advocacy to assure equity and opportunity for local women and girls. Our goal is strategic changes in policy, procedure, law and regulations that remove barriers, eliminate sexism and assure equal access. For more information or to donate go to visit
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Donate to us:
Memphis Area Women's Council
2574 Sam Cooper Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38112
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