Be part of the dialogue for change! READ ON for details on this very unique evening event this coming November 8th!!!

Be part of the dialogue for change... Join the FOUR of us for a unique evening as the *four travelers (see below) reunite with dialogue centering on a special release of the documentary "FROM DARKNESS" featuring Marjo Mitsutomi (present at event) and several other courageous and heart-searing women who dare to share the stories of sexual abuse, assault and their contemplative process of "becoming unfrozen."

Jerry Platt PhD, Marjo Mitsutomi PhD, Tracy Covington PhD Kurt Bickford PhD

The *four of us traveled to Finland and Estonia in September to bring teachings/trainings regarding the severe and ever present sexual assault occurring within the church.  We met with students, clergy, psychologists, practitioners and anyone who wanted to listen, share and learn.  Our hearts were heavy, bright, crushed and enlightened.  We found ourselves up too late at night not wanting the conversation to end and meeting the sunrise to begin again... 

why?

Because we are all so ready for this dialogue.

AND...although THIS EVENT is not specific to #SafeChurch and the sexual abuse within the Church, but more so, sexual abuse/trauma and the impact within our community, our family, our life...

You are also so very ready for this dialogue...

 WHY?

Register Now! 

The best way I know how to tell you that you are ready for this dialogue is that you are reading this email... you are already pulled to growing your consciousness or Self or you wouldn't be here... with these words, right now.  This event falls on the heels of some very turbulent weeks.  The thought had been rumbling in my head... the yearning to connect to you all, a way to process, share and debrief. Timing was impressively noted when I received a note from Marjo that she was given special permission to play the documentary (From Darkness).  The timing was ineffable, and I was elated... an opportunity for our community to see this intensely deep, loving and enlightening short movie, followed by some brief teaching/sharings... and a dialogue.  HEALING. Because, that's how it works!

Y'know, so many of us are so entrenched in the trauma of what is happening to us and around us we are not only frozen, we don't even know we are frozen.  Yes.  We don't even know we are frozen.  

I had a very brilliant professor share an article with me this week.  I read it over and over again... the meaning so aligned with this exact conundrum... it quoted abolitionist, Harriet Tubman. Harriet was exasperated, she was expressing her frustration on the issues of how slaves were programmed into powerlessness.  She threw her hands up stating ...  "I could have freed thousands more, if they had known they were slaves."  You see, powerlessness is the greatest oppression.  When we are powerless and when we continue to engage in doing nothing, speaking or saying nothing... we are powerless, we are frozen.  We don't even know we are frozen.  We don't know we are slaves; thus we can't be freed nor do we see the need to free self or others. 

So what life then, is it we are living?  Asleep. Compromised. Inauthentic. Sick. 

Would you like to know more? Or, You can REGISTER!

SEATING IS SUPER LIMITED... and REGISTRATION IS AVAILBLE ONLY ONLINE :)

Read on...?

... here's a few statistics to consider:

Sexual Assault in the United States

• One in five women and one in 7 men will be raped at some point in their lives 
• In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime 
• 51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance 
• 52.4% of male victims report being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger 
• Almost half (49.5%) of multiracial women and over 45% of American Indian/Alaska Native women were subjected to some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime 
• 91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male 
• In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator 
• Eight percent of rapes occur while the victim is at work 

Child Sexual Abuse

• One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old 
• 30% of women were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their first completed rape 
• 12.3% of women were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization 
• 27.8% of men were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization 
• More than one third of women who report being raped before age 18 also experience rape as an adult 
• 85% of people who sexually abuse children are male, and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults 
• 80.1% of people who sexually abuse a child are immediate family members of the child 
• It is estimated that 325,000 children per year are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial child sexual exploitation 
• Only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities 

Campus Sexual Assault

• 20% - 25% of college women and 15% of college men are victims of forced sex during their time in college 
• A 2002 study revealed that 63.3% of men at one university who self-reported acts qualifying as rape or attempted rape admitted to committing repeat rapes 
• More than 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault 
• 27% of college women have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact 
• Nearly two thirds of college students experience sexual harassment 

Crime Reports

• Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police 
• The prevalence of false reporting is low — between 2% and 10%. For example, Researchers studied 812 reports of sexual assault from 2000-2003 and found a 2.1% rate of false reports.

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Thanks for reading all the WAY THROUGH!!!

I look forward to seeing you there!

WE worked hard to make this worth your time... it's just $10 to attend... and we will have water and treats on-site!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead
 

SO... last thoughts:

• Seating is SUPER limited!
• REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE ONLY ONLINE!

 

 

Tracy J Covington

Bickford & Covington

511 Brookside Avenue

Redlands, Ca 92373