SPRINGFIELD – The locally renowned Black Sheep Cafe hosted an open mic night with Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault.

This event welcomed singers, poets, and activists, to come and express themselves and their thoughts on the #Metoo movement and Sexual Violence. The evening’s theme was “embrace your voice.”

When Clare Frachey, Prevention Educator at Prairie Center, was asked why she helped organize the open mic she responded:”I was looking at a huge national resource for sexual violence. I thought this would be a great idea for people to express their voice in the culture.”

The event had a station set up to help the survivor love letter initiative and guests were encouraged to write an encouraging survivor love letters that were later to be displayed at the NPR art studio.

Throughout the night as different poets and artists spoke, resources concerning sexual violence were distributed throughout the crowd and by the end of the night, everyone knew of a way to get involved whether it was with Prairie center, or in lobbying for the Equal Rights Amendment on April 10th.

    At the very beginning of the night the audience was informed of the 5 steps to supporting a survivor of sexual violence they were:

1. Listen to the survivor.
2. Don’t investigate for them, it isn’t your place unless they ask you to.
3. Get permission from the individual to talk with them or to do anything, make sure they are comfortable.
4. Help them to explore their options, and show them there is support in the community.
5. Follow up with the individual.

This was a night of education and awareness where individuals were able to share their stories and feel a sense of community.

The survivor love letters written at this event will be displayed at the NPR Illinois art gallery until May 6th.

If you would like to write a letter to be displayed you may do so at the gallery during regular business hours.

Kallie Cox can be reached at [email protected]