A woman who was raped in her Clinton apartment several years has become a sexual assault therapist. Kelly McReynolds will be the speaker at a Rise Up Against Sexual Violence event in the Quad Cities. She was the guest on the FYI Show-if you missed it-listen to the entire conversation here
Family Resources offers comprehensive services for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.
Read more for further details
Local rape survivor to headline Family Resources
Rising Up Against Sexual Violence Luncheon
Proceeds will go to Family Resources’ SafePath Survivor Resources program – standing with sexual assault survivors in Scott, Rock Island, Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine, and Louisa counties
We believe you. We’re sorry this happened to you. This is not your fault. You are not alone.
On Friday, Oct. 7, stand with survivors at the Rising Up Against Sexual Violence luncheon at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center. Doors open at 11 a.m. with the program beginning at noon.
Family Resources’ SafePath program offers free and confidential care to hundreds of women, men, children, and teens each year in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Last year, SafePath staff and volunteers answered 5,130 crisis calls and served 424 individuals and their families through its sexual assault comprehensive services in Scott, Rock Island, Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine, and Louisa counties.
Kelly McReynolds will present, “Learning to Live Again: A story of rebuilding after rape.” Kelly, the first local survivor to speak at this event, will share her personal journey, as well as perspectives on rape culture in today’s society.
Kelly was raped at gunpoint in the middle of the night in her apartment in Clinton, Iowa, in 2009. A few weeks later, the same perpetrator attacked Kelly’s friend, murdering her and her two-year-old son. Kelly refused to allow her life to be devastated by a monster. She went on to obtain her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Western Illinois University. She is a sexual assault therapist for SafePath and speaker for RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. She dedicates her life’s work to walking with others on their journey to healing.
Tickets are on sale now at www.famres.org. Purchase individual tickets for $35 a person, or new this year, get a group of friends or colleagues together for a table of eight for $280.
Sponsorships are also available at the $250, $500, $1,500 and $3,000 level. Please contact Nisha Ladlee, Community Relations Manager, for a list of opportunities, at nladlee@famres.org or 563-468-2140.
Exclusive matching sponsor, UnityPoint Health Trinity, will match, dollar-for-dollar, donations made at the Oct. 7 luncheon, up to $5,000. This commitment to the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable – yet resilient – people in this region is a testament to Trinity’s service to our community. We are deeply grateful for their generous support of survivors and are thankful for their partnership.
The seven people leading Rising Up 2016 are survivors, family and friends of survivors, and volunteer sexual assault advocates. “We understand firsthand the impact SafePath has on this community. We are dedicated to hosting an event that will educate the community about sexual assault and strengthen SafePath’s ability to best care for people when they most need
it,” said Ann McGlynn, committee chairperson. Fellow committee members are Leah Allen, Kimberly Birdsong, Jenny Delapaz, Camille Johnson, Pamela Samuelson, and Dana Welser.
