Champion Voting in Your Community
I don’t vote, it doesn’t matter. I’m a college student so I don’t live here. Who has the time with everything else going on in
September 14, 2020
The OCRCC lost a mentor this month in the passing of Miriam Slifkin, one of the founders of our organization.
Over the past 46 years, Miriam remained a champion of the cause and the organization, supporting generations of OCRCC directors even as she pursued other avenues for advocacy and change. “Throughout my years at OCRCC, and especially when we observed the organization’s 30th anniversary, Miriam was always willing to share the Rape Crisis Center’s origin story – a story of leading with empathy, courage, and compassion. It was an honor to learn from her,” says Margaret Barrett, former OCRCC Executive Director.
It’s simply impossible to count the number of lives touched by her legacy. At the OCRCC, hundreds of staffers, thousands of volunteers, and tens of thousands of survivors and their families have benefited from the visionary work Ms. Slifkin called on her community to enact in the founding of the Center. “Miriam was an extraordinary, obviously brilliant woman, who somehow managed to raise four exceptional daughters while pursuing a career of her own and at the same time be active in causes that meant a great deal to her. Her founding of the OCRCC was just one of her major achievements,” remembers long-time OCRCC volunteer Debbie Finn. “If she had not founded the Center, I would not have had the opportunity to be involved there for so many years. My involvement means a lot to me.”
We honor Ms. Slifkin’s legacy by reflecting on what meaning our actions today might have on a future we cannot yet imagine. While Ms. Slifkin may not have been able to see what meaning her actions would have 45 years down the road, “she used her intellect, generosity, and privilege to make good things happen, even when the pace of incremental change was unsatisfyingly slow,” reflects Margaret Henderson, former OCRCC Executive Director. We strive to embody Ms. Slifkin’s ideals and dedication as we continue down the path she helped to pave.
To learn more about Ms. Slifkin and her numerous other accomplishments, please see the recent Women of Achievement profile in Chapel Hill Magazine. Her obituary from the N&O can be found here.
At Orange County Rape Crisis Center we envision a world free of all forms of oppression. This includes the murder, harassment, neglect, abuse, and degradation of Black people.
We mourn the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, David McAtee, and the countless other Black people whose lives have been lost to racist violence in all its forms this week, last week, and over the course of the last 400 years. We bear witness to the grief, rage, and weariness of Black communities across the nation.
We stand in self-reckoning with the ways that our movement to end rape has been complicit in the criminalization of Black communities. We stand committed to the urgent and complex work of dismantling racism from within ourselves, our organization, and our community. We stand in support of Black-led organizations fighting to affirm Black life and end structural racism.
We know many of our Black community members are seeking the space and time to heal and that many of our white supporters are looking for ways to help. In the next several weeks, we will be sharing resources to support this critical work. But for now, we simply wish to express empathy for the suffering of Black people and solidarity with everyone fighting to affirm Black lives and end racism.
It’s been a month now since our local schools sent students home to await the inevitable “stay at home” order from our state government. Like you, we’ve been taking it day-by-day at the OCRCC, doing our best to plan for a future we can’t quite envision while keeping our spirits up amidst the worry, fear, and grief. Click here to read more.
In addition to our 24-Hour Phone Helpline, we also offer 24-Hour Text and Online Chat Helplines! This confidential resource is available for survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones to speak with a trained advocate over mobile text or online chat on our website. Anyone can access our Text Helpline by texting (919) 504-5211. Access our Online Chat Helpline by clicking here or clicking the chat button at the bottom right side of each page on our website.
Served 816 survivors, providing support to survivors and their loved ones as well as offering resources for professionals and community members.
Provided 70 clients with short-term, trauma-focused therapy in both English and Spanish to primary and secondary survivors of sexual violence. 100% of clients in the therapy program self-reported a decrease in trauma symptom severity.
Offered 18 support groups and workshops, some in English and some in Spanish. Nearly 100 percent of participants reported that our groups helped them feel less alone in their experience and more supported in their healing process.
Provided Community Education programs to 15,064 youth and adults. In addition to Safe Touch and Start Strong programs in local K-12 schools, the CE team worked more closely than ever with Client Services staff to deliver community-wide education opportunities, bringing customized programs to faith communities, neighborhoods, and families across the county.
I don’t vote, it doesn’t matter. I’m a college student so I don’t live here. Who has the time with everything else going on in
It’s been a month now since our local schools sent students home to await the inevitable “stay at home” order from our state government. Like
By Sol Pederson, Youth Education Program Manager In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, many children and adults are experiencing heightened anxiety and concerns about
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Mailing Address:
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Chapel Hill, NC 27515
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