Village: Free Presentation For Sexual Assault Awareness Month

NEW LENOX, IL — The New Lenox Safe Community Coalition is pleased to announce a free presentation entitled “Building and Supporting Healthy Relationships,” which is being held in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

This presentation is a collaborative effort between the New Lenox Safe Community Coalition’s Domestic Violence Prevention Task Group, Guardian Angel Community Services and Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. The presentation will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 25 at Lincoln-Way West High School, 21701 Gougar Road in New Lenox. Please use the main entrance on the west side of the campus and proceed to the Warrior’s Lodge.

Registration for this free presentation is being handled through Eventbrite via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-and-supporting-healthy-relationships-tickets-311398159277.

The “Building and Support Healthy Relationships” event is geared towards teens and their supporters (parents, guardians, teachers, etc.). The goal of this event is to provide teens with tools they can use to ensure the relationships they are building are healthy and to provide their supporters with information on how to support them in their relationships.

During this event, Guardian Angel Community Services' Sexual Assault Service Center will hold a discussion to address how relationships live on a spectrum from healthy to abusive with unhealthy living somewhere in between. The discussion will explore what type of characteristics accompany each type of relationship, with a focus on warning signs that are often common in teen dating violence.

The main focus of the discussion will be on how we can ensure we are building healthy relationships and what to do if a relationship becomes unhealthy, and potentially even abusive. To wrap-up the discussion, we will share ways that we can support someone who might be in an unhealthy or abusive relationship.

Materials and handouts with more information on what teen dating violence is and how to support individuals in unhealthy and abusive relationships will also be provided. At the end of the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a community service activity by organizing items that have been collected for the SASC's clients.

Featured Speaker / Presenter Bio

The featured speaker/presenter for this event will be Guardian Angel Community Services, Sexual Assault Service Center, Prevention Education Coordinator, Breann Fisher.

Fisher graduated from Monmouth College in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and sociology. While attending Monmouth College, Fisher had an internship with Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center in Galesburg, which is where she discovered her passion for working with survivors of abuse.

After graduation, Fisher started with Guardian Angel Community Services' Sexual Assault Service Center. She worked in the SASC as a legal and medical advocate for two years before transitioning to the position of prevention education coordinator in July 2021. As prevention education coordinator, Fisher focuses on educational efforts that bring awareness and violence prevention strategies to community audiences.

Collection for Medical Advocacy Bags

This event also includes a collection of items that are needed for Medical Advocacy Bags that are provided to victims in crisis. Collection boxes will be located at the New Lenox Village Hall, New Lenox Police Department, and New Lenox Public Library during normal business hours through April 25.

Items may also be brought to the event at Lincoln-Way West High School. Needed items include:

• Travel size hand sanitizer.
• Comb or mini hair brush.
• Socks - all sizes (could be fuzzy socks as well).
• Gray or black sweatpants (like Hanes or another similar brand) - size XS to XXL.
• Gray or black t-shirt (like Hanes or another similar brand) - size XS to XXL.
• Stuffed animals - smaller sized so they can fit into a kid’s backpack.
• Crayons - size 24-pack or less.
• Coloring books - could use adult or kids.
• Playdough - mini sized.
• Small fleece blankets.
• Small plug in nightlights.
• Children's book bags - we use these for medical advocacy with children.

Additional questions regarding this event may be directed to Daniel Martin, Safe Community Coordinator, via email at dmartin@newlenox.net or by calling (815) 462-6493.