One of the most insidious forms of racial oppression is medical racism which, combined with medical sexism, causes especially devastating harm to Black women and children. Black women are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. The majority of the deaths, 2 in 3, are preventable, and all of the causes of these disparities can be traced back to structural racism. A general lack of access to medical care means that Black mothers are much more likely to receive prenatal care late in their pregnancy…
Outreach/Events Signs of HOPE has made it our goal to increase our community engagement efforts, and volunteers are a huge part of that. Volunteers helping with events will table on the organization’s behalf, handing out information and speaking with the public about our programs and services. Volunteers must also be prepared to help someone who discloses having experienced abuse and provide the services they need. Must be comfortable with public speaking. Shifts are on a first come first served basis when a request is submitted. Must be 18 years or…
RISE Hotline Our human trafficking hotline operates 24/7 which requires the support of volunteers. Volunteers answer this hotline during Signs of HOPE business hours, after hours, on weekends, and on holidays. Calls to this hotline come directly from law enforcement or other crime service agencies. This is not a public-facing hotline. Volunteers working on this project will also gain experience in the field responding alongside law enforcement to crime scenes or to locations where a human trafficking victim has been identified. Volunteers will help the client with immediate crisis…
Earlier this month, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals restored the Texas ban on abortions after six weeks. Dr. Alan Braid of San Antonio is already facing multiple lawsuits under the “bounty hunting” provision of the ban, which allows any private citizen to sue a person who in some way assists or facilitates a patient’s access to abortion services to the tune of $10,000. This law is troubling enough even before noting the lack of exceptions for rape or incest. But this law doesn’t just leave out victims of…
2020 is an extremely high-stakes election, and not only because it’s a presidential election year. Nevadans are voting on multiple state and local seats, including a large number of judges. Every race on the ballot this year represents an opportunity to stand up for survivors. Survivors Are Affected By Government At Every Level It can be easy to see the ways in which the federal government impacts survivors of sexual violence. Programs like PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) happen at the federal level. But…
On August 7th, the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents met to discuss, among other things, significant changes to Title IX policy recommendations from the Department of Education. It was during this meeting that Regent Lisa Levine spoke out to protect victims rights, and was summarily silenced by Dean Gould, Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to the Board of Regents. But this fight to defend the rights of victims didn’t start at this meeting; instead it started the day before, on the morning of August 6th, when…