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Coalition Connection
Your Weekly Source of News, Trainings, and Events
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Through a collective voice,
the WCADVSA is committed to provide leadership, education, and systems advocacy to advance social change and end violence.
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Welcome to your weekly edition of the Coalition Connection!
Not sure of the purpose of this newsletter? Click here to learn more. Are you having difficulty viewing this e-mail or do you feel like you are missing some of the information in the Connection? If so, click here for a few helpful hints.
We will highlight important information in this section each week that requires your action or attention. This week's highlights include:
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Opportunity
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New Round of FreeFrom's Safety Fund Cash Grants Is Now Open
We just opened a new round of our Safety Fund to get
no-strings-attached cash directly to survivors of gender-based violence who need community financial support.
Please share with anyone who you think should know
about this and/or apply for yourself.
We have limited funds and expect a lot of applications,
so we encourage you to apply ASAP.
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WCADVSA Staff Attorney Position
The WCADVSA Legal Project is funded through a grant received from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program. The Legal Project has been funded by OVW since 1998 in competitive grant cycles. Two Staff Attorney positions and a Legal Assistant position are funded to complete the grant goals which include providing direct civil legal services on behalf of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking statewide.
Located within the WCADVSA's Legal Project office in Ft. Washakie, WY. Qualifications:
- Licensed to practice law in Wyoming.
- Knowledge of Wyoming courts, laws and procedures.
- Thorough understanding of family law, civil procedure, evidence, ethics and familiarity with criminal law.
- Understanding of issues and willingness to continue to learn about issues related to
domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault and a strong commitment to ending violence against women. - Ability to provide professional, high quality and sensitive legal services to victims of
domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. - Ability to counsel and advise clients and provide referrals for people who are in crisis.
- Willingness and ability to work with people from varied backgrounds, cultures,
ethnicities and abilities. - Proficiency with computer and Internet technologies and software programs,
including Microsoft Word and Excel. - Ability to work with law office management databases, including ABACUS.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage time, keep detailed statistics, evaluate progress and
adjust activities to complete work within established time frames. - Ability to handle multiple projects and work independently as well as collaboratively.
- Demonstrated team building, limit setting, problem solving, creative/analytical
thinking and organizational skills, including report writing and grant writing. - Demonstrated project management skills, including staff supervision.
- Commitment to collaboration, team-building and professional development of staff.
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Apply to LEAP - Join a Community Created By and For Leaders of Color
While women of color leaders have been instrumental to the development of the movement to end gender-based violence, we are frequently met with barriers to professional growth and achievement in executive leadership positions. This underrepresentation of women of color leaders in the communities we serve, impedes our ability to provide culturally specific services and education, and ultimately, the ability to grow thriving, violence free communities.
In collaboration with the Women of Color Network, ValorUS (formerly the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault) established the Leadership Education and Advancement for Professionals (LEAP) Project in 2012 to address the disproportionate lack of women of color leaders in the movement. LEAP's primary purpose is to enhance the professional skills of individuals of color seeking professional advancement in the gender-based violence field.
Click here for more information and to register.
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Our Work
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Wyoming's VAWA Implementation Committee Update -
September 10th Deadline for Two Surveys
2. There is a second survey for those who have utilized your services. Please forward widely to all those who may be willing to answer it.
The primary purpose of this survey is to understand what special populations need to receive adequate services.
Please help us get the survey out by sending it to current or former clients when you feel it is appropriate. The survey is available in both English and Spanish. We are trying to reach the following people:
● Communities of Color
● Elderly (+65)
● Homeless, housing insecure, at-risk of becoming homeless within 6 months
● LGBTQ+
● Persons with Disabilities
● Immigrants, Refugees, or Asylum Seekers
● Limited English Proficiency
● Male Survivors of Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
● Human Trafficking victims/survivors
● Military Personnel Survivors of Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
● Secondary Victims (individuals who experienced an indirect consequence of the crime, which can include relatives of the primary victims or individuals who witnessed the crime)
● Beliefs other than Christianity (e.g. Judaism, Islam, spirituality, atheism, agnostic)
● Resident of remote area (places that face significant challenges accessing services relative to larger communities in Wyoming)
Below is a link to the survey along with a little intro you can use:
Thank you! Connect with Tara Muir if you want more background or have any questions.
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NNEDV COVID Call - Delta Variant Questions
As we are nearing the end of summer, heading into fall we are also facing a new surge of COVID in the form of the highly contagious Delta variant. As we head into another wave of infections, many program staff have pressing questions about what we can and should be doing this time around.
NNEDV hosted an informative discussion with Dr. Josh Barocas, from the University of Colorado Medical Center to answer questions regarding the Delta variant.
The hour-long discussion covers topics such as masks and social distancing in shelters, adequate ventilation systems for shelters and offices, and how we can protect children who are too young to be vaccinated. This conversation is packed with information and well worth your time.
Watch the recorded English conversation at here! The recording has also been translated to Spanish and can be accessed here!
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2021 Wyoming Conference for Violence Prevention & Response Planning Committee
We are currently seeking individuals to be a part of a creative and dynamic team that will plan the 2021 Wyoming Conference for Violence Prevention and Response!
If you are interested in participating on this planning committee, please complete this short form. You'll be notified no later than Sept 13th if you have been selected to participate on the planning committee.
If you have any questions about the conference or planning committee please reach out to Jody Sanborn at jsanborn@wyomingdvsa.org or 307-684-2454. Thank you!
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Survivor Storytelling Workshops and Advisory Council
Survivor Storytelling Workshops
Workshop A: Evenings 7:00-9:00 pm
Thursday, September 23 & Thursday, September 30
Workshop B: Mornings 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Wednesday, September 22 & Friday, October 1
A Virtual Inaugural Convening of the WCADVSA Survivor Advisory Council
Save the Date - Tuesday, October 19- 7:00-9:00 pm
All survivors are invited, especially those who have gone through the story telling workshops. For more information, please contact Tara Muir or Susie Markus.
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Policy Updates
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If you, survivors, staff, board, members of your community response team or other partners are invited. If they would like to learn more or discuss ideas for fixing state statutes in order to keep survivors safer and hold offenders more accountable - the monthly policy call is where to go!
Next call September 24 12 noon - 1 pm - brown bag it on Zoom!
September 24th agenda will build off the great conversation from August 27 - victims' rights to a sexual assault advocate, and build on enforcement of Wyoming's Victims Bill of Rights.
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Training and Events
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Wyoming Webinars, Training, and Events
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Rural and Familial Exploitation - Free Community Training
Uprising and The Center for a Vital Community invite you to a free, community training on September 14th from 1-4 pm at the Sheridan, WY Holiday Inn Convention Center. This training focuses on rural and familial exploitation and trafficking and will be conducted by leading experts, Wade Arvizu- a human trafficking survivor, and Elizabeth Scaife- a leading US trafficking expert. This event is geared towards professionals, direct service providers, and community members who want to learn more.
Learning objectives include:
- Sexual exploitation & trafficking within rural communities
- Vulnerabilities, victim profiles, and trafficker control tactics
- Engagement and intervention strategies
This training is FREE thanks to sponsorship from the Homer A. & Mildred S. Scott Foundation and the B.F. & Rose H. Perkins Foundation.
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"Confidentiality: If not us, then who?"
Join us for a "Confidentiality: If not us, then who?" training! Our advocacy principles rely heavily on privacy and confidentiality as being a practice, not tasks. For privacy and confidentiality to be a practice, it's most helpful when we reflect on our organizational culture and how that culture influences our individual advocacy in this practice. We'll spend time discussing how a trauma-informed organizational culture is supported by privacy and confidentiality being a practice. We'll then move into more specifics of privacy and confidentiality, including beliefs and governing laws and rules that you can frame your organizational culture and advocacy around.
Who: DVSA Program Advocates
When: Wednesday, September 15, 2021 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (lunch noon to 1:00 pm)
Where: Via Zoom (link will be provided to registrants)
Virtual Wellness: We will be engaging in wellness activities throughout the training and taking breaks nearly every hour, along with an hour break for participants to have lunch. We will also share our Practicing Wellness folder for ideas to bring wellness to yourself during the training.
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National Webinars, Training, and Events
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Evaluating Your Campus Advocacy Program: Strategies to Assess Impact
This webinar will include a brief review of adaptable evaluation approaches for campus programs for survivors of interpersonal violence. We will share trauma-informed, collaborative strategies to monitor program impact. Sample tools from the Campus Advocacy Toolkit will be reviewed and discussed, including listening sessions, impact surveys, and fidelity assessments.
Dr. Leila Wood, Associate Professor and Director of Evaluation at the Center for Violence Prevention, and Dr. Rachel Voth Schrag, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington will be presenting their best practices for evaluation of campus-based advocacy programs for survivors of interpersonal violence.
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Taking on Porn: Developing Resilience and Resistance Through Sex Education
Pornography has become the primary form of sex education for young people. Studies show that the average age of kid's first viewing of porn is between 8 and 11 and that teenagers turn to online pornography to learn about sex.
This conference is the first to explore best practices for developing sex education with a porn-critical lens while examine the key harms of porn -- sexual violence, misogyny, and the increasing sexual commodification, monetization, and exploitation of young people.
Speakers will include experts from government agencies, NGOS, education, and academia from the US, UK, India, Sweden and Turkey.
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Collaborative Responses to Domestic Violence in Rural Communities Virtual Conference - October 4-5
Coordinated Community Responses (CCRs) have been recognized as a best practice in reducing domestic violence since the Violence Against Women Act was enacted over 20 years ago and can be particularly effective in rural communities, where close-knit relationships and highly engaged community members provide an ideal jumping off point for collaborative efforts. However, with limited resources that must stretch further than their urban counterparts', it can often be a struggle to implement and sustain this approach.
Recognizing this, ICCR and the Conference on Crimes Against Women are coming together to provide critical training and resources for implementing collaborative, systemic responses to domestic violence in rural communities nationwide.
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Online Healthy Masculinity Training Institute - October 2021
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2021, increase your skill set to positively engage men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence. Men Can Stop Rape is excited to offer our highly praised and effective online Healthy Masculinity Training Institute (HMTI) this October. As a three-part online series, the training institute is an opportunity to develop virtual primary prevention skills at an affordable fee, network with professionals across time zones and industries, and be a part of the healthy masculinity movement.
HMTI Dates and Registration:
No matter where you are in the country or world, HMTI will help you move from theory to practice, from awareness to action, when mobilizing men and boys. Participants will learn the scientific theories, strength-based approach, and dynamic exercises that are part of MCSR's 24-year history, including our current socially distancing practices for mobilizing boys and men.
Learn more about the HMTI and see our evaluation data here on our website. Add yourself to our distribution list by filling out our form here!
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How We Can Improve Our Families and Our Communities
NAFFA began with the purpose of strengthening families through responsible fatherhood and motherhood by laying a strong foundation of a purpose-driven life. If you work with parents, grandparents and youth, we encourage you to hear our message.
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Click here to view a variety of upcoming webinars, national training, and conferences.
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Resource Center
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JWI Civic Action To-Do List
1) As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, we remember those murdered nd the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, PA as s the first responders and military personnel who risked their lives to make us safer.
In a nutshell: There are many ways to honor 9/11 around your community and across the country, including volunteer projects, moments of silence, 5K memorial runs, and stair climbs. Take action: Learn more about how you can commemorate 9/11here.
2) Access to abortion is central to women's health, economic security, freedom from violence, and equality under the law, but last week a Texas law went into effect that prohibits abortions after six weeks (before most people even know they are pregnant.) In a nutshell: The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, declined to block the Texas law - seemingly reversing its own previous rulings prohibiting states from banning abortions prior to fetal viability.
Take action: Congress must now protect the right of all women in the U.S. to access abortion care by passing the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA). Email your members of Congress today and use this toolkit and the image below to speak out on social media.
3) Over the course of their careers, Native women lose out on over a million dollars because they make only .60 cents to every $1 made by white men. In a nutshell: On Wednesday, #NativeWOmenEaualPay Day, we must advocate for financial security and #EquityforNativeWomen. Take action: Use this toolkit and join the #NativeWomenEqualPay Day twitter storm from 12:00 - 1:00 pm on Wednesday to demand equity.
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The Facts on Equal Pay
In The News:
Native American Women Face A Staggering Pay Gap
On average, Native American women in the U.S. are paid 40% less than white men and 24% less than white women. Over the course of a Native woman's career, it adds up to almost a million dollars in lost income. And the pay gap is just one example of the barriers that Native American women face. Get the facts.
Be An Ally: Challenge Bias in the Workplace
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HELP! Impact of Advance Child Tax Credit
The current Advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) are those $250-$300 per child, deposits many of us have been seeing in our accounts, show up on the 15th for the past two months.
Just to bring everyone up to speed, these advance payments are currently scheduled to continue through December 2021. HOWEVER, we are strongly advocating for these payments to continue permanently. We have some work to do in order to amplify how important these payments have been to survivors and would greatly appreciate any and all feedback you can provide ASAP.
Thoughts and Feedback Needed:
Current Advance Child Tax Credit - we are considering pushing a campaign over the next 30-60 days, encouraging everyone in direct services to make sure they are asking folks they are working with if they are getting their CTC payment. This means:
- Posters at the front door
- Adding to intake forms
- An 'all out' blitz to get everyone who is eligible, getting it
- Is this something you could/would support, or are already doing this?
Stories of Impact
- The White House, Treasury and the IRS are working hard to keep these advance payments permanent. They believe sharing stories and examples of the impact on survivors and their families would be hugely helpful when talking with Members of Congress.
- Please share any and all examples of how these payments have been helpful to those you serve. If you are working with someone who has a particularly compelling story who might be willing/able to come forward and share their story directly, please share with Kim Pentico, Director of Economic Justice Program so we can coordinate what that might look like.
We believe letting policy makers know how these regular benefit payments are helping survivors will go a long way toward improving short-term safety and accessing long-term security.
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Personal stories of intimate connections to, and disconnections from, the natural world can point to heartbreaking legacies of destruction and exclusion- legacies that must be acknowledged and repaired. Please join StoryCenter for an interactive screening of work from our Earth Stories project at 6:00 pm on Friday, September 24 We'll watch short videos created by an extraordinary group of women in a six-week online storytelling workshop focused on intersections of environmental justice and social justice; hear their views on why holistic approaches to challenging oppression and healing our world are so desperately needed; and build community by creating space for reflection, connection, and sharing.
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ERAP Updates: Legal Assistance Available
Our Wyoming Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) has received some national media attention and while we welcome the opportunity to discuss our state's housing assistance needs we believe that the data analysis is misleading as it compares each state's expenditures to the amount allocated, rather than providing each state's per capita expenditures. The amount allocated to Wyoming was not based on Wyoming's population and considerably exceeds our level of need. Wyoming is working to distribute funding as quickly as possible as well as protecting against fraud. On the heels of rampant fraud in the PPE and CARES Act, we have taken a balanced approach requiring documentation to determine eligibility. We will be providing a complete response to the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis by the requested deadline.
HOW TO HELP PROMOTE THE PROGRAM
FUNDING
As of September 2, ERAP has approved a total of 1,348 applications, or 29% of submitted applications, paying a total of $4.4M in assistance. Of the rental payments, $3.4M went to landlords, $736K to renters and $315K to utilities.
ERAP: Legal assistance available
We strongly encourage Wyoming landlords and renters to work together and apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding, which can pay unpaid rent and up to three months in advance rent at a time. Eligible renters can receive up to 15 months total of unpaid past due and advance rent. If all the documentation is complete, the typical ERAP application takes less than 30 days to be reviewed for eligibility, processed and payments to be issued.
Wyoming has invested ERAP funding in legal aid services to help eligible renters.
If facing eviction, please contact Legal Aid of Wyoming. Visit lawyoming.org. Or call the toll free hotline at 1-877-432-9955. Legal Aid may be able to provide other legal assistance to eligible ERAP renters such as:
- Lease agreement advice/negotiation;
- Eviction defense;
- Disputes that could lead to eviction;
- Financial issues directly related to the home you rent (disputes about security deposits, damages claims, late fees, etc.);
- Issues related to the safety of the home you rent; and
- Financial matters affecting your ability to maintain or obtain housing such as: debt collection defense; federal benefits (SSI/SSDI); employment matters (FMLA, disability accommodations); and consumer protection actions to obtain tenant funds lost to scams.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS
The Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault provides legal aid services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Call 307-755-0992 or visit wyomingdvsa.org/legal-program.
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
If you need additional help, please Dial 2-1-1 or visitwy211.communityos.org to be connected to available resources.
Housing stability services include:
- Home Modifications
- Trailer/Mobile Home Repairs
- Homemaking Services
- Personal Care - Skilled Nursing Services
- Non-Medical Transportation
- Information technology hardware to facilitate telehealth
- Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
- Independent living skills
- Hoarding Services
ERAP Income Eligibility Requirements
You meet the income eligibility requirements if your total household income is equal to or less than 80% the area median income (AMI). Your AMI depends on how many people live in your household and the county you live in. Please reference the tables below to see the 80% AMI applicable to your household using either annual or monthly income. Click here to view the chart.
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Miss Rep's Book Club, a community where we read, watch, and listen together. Our goal is to create a space where we can move past our own experience as the default (and the white cisgender male experience as default) by engaging with diverse works by diverse creatives. We are building a community that expands our understanding of intersectional feminism, making us better prepared to build a feminist future affirming of all.
Every two months, the book club will release a 3-by-3 bingo card. The center square will be the main topic of discussion. The remaining eight squares will be other pieces of media such as podcasts, short articles, music, and more. The September/October book pic is Invisible Women: Data Dias In A World Designed By Men by Caroline Criado Perez.
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Working with Male Survivors of Sexual Violence Toolkit
One in six men have been sexually victimized at some point. Yet many male survivors face obstacles to finding support.
In order to help advocates meet the needs of male survivors, we've compiled a new list of tools for better serving these survivors. The tools are designed to help you understand how male socialization impacts the stigma and reaction to sexual violence. Our Working with Male Survivors online toolkit will help advocates consider how to reach and engage men who need healing from sexual violence, instruct you on mapping out potential partnerships in your service area, and give you guidance on creating sexual assault services that meet the needs of male survivors.
We know that sexual violence impacts people of all genders and backgrounds. There are men who commit acts of sexual violence. Men also play an important role in interrupting sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviors. And in addition to these important truths, it is also vital that we recognize that men experience sexual violence and need healing. With the help of our Working with Male Survivors online toolkit, advocates will be able to best serve these survivors with the care they need and deserve.
Looking for more resources on supporting male survivors?
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RedRover is a national animal welfare nonprofit that helps domestic violence survivors escape with their pets through several grant opportunities and the SafePlaceForPets.org website.
Our grant opportunities include covering the cost of boarding while a survivor stays at a domestic violence (DV) shelter (Safe Escape grants) to helping create pet housing programs at DV shelters (Safe Housing grants). Also, we are now able to offer up to $60,000 (previously $20,000) for our Safe Housing grants which may be used to create housing for pets at DV shelters or at a partner animal welfare organization.
The next round of applications are due October 15th and then again on May 15th, 2022.
We'd also like to share our new collaborative project, Don't Forget the Pets, with you. In partnership with Greater Good Charities' Rescue Rebuild program, we offer free support to DV organizations in creating pet housing programs through the website (includes our training handbook), training workshops, a discussion forum, and our Coaching program.
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Spotlight
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WCADVSA Fall 2021 Board/Membership Meeting, and P.E.A.C.E. Awards Going Virtual.
Silent Witness Ceremony Will Be Held in Person
We are unfortunately seeing an increase in COVID-19 numbers throughout the state, and positive numbers continue to increase even for those who are vaccinated. To do our part to keep ourselves and communities safe we have made the difficult decision to move the Board Meeting, Membership Meeting and P.E.A.C.E. Awards to a virtual setting.
As of today, the Silent Witness Ceremony, Procession and Reception will remain an in-person event.
- WCADVSA Board Meeting is Tuesday, October 5 beginning at 9:00 am
- Zoom link will be sent prior to meeting.
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Membership Meeting will be held via Zoom and begins Wednesday, October 6 at 8:00 am, continues October 7 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and concludes October 8 at 12:00 pm Click here to register.
- Zoom link will be sent prior to meeting.
- If you have already made a reservation at the Holiday Inn for the meeting, please call and cancel.
- P.E.A.C.E. Awards presentation and celebration TBA
- Silent Witness Ceremony, Procession and Reception will be Saturday, October 9 beginning at 9:00 am at Western Wyoming Community College - 2500 College Dr. Rock Springs, WY.
We will continue to send updates as they arise. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
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Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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