Group aids sex assault victims

By WILFORD S. SHAMLIN
Courier-Post Staff

In the face of shrinking public funds and private donations, an organization dedicated to helping sexual assault victims is hosting a Sunday concert as a fundraiser and it's asking for public support.

"We need as much (money) as we can get to do the good work that we've been doing and, in the process, enjoy a great concert," said Andrea Spencer-Linzie, executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

The show, to be held at Cherry Hill's Unitarian Universalist Church, will be headlined by Tribe 1, a Philadelphia-based group of singers and drummers that performs across the country and released several CDs.

The coalition is a statewide organization founded 30 years ago with the mission of promoting "compassionate and just treatment of survivors and their loved ones, as well as toward the elimination of sexual violence against all people," Spencer-Linzie said.

Part of their work involves educating others about how they can help victims of sexual violence and that includes implementation of a statewide prevention plan aimed at reducing risk.

Spencer-Linzie cited the case in Richmond, Calif., where at least 20 bystanders watched a 15-year-old girl being gang raped outside a high school homecoming dance.

"Those are bystanders who did nothing. If you see something, what can you do to help?" Spencer-Linzie said.

The New Jersey Coalition of Sexual Violence lobbies for laws and policies that protect victims of sexual violence and works at identifying vulnerable populations in the state, including those with developmental disabilities.

The coalition also works with other community organizations in providing services to victims. Its staff fielded 25,000 calls each year to a hotline for sexual violence victims, including some 4,000 initiated by victims who are making a report to authorities for first time.

"It's a pretty high volume that our program is working with and we work collaboratively with a lot of different organizations. Every county has a sexual assault response team, an advocate from sexual violence program in the county, law enforcement and sexual assault nurse examiner who gathers forensic evidence," Spencer-Linzie said.

Reach Wilford S. Shamlin at (856) 486-2475 or wshamlin@courierpostonline.com.

Additional Facts
IF YOU GO

• The show begins Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 401 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the door or at www.njcasa.org/home.htm.

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