One out of six women in America, women walking down the street, ordering coffee or lunch, women who might live in Nevada County, will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network also reports that one in four girls and one in seven boys will be sexually assaulted before they are 18.

A host of local groups, including the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition (DVSAC), Women of Worth (WoW) and the Community Support Network, are organizing events to commemorate April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and raise awareness on the issue.

“The work we do is around the needs of our clients,” said Niko D. Johnson, executive director of DVSAC.

DVSAC and WoW collaborate with agencies such as law enforcement and the One Stop Business and Career Center to offer information and resources to victims.

“Everything a woman needs to get her feet back on the ground,” WoW volunteer Verona Logan explains.

Eighty percent of the time, sexual assault victims know the perpetuator, Johnson said.

Last year, DVSAC served 217 people who had been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives.

DVSAC and WoW offer emergency shelter assistance. DVSAC's three-bedroom facility can house six people for up to 45 days; since February, it has served 20 people, Johnson said.

Clients can also be put up in other temporary locations.

WoW's shelter, Hetty's Haven, houses up to 15. It has served 13 women and 16 children since opening in July of last year, Logan said.

Speaking out

Experts say it's imperative that victims speak about their experiences.

“Tell somebody, let somebody know,” Johnson said. “Don't hold it, don't keep the secret. The power is in the secret.

“Once we can talk to someone, a trusted adult, a trusted friend, about the trauma in our lives from sexual violence, we can begin to receive the help we need to overcome that trauma.”

She acknowledges that sharing the story can be equally as traumatizing as the assault itself.

“The biggest thing is to tell someone about the trauma and access the resources that can help overcome it,” she said. “It's a long journey; beginning that journey as soon as you can really does help.”

Trauma can manifest itself in the form of depression, eating disorders, even suicide, Johnson said.

“With those kind of effects from this kind of trauma, the sooner we get people help, the sooner the effects will lessen. That's what we're about,” she said.

DVSAC staff or volunteers will accompany victims when seeking medical care or meeting with law enforcement. The organization offers support groups for adults molested as children, domestic violence survivors and an art-focused group for children.

Upcoming celebrations

A handful of events are scheduled for April to raise awareness on sexual assault.

A clothesline project, featuring T-shirts decorated by survivors, will hang at the Alpha Building on Broad Street in downtown Nevada City for the entire month.

An art exhibition featuring work created by survivors will be on display at Smith Vineyard Tasting Room on Mill Street in downtown Grass Valley. A reception with music, refreshments and artists sharing the experience of incorporating art into their healing process is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9.

Denim Day will take place on Wednesday, April 27, where all are encouraged to wear denim in response to an overturned rape conviction. A judge in an Italian High Court ruled a victim's jeans were too tight, and she would have had to help take them off.

“We wear jeans to show solidarity about dispelling the myths around sexual abuse,” Johnson said. “It's a violent act. No one consents to it. It's a crime.”

DVSAC offers a 24-hour crisis line at (530) 272-3467. Victims can speak confidentially to a trained crisis worker. Visit DVSAC.org for more information. Women of Worth can be reached at IHaveWorth.org or (530) 272-6851.

Logan encourages people to call 911 if they are in immediate danger.

To contact Staff Writer Angela Diaz, e-mail adiaz@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4203.