Office Manager 9/8/20 Office Manager 9/8/20

Virtual #HopeandHealingGala2020 Volunteer of the Year

@sothea_s and @amoderngentandlady on Instagram

English: Each year, the RRC recognizes one volunteer who demonstrates outstanding dedication to this work. We are so pleased to present the 2020 Volunteer of the Year to Sothea Soumphonephakdy!

Sothea is a community advocate who volunteers as a member of the Rape Recovery Center’s Board of Directors. She has been on the board since 2017, serves as the Board Treasurer, and diligently works to protect the rights of survivors while educating her community. She has worked on the Hope and Healing Gala for the past three years and is the current gala chair. In her free time, Sothea and her husband enjoy hosting dinner parties and entertaining. They host a holiday party each year to raise money and donations for the Candy Cane Corner. Along with her friends, Sothea has hosted many events over the years to help local non-profits. She also enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching sports, traveling, working out, and supporting the arts.

Tune in on Friday, September 18th to see Sothea host our virtual #hopeandhealinggala2020 and join us in recognizing her tireless support of the RRC.

Spanish: Cada año, la RRC reconoce a un voluntario que demuestra una dedicación sobresaliente a este trabajo. ¡Estamos muy contentos de presentar al Voluntario del año 2020 a Sothea Soumphonephakdy!

Sothea es una defensora de la comunidad que se ofrece como voluntaria como miembro de la Junta Directiva del Centro de Recuperación de Violaciones. Ha estado en la junta desde 2017, se desempeña como Tesorera de la Junta y trabaja diligentemente para proteger los derechos de los sobrevivientes mientras educa a su comunidad. Ha trabajado en la Gala Hope and Healing durante los últimos tres años y es la actual presidenta de la gala. En su tiempo libre, Sothea y su esposo disfrutan organizando cenas y entreteniéndose. Organizan una fiesta navideña cada año para recaudar dinero y donaciones para Candy Cane Corner. Junto con sus amigos, Sothea ha organizado muchos eventos a lo largo de los años para ayudar a organizaciones sin fines de lucro locales. También disfruta pasar tiempo con su familia, leer, ver deportes, viajar, hacer ejercicio y apoyar las artes.

Sintonice el viernes 18 de septiembre para ver a Sothea presentar nuestra # hopeandhealinggala2020 virtual y únase a nosotros para reconocer su incansable apoyo al RRC.

Office Manager 10/1/19 Office Manager 10/1/19

Volunteer Spotlight: Rob Owen

Rob is one if our amazing Outreach and Education volunteers. During his time volunteering for us, Rob has helped in many different capacities, outreaching to universities, families, and youth, as well as facilitating workshops on behalf of the Rape Recovery Center. He leads with humility and compassion in his work, and is such an asset to our team!

Rob Owen, Outreach and Education volunteer

The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month, we are so pleased to spotlight our talented Outreach and Education volunteer, Rob Owen!

What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?

I was introduced to the Rape Recovery Center by some friends at a time when I was looking for a way to volunteer and help out. My friends told me about the amazing work done by the RRC so I decided to investigate the center for myself. After just a couple conversations with the wonderful members of the RRC I was ready to go through the training and, by the end of the training, I was excited to help out. The work done by the RRC is especially important to me as people who are very close to me have been assaulted and I want to help shape a social perspective that finally sees an end to this violence and abuse.

What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?

Most of what I do within the RRC is tabling for various events. This is especially rewarding when people come up to me asking for more details about the center and the work it does. So many people want to help and, like me, just need to know more about the Rape Recovery Center to know that is where they want to serve.

What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?

I was fairly well-informed about rape and rape culture prior to my time with the RRC, but I have definitely learned more about this through my service with the center. Unfortunately, being more informed means that I can now see even better just how much work still needs to be done in order to change social perspective and understanding.

Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?

I spend a majority of my spare time hanging out with my wife, who is my best friend. I play a lot of video games, watch movies, and do what I can to help out friends, family and neighbors when possible. I also enjoy a few artistic pursuits such as digital graphics design, writing, drawing and pyrography.

You have immersed yourself in the very difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?

I've seen perspectives of individuals change. I've seen individuals gain insight and understanding. Knowing that people can change, even just one person at a time for now, gives me hope that the human heart is open to this change and with enough individuals on our side, we might be able to orchestrate a much greater social change.

What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?

I believe that the entire purpose of this life is to learn to love and accept those around us, everyone around us. It starts within our own hearts, our own minds. It's not easy, but the RRC is working toward this very same principle. They are helping educate volunteers, survivors and everyone else, who in-turn can spread this message on to others. I just can't think of a more righteous cause and service.

Office Manager 7/18/19 Office Manager 7/18/19

Volunteer Spotlight: Jenna Matsumura

Taking a active part in helping survivors, Jenna provides support as a volunteer on our crisis line, going through our 40 hour training has provided her with the necessary tools to answer some of the tough questions and calls that come through. Volunteers like Jenna who see the impact of sexual violence in her community and get involved and continue to do so as they move through different chapters of their lives show us that anyone can volunteer!

What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?

I became a volunteer with the RRC when I was a senior at the University of Utah, right around the time that the Office of Civil Rights' "Dear Colleague" letter was being enacted on campus. Working with the Center for Student Wellness to acclimate their first Victim-Survivor Advocate made me realize how prevalent the problems of sexual and domestic violence were, and continue to be, among college students. At the time there was no way to volunteer with students, so I chose to lend my time to the RRC and support not only my peers but my community as well.

What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?

Selfishly, one of the things I enjoy most about being a volunteer is the knowledge that I am DOING SOMETHING about an issue that has a profound impact on my community, instead of just talking about it. Working shifts at the RRC can be difficult, but I always am buoyed by the knowledge that I'm not helpless in this fight and that I have something to contribute. That understanding helps me when times get tough. Also, the staff members are amazing and I am constantly in awe of them. I LOVE YOU.

What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?

The most challenging part for me about working the crisis line is that I want to help so badly, that I have to check my savior complex. I think many people come into the work of violence prevention with underlying if not overt savior complexes and it's hard and long work to undo that thinking and to be actively preventing against it. As a volunteer, it's my job to support the callers, not save them because they are already capable and empowered- they just need some resources and unconditional support.

Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?

When I'm not volunteering with the RRC I enjoy introverted activities like quilting, reading, and embroidery. I have two cats who I am always in a rush to get home to, Cleo and Tang. I currently work at the University of Utah and do marketing for incoming and prospective students, but have traditionally worked with marginalized genders and gender equality. My summer reading recs are: Circe by Madaline Miller, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang.

You have immersed yourself in the very difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?

I take so much hope from organizations like the RRC and Rise (get it, Amanda Nyguen) who work on a community and policy level to tackle the systemic nature of patriarchal violence. I am also inspired and brought to tears by the passion and knowledge of younger people. They are light years ahead of where I was at that age in regards to knowledge, self-acceptance, advocacy, and understanding their power.

What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?

I often hear from folk that they're afraid they don't have the necessary skills to be a crisis line volunteer or hospital responder. To them, I say, "Great! The RRC will give you the skills." When I started volunteering, I was 21 years old and didn't have many skills in the way of crisis-response. What I did have was a passion to see violence eradicated. That and an open mind to exploring your privilege and identities are all you need to volunteer with the RRC. Join us!

Office Manager 6/20/19 Office Manager 6/20/19

Volunteer Spotlight: Brennan Jones

Brennan has shared with the RRC his many talents in various capacities. Beginning his journey at the Rape Recovery Center as an intern, Brennan continues to support the center through volunteering with our flower donation delivery and being on the planning committee for this year’s Hope & Healing Gala. Always available to lend a ear and being a friend to someone in need, please read below to learn more about this incredible volunteer!

What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?

I actually started out as an undergraduate intern through the Gender Studies department at the U of U. Back then I wanted to be a therapist, so naturally I thought I’d dive head-first into the gnarliest trauma recovery I could find! Needless to say, after a while on the crisis line and doing some client intakes, it became clear that my talents are more suited to flower deliveries and event planning—my current work at the center.

What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?

Truly, the staff and volunteers at the Center are some of the kindest, sweetest, wisest, hardest working souls in the world. Their balance of sensitivity, personality, and professionalism is a potent salve for the soul that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. And besides, most of them are genuinely cool people!

What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?

Serving on the gala planning committee this past year, I was blessed to learn a whole slew of skills I had never encountered before professionally. Chiefly, I had many opportunities to hold delicate conversations with members of the community outside of the Center. While sexual assault is something that affects most of us in one way or another, it can be challenging to break that shell of silence in "polite" company.

Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?

When I'm not volunteering, I'm usually out hiking with my dog Honey, getting dirty in the garden, homemaking, catching up on my programs, or planning my next Dungeons and Dragons campaign! I graduated some years ago from the University of Utah with BS in Sociology and Gender Studies, so naturally I wait tables downtown at the Copper Onion for money.

You have immersed yourself in the very difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?

Honestly, knowing that the work I do can end some *small* portion of somebody's suffering as they endure and recover from sexual assault is what continues to motivate me. Besides, I feel like it's important for me to be involved in this work as a male-bodied human to help undo the trauma that is overwhelmingly caused by men--even if the only real difference is symbolic.

What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?

Do it, do it, do it! Aside from all of the amazing people (and in some cases, lifelong friends) you'll meet and work with, the personal growth you’ll experience is life-changing. Each person that learns and serves at the center becomes a tendril of hope and healing in their own communities, opening up important conversations and challenging rape culture at ground level.