PA Centered

Victim Blaming and Selective Compassion

In this episode, we discuss victim blaming, how this impacts survivors of sexual violence, and why people victim blame. We also discuss what selective compassion is and how this relates to the work we do with victims of sexual violence. We discuss how victim blaming and selective compassion are harmful and how we can do better.

To find a local rape crisis center in PA, call 1-888-772-7227 or visit https://pcar.org/help-pa/locations

Learn More:

• Observer's reaction to the "innocent victim"
• Sexual Assault and Victim Blaming
• Implicit Bias Test from Harvard
• Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Faith Centers Operating in Bad Faith
• How ‘empathy gap’ among social workers can affect services for people of color
• PCAR Website

 

Organizational Assessments with Tina Lopes and Barb Thomas

In this two-part episode, we talk with Tina Lopes and Barb Thomas, the authors of Dancing on Live Embers: Challenging Racism in Organizations. Tina and Barb highlight how to utilize and improve organizational assessments to measure anti-racism efforts in non-profit and anti-sexual violence organizations.

 

You can learn more about Tina and the book at tinalopes.com. Other works from Barb can be found through Between the Lines Publications.

 

Learn More:

• PA Centered: Dancing on Live Embers with Tina Lopes and Barb Thomas –
  • Part 1/Episode 8 - https://pacentered.podbean.com/e/8/
  • Part 2/Episode 9 - https://pacentered.podbean.com/e/episode-8dancing-on-live-embers-with-tina-lopes-and-barb-thomas-%e2%80%93-part-2/
• PCAR’s Organizational Assessment (adapted from Dancing on Live Embers) - 2020 Org Assessment Blank Version found here: S:\Diversity\BACH Workgroup\Org Assessment\2020 Org Assessment Blank Version
• Racism in the Movement by PCAR’s Management Staff - https://pcar.org/blog/racism-movement

How the Mainstream Movement Against Gender-Based Violence Fails Black Workers and Survivors - https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2022/03/racism-domestic-violence-sexual-assault-movement-anti-me-too-black/

A trailblazer: Getting to Know Rep. Joanna McClinton, Democratic Leader of Pennsylvania’s State House

Join us this week as we speak with Representative Joanna McClinton, Democratic Leader of Pennsylvania’s State House.

Representative McClinton has served as a member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2015, representing the 191st State House District, which includes parts of Western and Southwestern Philadelphia, Yeadon, and Darby.

Representative McClinton has worked as an attorney and policymaker for a decade. She’s a historic trailblazer, passionate advocate, and dedicated public servant.

In 2015, Rep McClinton was the first woman ever to be elected from her district to the State House. Three years later, she became the first woman and first black person in Pennsylvania’s History to serve as Chair of the State House Democratic Caucus. In 2020, Representative McClinton became the first woman elected to serve as Democratic Leader of Pennsylvania’s State House, the oldest legislative body in the United States.

Learn more:

PCAR legislative priorities

Visit Rep. Joanna McClinton's website

History You Should Know: Claudette Colvin

In this episode of History You Should Know, you will learn about 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her seat on the bus six months before Rosa Parks would do the same. These actions contributed to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which has gone down in history as the first large-scale US demonstration against segregation. 

A grandmother’s influence: Getting to know Rep. Donna Bullock, chair of the PA Legislative Black Caucus

Join us this week as we speak with Representative Donna Bullock, a member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 195th Legislative District, which includes parts of North and West Philadelphia.

Representative Bullock is an attorney, mother, wife, and a tireless public servant, who is committed to supporting working families through legislative initiatives that fund public education, create jobs, and build healthy, sustainable communities. She is an advocate for equal pay, an increased minimum wage, clean energy and environmental justice, quality public schools and pre-k education, and sustainable community development.

Learn more:

Visit Rep. Bullock’s House of Representatives Member page

PCAR legislative priorities

Episode 40: Teen Dating Violence Policies

This episode we are joined by the Women’s Resource Center to learn about a project they did looking at the state of teen dating violence (TDV) policies in public school districts. Listen now to learn how you can utilize the scorecard they created to improve TDV policies in your own schools!

 

Learn More:

• The State of Dating Violence Policies in Public Schools Districts in PA’s Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties
• Report Summary
• Women’s Resource Center
• PA Department of Education - Model Dating Violence Policy
• Futures Without Violence - A School Policy to Increase Student Safety

Break the Cycle - Safe Schools Model Policy 

Episode 39: The Role of Children’s Advocacy Centers & Child Medical Exams

In this episode, we are joined by three experts who share with us the role of Children's Advocacy Centers (CAC) and debunk some myths about what a child medical exam is actually like. We also discuss the importance of collaboration between rape crisis centers and CACs, and how this process can benefit child survivors and their families.

To report suspected child abuse in PA, call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.

Learn More:

• Children's Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Center Locations
• Delaware County Victim Assistance Center
• Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) model
• About CACs: Inspiring Hope, Ending Abuse
• About CACs: Child-Focused Investigation
• About CACs: Support for the Healing Journey

Episode 38- PA State Leadership Team

Episode Description: This episode we are joined by members of the State Leadership Team (SLT) to learn more about the Pennsylvania Prevention State Action Plan. The SLT is a multi-disciplinary action team that works to prevent intimate partner violence across the Commonwealth.

 

Learn more:

• PCADV Prevention State Action Plan
• PCADV's Prevention Statewide Leadership Team Releases Bold Five-Year State Action Plan for Preventing Domestic Violence in Pennsylvania 
• State Action Planning and Coalition Building to Prevent Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence 
• Domestic Violence Center of Chester County 
• Contact Kristen Herman to learn more about the SLT at kherman@pcadv.org  

Episode 37: Creating Safer Spaces with Consent Culture Initiative

Episode Description: This episode we are joined by Gina McGrath, CEO and Founder of Consent Culture Initiative (CCI). Gina shares with us how CCI empowers folks to create cultures of consent, respect, and accountability -- and how you can get involved with their Consent Action Team!

 

Learn more:

• Consent Culture Initiative, prevention education and harm reduction 
• Join the Consent Action Team 
• Calling In the Calling Out Culture: Detoxing our Movement by Loretta J. Ross
• Episode 2: Uprooting Racism with Paul Kivel and Loretta J. Ross 
• How to Support Harm Doers in Being Accountable

Episode 36: Pennsylvania Health Law Project

Episode Description: This episode we are joined by the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) to learn how they help people access medical assistance. PHLP is a statewide, nonprofit legal organization devoted to helping low-income folks, people with disabilities, the immigrant community, and survivors of crime gain access to public health coverage and services.

 

Learn more:

• Pennsylvania Health Law Project
• Call the Helpline (1-800-274-3258) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Email PHLP at staff@phlp.org
• Webinar Recording