Community Outreach & Education

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  During those months, The Laurel Center sponsors many community outreach and educational events such as:

• In April, the agency provides a Sexual Assault Community Art Show and a Candlelight Vigil (in Front Royal) to honor Sexual Assault survivors and those that work with them. Other events include social media campaigns and a Women’s Wellness Workshop.
• In October, the agency coordinates the Candlelight Vigil to remember & honor victims of domestic violence as well as other awareness events.

Call our office line today at 540-667-6160 to schedule a speaker for your next event or to learn about any upcoming community education programs.

Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention

Stopping the Violence Before it Starts

At The Laurel Center, we believe that violence is preventable. We are committed to working toward changing how we understand and stop sexual assault and intimate partner violence. By building partnerships and identifying the strengths and expertise that our partners offer, we have been able to forge solutions. The Laurel Center’s prevention team is extensively trained in numerous prevention programs. We strive to educate, advocate, and proactively work towards eliminating sexual and intimate partner violence.

Current programs include the following: 

Safe Dates – Ending Teen Dating Violence

Safe Dates is an evidence-based program that focuses on teen dating violence. This program helps teens critically examine interpersonal relationships, equipping them with the skills to address problematic behavior and promote healthy relationship habits.

College-Based Prevention Programs – Developing Active Bystanders

We work closely with Shenandoah University and Lord Fairfax Community College to create events that promote safety and encourage bystander intervention. We also offer Green Dot bystander intervention training to colleges and universities interested in improving student safety.

Prevent Violence Initiative – Protecting and Preserving the Safety of our Communities

The Laurel Center’s mission to empower survivors extends into a desire to create safer communities for all. We work closely with community leaders, groups, and organizations in Winchester’s North End community to combat racial inequality and other forms of systemic violence. Our collaborative work tackles sexual violence by promoting protective factors like emotional health and connectedness in the community.

To learn more about these programs or to speak with our prevention team about bringing a program to your agency or group, please call our office at (540) 667-6160.