A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA RECOGNIZING APRIL 2023 AS SEXUAL ASSAULT ACTION MONTH WHEREAS, Sexual Assault Action Month calls attention to the fact that sexual and intimate partner violence is widespread and impacts every person in Pismo Beach; and WHEREAS, RISE and Stand Strong officially merged in 2021 to form Lumina Alliance, an agency that serves survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence throughout all of San Luis Obispo County; and
WHEREAS, although progress has been made toward preventing and ending sexual violence and providing support to survivors and their families, important work remains to be done; and WHEREAS, there is a need to focus on the individualized needs of sexual violence survivors; and
WHEREAS, the marginalization of certain groups in society, including undocumented individuals, transgender individuals, and those living with disabilities, increases their vulnerability to sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, Lumina Alliance continues to provide a safe environment to those affected by sexual violence with crisis intervention, counseling, education, and emergency safe housing, with the help of dedicated volunteers and professionals; and WHEREAS, Lumina Alliance provided services to 1,472 people in 2022, including answering 2,440 calls from the crisis line, and provided 417 survivors with more than 6,200 therapy hours; and
WHEREAS, Lumina Alliance encourages the community to recognize our collective power to create a culture that simultaneously supports survivors and nurtures a world where everyone can live free from violence; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pismo Beach strongly supports the efforts of Lumina Alliance and its work to help survivors connect with services, and recognizes that every segment of our society can work together to better address sexual violence.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby recognizes April 2023 as Sexual Assault Action Month.
Dated this 18th day of April, 2023
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Ed Waage, Mayor
4.B-1Council Agenda 4-18-2023