Happy New Year, Friends!
Hello Friends & Colleagues,
As we enter a new year, I want to take a few moments to share a few reflections on my first six months with the Sexual Assault Task Force, as well as a glimpse into what we can anticipate in the year ahead.
Since I joined Oregon SATF in June, I have been continuously impressed by the ethos of this organization.
The deep running belief that we can create communities without sexual violence and abuse; the commitment to uplift the voices and experiences of those most impacted; the generosity of time and energy; and the sheer courage to show up every day with realness and kindness even on the days when things have felt dark. This is the community of staff, partners, and supporters that I am so thankful to be a part of. It is also the foundation that will steady us as we move into 2024, with some big plans on the horizon.
On that note, I am excited to share a few plans that are in development for the coming year:
Strategic Planning: In January, our staff and board will enter into a strategic planning process that will provide us time and space to set a clear path forward for the next few years ahead. It is important to us that this process includes input from our network of advisory committee members, as well as other partners and stakeholders in this work, and we are planning accordingly. This work is made possible by generous support from the Oregon Community Foundation.
Strengthening Our Connections: While the shift to virtual Task Force committee meetings have provided increased access and participation for people all across Oregon, we have also heard that quality, in-person time to foster connections is deeply missed by our membership. We couldn’t agree more, and are planning to host a couple of in-person member and partner events to supplement our scheduled, virtual Task Force meetings in 2024. More to come on this soon!
Legislative & Public Policy: As we approach the 2024 legislative short session, we are tracking potential bills and technical fixes that may impact sexual violence prevention and response work. You can expect to see us supporting proposals to create sustainable funding sources for advocacy and prevention across the state, including a dedicated funding source for the SANE Certification Commission, as well as a technical fix to existing legislation around unlawful dissemination of intimate images, which would eliminate a loophole that currently exists around the definition of the word ‘identifiable’ in the statute. Be on the lookout for a legislative preview from us in January.
Transparency & Communication: In the spirit of consistent communication and transparency regarding the work we are doing, you can expect to hear from us more regularly in the coming year. As an organization, we are currently engaged in developing a communication plan, which includes the re-emergence of a regular SATF newsletter, expansion of resources and tools on our website, and increased outreach and connection via social media. (Are you following us on Facebook and Linkedin?)
Support to Continue our Work: And, finally, we will continue developing a network of donors who choose to invest in the work we are doing to prevent, and to provide survivor-centered responses to, sexual violence and abuse. We launched our donor outreach program in November with our Better Together Across Oregon raffle fundraiser, and we are so grateful for everyone who helped make that event a success. We hope that you may consider becoming a founding member of our support network by making a donation and/or by sharing information about our work and opportunities to donate with others.
Thank you for being a part of the Sexual Assault Task Force network. I am so excited for what is to come, and deeply appreciative for knowing that we are all in this together! Happy New Year, friends!
Shannon Rose
Executive Director, Oregon SATF
