Julie Valentine Center Newsletter: September 28, 2026 ​

It Is Not Enough to Teach Girls How to Be Safe   This weekend, my social media feed has been filled with responses to the alleged sexual assault of a Cornell University student. The headlines have been difficult to read, not just because of this story, but because they are a painful reminder of something we have known for far too long: sexual violence is not simply an individual problem. It is a cultural and systemic problem. Despite all the prevention education we have done, it continues to happen.   It is no wonder so many survivors never come forward. The shame, fear, not being believed, and the very real possibility that reporting will not lead to justice are just a few of the reasons most sexual assaults are never reported to law enforcement. In some ways it’s easier to speak up and speak out about these issues than it was 10 years ago, and yet in some ways we feel more silenced than ever. Particularly when so many men in positions of power are committing sexual violence against women with little to no consequence or accountability.   It is not enough to teach women and girls how to stay safe. I assure you, every woman you know is already thinking about her safety when she is walking to her car, parking in a garage, getting into an Uber, going to a party, meeting someone new. We have taught women and girls to carry their keys between their fingers, watch their drinks, text their friends when they get home, check the back seat, check under the car, park under a light, and never walk alone.   But what are we teaching our boys? What are we teaching our sons about consent, respect, and boundaries? What it means when someone says no?   That education starts when children are very young. When a child says, “I don't want a hug,” we respect that boundary. When they say, “Stop tickling me,” we stop. When they don't want to be kissed, we don't make them. No means no long before it ever has anything to do with sex. When we respect these boundaries, we are teaching children that their bodies belong to them, and that other people's bodies do not.   Sexual violence is not something happening somewhere else. It is happening right here in Greenville.  Just a few weeks ago, here in our own community, the Julie Valentine Center responded to 16 sexual assaults in 11 days. Sixteen people. Sixteen lives changed. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a story.   This is why the work we do at JVC matters. We cannot prevent every assault, but we can create a community where survivors are believed, not blamed. We can ensure that survivors have someone to walk beside them through the medical, legal, and emotional aftermath. We can continue to educate our children and work toward a culture that makes sexual violence less possible in the first place.   So, what can YOU do?   Believe survivors. Listen, support, and don’t judge.   Educate about consent. Teach consent, respect, and boundaries. Teach every child that another person's body is never something they are entitled to. Teach that consent is clear, voluntary, and ongoing.   Hold people accountable. In schools, in churches, in fraternities and sororities, in workplaces, in positions of power, protecting an institution, a reputation, or a relationship can never be more important than protecting a person.   Speak Up. The jokes we excuse, the behavior we minimize, the victim-blaming we tolerate, and the silence we choose all shape the culture in which sexual violence occurs.   Support the Julie Valentine Center. This work takes all of us. It is time to teach our children differently. It is time to hold offenders accountable. It is time to demand better from our systems. And it is time for all of us to be part of creating a culture where every person is safe, believed, and valued.   With gratitude, Shauna Galloway-Williams, Med, LPC, CEO Donate to Julie Valentine Center Julie Valentine Center Amazon Wishlist Our Contact Information *{{Organization Name}}* *{{Organization Address}}* *{{Organization Phone}}* *{{Organization Website}}* *{{Unsubscribe}}*

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