April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month Published April 2, 2013 By Sexual Assault Prevention And Response Office EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the United States. The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. It is also a time that we show our greatest support to survivors of sexual assault. Recently, there have been many stories in the news media about sexual assaults dealing with alleged perpetrators in the religious leader's community, college sports coaches, military personnel both enlisted and officer and most recently high school students. As these cases played out in the media, many of the victims had very personal revealing information put in to the public eye. Their lives have been forever changed. To show support to survivors of sexual assault the installation victim advocates and many others from the Edwards community showed their support by designing T-shirts with messages of hope. These T-Shirts will be on display throughout the month of April at the following locations: the Joshua Tree Dining Hall, Club Muroc Lobby, Oasis Community Center Lobby as well as the Lobby of Building 3000. Come show your support by reading the words of encouragement to the survivors of sexual assault. Each Wednesday in April, the Edwards Victim Advocates will have an informational table with promotional items in the lobby of the Base Exchange. They will provide information on the process, policy and procedures of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program as well as the reporting options. For more information feel free to contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Kim Shirley at kimberly.shirley@edwards.af.mil or call (661) 277-7272.