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This fall the Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services welcomed Julius Payne as our new Program Coordinator. Julius’ primary responsibility will be in overseeing prevention education efforts with students. He will coordinate Green Dot, our bystander movement, and our incoming student education program. Additionally, he will work with students in developing a peer-based education and influencing model for prevention. Julius comes to Kent State University after working at the Rape Crisis Center of Summit and Medina Counties for five years, where he provided prevention education to middle and high school students as well as most recently students at the University of Akron. When asked about his vision for Kent State, Julius says he plans “to continue to create a culture of care, compassion and safety. A culture where we take care and concern for those around us, just as we do ourselves.” Julius and a group of 10 Kent State faculty and staff members were certified in December 2019 as educators for Green Dot. They join a team of educators across the university changing culture around power-based personal violence.

Through SRVSS, Kent State was awarded two grants in October 2019. The first grant for $126,356 is an annual renewal grant from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). This grant funds a support services coordinator who provides advocacy and support to any student impacted by power-based personal violence. This is the 4th year Kent State has received this grant. In addition to the VOCA grant, Kent State received a $259,999, three-year continuation grant from the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Kent State first received the VAWA grant in 2016 to institutionalize our incoming student education and bystander movement. The 2019 VAWA grant will continue to build on our coordinated community response for prevention education and awareness initiatives. This grant will fund awareness initiatives and assist with developing our peer-based education and influencing strategy.

Finally, SRVSS continues to increase resources for students impacted by power-based personal violence. This fall, in collaboration with The Counseling Center in White Hall, SRVSS hosted a practicum student for three hours a week to provide mental health support for six individuals on a regular basis as well as five individuals through a weekly support group for sexual assault survivors. In collaboration with Safer Futures, the local domestic violence support services agency, a weekly support group was held for those healing from abusive relationships.