“Every person that works at a rape crisis center makes a conscious choice to show up to work each day, believe survivors, and make their community a safer place. Resilience is a constant thread in their work and the lives of survivors. No matter what, these people do not give up. To me, being resilient in this movement means you believe that change is possible; you believe that a world without sexual violence can exist even if it takes years to get there.”
–Gabriella Romeo, Public Policy Director, PCAR
At a time when Pennsylvania’s rape crisis centers are being asked to do more with less, advocates continue to show up for survivors every single day. That commitment was on full display earlier this month when PCAR and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) held a joint press conference calling on state lawmakers to immediately pass a budget that includes a meaningful increase in funding for rape crisis services.
Speakers included staff representing Respect Together, PA rape crisis centers, survivor Maria Gardner, and Senator Lindsey Williams (D–Allegheny). Together, they sent a powerful message: survivors deserve stable, sustained support.