Our offices will be closed for the holiday starting on Tuesday, December 24th and will re-open on Thursday, January 2nd at 9 a.m. If you are in crisis, please call our 24-Hour Rape Crisis Hotline at 904-721-7273.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)

This year’s national theme “Together We Act, United We Change” highlights the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAM). Each year during SAAM, The Center works to raise awareness about sexual assault. It can happen to anyone. The Women’s Center of Jacksonville works to enhance public understanding of sexual violence, amplifying the voices of survivors, and empowering our community to work together to promote the safety and well-being of others. It’s all about raising awareness of sexual assault, debunking harmful myths, and supporting survivors. 

As the only certified rape crises center for Duval, Nassau, and Baker counties, we need your help to keep our services free of charge for all survivors. Your donations towards any of our SAAM events in April will go directly to our rape recovery efforts!

 

SAAM 2025 Highlights

Proclamations

During SAAM 2025, the Women’s Center of Jacksonville proudly stood with leaders in Duval, Nassau, and Baker counties to affirm our shared commitment to ending sexual violence. Together, we raised public awareness, educated communities on prevention strategies, and uplifted the individuals and organizations on the frontlines supporting survivors and their families. Each proclamation served as a powerful declaration of unity—joining advocates across the country in taking action to create meaningful change.

Check out the Proclamation photos HERE!

10th Annual Kickball Tournament- "The Kickening"

Registration is now closed for our 10th Annual Kickball Tournament in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month—and what an incredible day it was! Community teams came together at Rondette Park to compete, connect, and raise awareness, with friends and supporters cheering from the sidelines and donating toward a great cause. Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $6,000 to support survivors—and The Stonewallers took home the trophy! Thank you to everyone who played, cheered, and contributed. Your support helps us move closer to a world free from sexual violence

Check out the Kickball photos HERE!

1st Annual Dodgeball Tournament

HUGE congratulations to the champions of our 1st Annual SAAM Dodgeball Tournament! The Fernandina Beach Fire Department took home the trophy after an exciting morning of teamwork, laughter, and fierce competition. The Stonewallers came in a close second—amazing effort all around! We’re also incredibly proud to share that The Women’s Center of Jacksonville was named Fan Favorite, thanks to your generous donation votes. Thank you to everyone who played, donated, and showed up to cheer us on. Together, we’re standing with survivors and building a stronger, more compassionate community.

Check out our Dodgeball photos HERE!

Walk In My Shoes, Lauren’s Kids

On Wednesday, April 23rd, Senator Lauren Book brought her powerful statewide “Lauren’s Walk” to Northeast Florida, continuing her mission to raise awareness for the prevention of child sexual abuse. The Women’s Center of Jacksonville was proud to join her, walking side by side with community members starting from the Duval County Courthouse, making a meaningful stop at Publix San Marco, and offering an optional final stretch to our Center on Colcord Avenue.

To make the journey more accessible, participants received an Uber code for a safe and easy return to the starting point. Before the walk began, attendees took part in bracelet-making—a thoughtful and creative way to show solidarity with survivors.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who came out to walk, support, and stand with us in this important movement. Together, we are raising voices, building awareness, and creating a stronger, safer community for all.

Check out the Lauren’s Walk photos HERE!

Surviving to Thriving

On the evening of April 25th, the Women’s Center of Jacksonville hosted Surviving to Thriving, a powerful event held in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This free event provided survivors with a creative platform to share their healing journeys through art, spoken word, and music. Held at Babs’Lab, the evening featured moving performances, beautiful artwork, and opportunities for connection. Attendees enjoyed food from a local food truck, a cash bar, and time to socialize and build community. Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating the voices and resilience of survivors.

Check out the Surviving to Thriving 2025 photos HERE!

Book Spotlight

Throughout the month of April, the Women’s Center of Jacksonville hosted a Book Spotlight in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise awareness about sexual violence through the voices of survivors and to demonstrate the power of healing through storytelling. This year’s featured book was Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope by Amanda Nguyen, one of TIME and Oprah Daily’s Most Anticipated Books of 2025. In this moving memoir, Nguyen shared her personal journey of healing and her path to justice through activism—an effort that led to the creation of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016, which continues to protect and empower survivors across the country. The WCJ partnered with six independent bookstores in Jacksonville to highlight this important work and celebrate survivor stories throughout the month. Community members were encouraged to purchase the book locally or donate in support of our mission. All proceeds benefited sexual assault survivors served by WCJ.

Participating Bookstores:

  • San Marco Books and More – 1971 San Marco Blvd
  • Femme Fire Books – 2766 Park St #1
  • The Literary Lounge – 1080 Edgewood Ave S Suite #5
  • Happy Medium Books Café – 2724 Park St
  • The Bookmark – 220 First St, Neptune Beach

A big thank you to all who supported this initiative and stood with survivors this year.

Check out our Cook Spotlight Photos HERE!

Paint the Town Teal

Throughout the month of April, Paint the Town Teal returned to Baker County in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Local businesses showed their solidarity with survivors by decorating their windows and displaying teal bows—the color representing awareness and prevention of sexual violence. Community participation helped raise visibility and sparked important conversations about healing, support, and prevention. Thank you to all who helped raise awareness and stand with survivors during SAAM 2025!

Participating Businesses:

Baker Business Center, Baker County Community Development Department, Baker County Detention Center, Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker Courthouse, Baker Health Department, Baker Pharmacy, Baker Prevention, Baker Rural Health Clinic, Bennet’s Feed Shop, Black Crow Inks, Blackburn-Curry Funeral Home, Calendars Pizza (Terri’s Italian Kitchen and Bar), Cypress Mower Services, Ed Fraser, Emily Taber Library, First Coast Women’s Center, Goetze Physical Therapy, Harvest Ministries Church, Hope Center, Ink Monkey Tattoo, Keller Education Center, Keller Family Services, Klear Pools, Laredo’s Mexican Restaurant, Lily’s Nails, Logos by Frankie, Rack Up Thrift Store, Royalty Gas and Smoke, Shear Charm, Sherwin Williams, The Arc, The Bakery Barn, The Beauty Parlor, The Nail Bakery, The Ninth Roasters, The Press, The Weathered Wheel, and the Women’s Club.

Check out the photos from Paint the Town Teal HERE!

Check out our SAAM Photos from April 2025!

Photo Credit: Courtney Lynch, Impact Photography