In this month's newsletter, we cover:

• December Self Care
• December Dates to Remember
• Holiday Closure
• New Member of Team OAESV
• Job and Internship Opportunities
• 2023 Conference Recordings
• Upcoming Trainings, Events, & Meetings
• December Teal Talk Podcast
• OAESV in the News
• Year-End Donation
• OAESV Job Board
• Community Corner

December Self-Care Check-in

December can bring a lot of hustle and bustle. Between holiday shopping, family gatherings, and end-of-year deadlines at work, it’s easy to feel run down and overwhelmed during this time. It’s also when we dip into Ohio's cold, dark winter days and all-too-familiar wavering feelings that come with changing seasons.

Taking the time to prioritize your own physical, mental, and emotional health can make a big difference in your overall well-being. This can include things like getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness or meditation, indulging in a favorite hobby, or spending quality time alone or with loved ones.

Check in with yourself regularly. Here are three questions to get you started:

How is my body feeling?

Pay attention to the signs that your body is giving you. Where are you holding tension?

What boundaries do I need to enforce?

Are you saying yes to things you don’t want to do? Are you letting someone else infringe on your time or space?

Have I taken care of my basic needs?

Have you showered? Fed yourself? Taken your vitamins/meds? Cleaned up your living space? Moved a curtain to the side so you're getting a little bit of sun?

Take a deep breath. Relax those shoulders. Ahead of you are the very last days of this year. How are you going to give yourself what you need so that you can show up as your whole self for others? It's the best gift you can give yourself and others this holiday season.

December Dates to Remember

Rosa Parks Day (Dec. 1)

A day to honor the brave civil rights activist.

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (Dec. 2)

Dedicated to ending modern forms of slavery, such as sexual exploitation, human trafficking, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3)

A day to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.

Human Rights Day (Dec. 10)

Remembers the day the General Assembly of the UN adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Religious and cultural holidays:

• Advent (Dec. 3 to 24)
• Saint Nicholas Day (Dec. 6)
• Hanukkah (Dec. 7 to 15)
• Bodhi Day (Dec. 8)
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8)
• Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12)
• Posadas Navidenas (Dec. 16 to 24)
• Yule/Solstice (Dec. 21)
• Christmas (Dec. 25)
• Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 to Jan. 1)
• Zarthosht Diso (Dec. 26)
• Feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 31)
• Holy Innocents Day (Dec. 28)
• Watch Night (Dec. 31)

OAESV Holiday Closure (Dec. 22 to Jan 2)

OAESV truly believes that our staff is our greatest asset and in order to provide you with the best services and trainings, we need time to replenish.

Our offices will be closed for winter break from December 22 until January 2, 2024. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. We hope you will enjoy this holiday season with friends, family and loved ones.

More information will come soon about how to best get in touch for specific

needs, such as legal, housing, and advocacy.

As always, if you need immediate assistance, please contact the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline at 844-644-6435.

OAESV is Growing!

Exciting news! Let's give a warm welcome to Nicole, our new Director of Grant Management & Sustainability! Learn more about Nicole here. 

Want to join our team? We have openings for one full-time position and two interns!

Director of Finance

• Responsible for assessing the fiscal health of the organization and ensuring the organization and its staff follow agency financial policies and funding requirements pertaining to fiscal accountability. Open until filled.

Communications & Content Intern

• This position will focus on content creation including social media, email, print, and digital for OAESV's Advocacy Day, Annual Conference, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Apply by December 15.

2023 Conference Recordings

While you eagerly await our 2024 conference, you can catch what you missed in 2023! For just $75, you can snag access to almost all of the conference's sessions. Plus, you'll even get a certificate for continuing education! Don't let this opportunity pass you by to continue your professional development.

Mark Your Calendars!



Thank you to all who have shared or attended our many trainings and events in 2023! We can't wait to show you what we have up our sleeve for 2024. Stay tuned for our Quarter 1 calendar early next year! Until then, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and our website for the most up-to-date information.

Survivor Storytelling Workshops

We are launching our second set of rural survivor storytelling workshops for December through January! Survivors can choose what story they want to tell, and how they want to tell it.

To learn more or express interest, email storytelling@oaesv.org.

Thirsty Thursday's SART/CCRT Call

SART chairs and co-chairs, join us for a monthly space to be in community with other leaders and to raise our glasses to team successes across our state!

December's call will be on the 21st from 2-3pm. 

To join, please email Nicole Kass Colvin, Director of Coordinated Community Responses, at ncolvin@oaesv.org and request to be added to the SART Coordinators and Co-Chairs Contact List. We will share the call link via this contact list.

Ohio Campus Coalition for Advocates and Preventionists

OCCAP is a community of practice for advocates and preventionists working on college and university campuses across the state.

The January meeting will feature one hour of training on a topic related to campus advocacy and prevention. The final 30 minutes of the meeting will be space to connect with campus advocates and preventionists across the state.

Developing and Supporting 'Men as Survivors' Support Groups

This 2-day in-person training provided by Kenton Kirby and Diana Thomas from Men Healing will cover best practices for engaging and retaining male survivors in support groups. The second day includes a workshop where facilitators provide coaching on creating effective group curriculums for men in healing spaces. Attendees can receive coaching and workshop support on their current resources and engaging men curriculum.

December Teal Talk Podcast

For many survivors, home is not a safe place.

Our Meaningful Access Housing Program provides temporary housing to sexual violence survivors through a hotel stay. For episode 9 of Teal Talk, we sat down with Jazmin Vera, who built this program for OAESV from the ground up.

Available on your favorite streaming platform.

OAESV in the News

Antonio Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Modernize Ohio's Rape Code

Today, Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) released the following statement in support of the passage of House Bill 161, Representatives Jessica Miranda (D- Forest Park) and Brett Hillyer's (R-Uhrichsville) legislation to end the spousal exemption for rape and other sex crimes.

Ohio House passes bill to end marital rape loophole

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - A loophole in Ohio law allowing people to rape their spouses with near impunity is one step closer to the chopping block. The Ohio House on Wednesday voted 74-1 to pass House Bill 161, which would end the spousal immunity for rape, sexual battery and other crimes of sexual violence.

Year-End Donation

On #GivingTuesday, you gave over $1,400 in 24 hours! 

You showed up and stepped forward to support survivors. This means everything to us as we fight to end sexual violence in Ohio. Thanks to you, we're not alone in this work.

The donations on Nov. 28 and every day enable us to make a meaningful impact -- and giving back sure does feel good.

With your amazing continued support, we can make even more progress! Let's keep the momentum going through 2023 at oaesv.org/donate. ❤️

OAESV's Job Board

Are you or someone you know looking for employment? There are many open positions at rape crisis centers, sexual violence coalitions, and other allied organizations in Ohio and beyond! Please visit oaesv.org/employment and share with your networks.

To post a job opportunity, please email Laurie Hamame, lhamame@oaesv.org

Community Corner

Want to add a message to our newsletter? Please email Laurie Hamame at Lhamame@oaesv.org at least 7 days prior to the first of the month with the details of your message request. Examples include event invitations and calls for proposals.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GG-00917-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, to the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.