Take Back The Night 2013 Turns Downtown Tampa Teal

A wave of teal descended on Curtis Hixon Park in Downtown Tampa on April 21st, with people adorned in teal shirts, ribbons, hats and jewelry to participate in Take Back the Night 2013. Take Back the Night is a powerful evening  presented by The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay in collaboration with the Sexual  Violence Task Force of Tampa Bay. The event creates awareness, empowers  survivors, and educates the community about sexual violence.

Every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted in the United States. Participants at Take Back the Night were reminded of this fact through a presentation where a bell was rung every two minutes. Survivors lit candles  

to represent visually the number of the assaults that had taken place during  

the course of the ceremony.

Survivors spoke about their experience and raised their voices to honor  

their  journey of empowerment and transformation. In addition, the evening included  an empowerment march, men's pledge, music festival, and resource fair. Chief  Jane Castor was presented with the Charlie Hounchell Community Advocate  Award. Mr. Hounchell served on the Crisis Center Board of  

Directors and passed  away this year. We honor Charlie's passionate service  

to the community with this award that will be presented each year at Take Back the Night. Congratulations Chief Jane!

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay leads our community in helping survivors of sexual violence through services that include 2-1-1, Sexual Assault Services, and  the Corbett Trauma Center. If you or someone you know needs help,  

just call 2-1-1 to reach The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. To support the Crisis Center in  our continued effort to bring healing to these survivors, please visit: http://www.crisiscenter.com/content/7/Donate.aspx