Jr. League's Little Black Dress Initiative for New Beginnings

I am proud to serve on the board of New Beginnings here in Owensboro. If you are unaware of the agency's mission, New Beginnings Sexual Support Services offers free and confidential counseling services and crisis intervention for women, men and children in our area who are victims of sexual assault and abuse. We also offer important educational and training programs in schools and throughout the community.

Well, today, I am proud to share news about the Junior League of Owensboro's Little Black Dress initiative. This is the second installment of the program and members of the Junior League have committed to wearing the same "little black dress" each day this week. The purpose of wearing that dress for five consecutive days? "To illustrate the physical and emotional devastation that afflicts survivors of sexual violence."

Because I serve on the board at New Beginnings, I know this. But it's vitally important that everyone know it. The frequency of sexual assault and abuse locally is astonishing. The nationwide stats are just as alarming. In fact, in their press release about the Little Black Dress launch, the Junior League shared the following stats:

*In the United States, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men are violated by contact sexual violence in their lifetimes.

*In Kentucky, that rate of assault and abuse is even worse. 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men.

All week long, Junior League members will be wearing Little Black Dresses and will be using their personal social media platforms to share their photos, the mission of the initiative and donation links for anyone who'd like to make donations to the effort and, specifically, New Beginnings.

If you would like to make a donation, CLICK HERE!

The Junior League's first Little Black Dress campaign was a success. It took place in October of 2019 and that campaign specifically raised awareness about local domestic violence and proceeds raised benefited OASIS.