D O v E Center Inc

"A date won't take 'no' for an answer. The new nanny gives a mother an uneasy feeling. A stranger in a deserted parking lot offers unsolicited help. The threat of violence surrounds us every day. But we can protect ourselves, by learning to trust - and act on - our gut instincts." ~ Back cover synopsis, "The Gift of Fear," a textbook used in Self-Protection Course

Part of DOVE Center's mission is to reduce incidents of violence by providing prevention education to the community. So many prevention efforts inadvertently place responsibility for an assault on a victim, particularly a female victim. Girls are taught from an early age that they shouldn't go out alone at night, shouldn't drink alcohol, or shouldn't dress a certain way in order to prevent being assaulted.

We want to change the narrative around prevention to remove stigma and blame on a victim, whether female or male, and promote accountability, respect, boundaries, and consent. One tool in accomplishing this goal is the college-accredited Self-Protection Course. The course is designed to help people become safer in life, specifically those at high risk for physical and sexual violence.

We are seeking your support today to raise funds to sustain this course, ensure it remains open to community members, and provide a pathway for DOVE Center clients, who are survivors of domestic and sexual violence, to access the course to help them heal from the trauma of their abuse.

This course offers important benefits. It is taught in a safe environment by trauma-informed instructors who understand the physiological effects trauma has on our bodies and how to deal with trauma triggers. Participants learn the violence committed against them is not their fault. They learn how to trust themselves again. They learn about the cultural norms that normalize violence and how to resist them. They also learn, literally, how to physically protect themselves against an assault. Since rates of re-victimization increase exponentially with each assault, the knowledge and physical skills learned in the course arm individuals with confidence and personal empowerment to keep themselves safe, our ultimate goal.

At the core of the course is an in-depth study of the gender dynamics and cultural norms that contribute to the perpetuation of sexual assault and domestic violence. It pinpoints patterns of behavior in verbal and body language that predict violence. It examines historical attitudes and current events to encourage activism towards social and cultural change to make a safer world. The course combines educational experiences with physical exercise for skill development, confidence building, and greater self awareness. 

To drive home the importance of building a safer community, please consider the following:

Utah women experience domestic violence and sexual assault at rates that exceed the national average.

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1 in 10 high school girls have been physically hurt by a dating partner while in high school.

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1 in 5 women will be sexually assaulted while in college (regardless of where that college is located), most in her freshman year; and 75-80% of these college women know their attacker.

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Women aged 16 to 24 experience rape at a rate four times higher than the assault rate of all women.

With the health and safety of so many women at risk, we must work hard to create opportunities to prevent violence and heal and empower survivors. The Self-Protection Course is one of those opportunities. It teaches women how to effectively protect themselves physically, intellectually, and emotionally; it increases empowerment and opportunites for further healing.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Your donation today will allow us to enroll more clients in the course. It will allow us to obtain the safety and gym equipment necessary to practice self-defense skills. It will allow us the opportunity to keep the course open to ALL community members, men and women, boys and girls, and the broader our reach, the greater the likelihood that we will ultimately have success in reducing the incidents of rape, sexual assault, and violence against women.

Thank you for joining us in this important effort to increase safety and reduce violence against women. Please make your donation now.