Laci Green headlining Emerald Empowerment Week

The Emerson College sorority Kappa Gamma Chi has released its line-up for the annual Emerald Empowerment Week, April 12–19, which is a series of events to promote awareness of power–based interpersonal violence and to raise money for area organizations that help survivors of domestic violence, including Casa Myrna Vazquez and Transition House.

Headlining the week is Laci Green, host of the popular YouTube series Sex+ and MTV’s first original YouTube channel, Braless, who will host an event at Emerson on Monday, April 13.

Anyone may donate to Emerald Empowerment Week by visiting the group’s Facebook page. The student organizers are selling T-shirts and other items to promote the week.

·      Sunday, April 12, 9:30 am: Walk for Change to benefit the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Emerson community members are invited to participate in the 2.6-mile walk, beginning at DCR’s Artesani Park, 1255 Soldier’s Field Road, Brighton. This event is sponsored by Emerson Violence Prevention (VPR) and Response. For more information, email melanie_matson@emerson.edu or call 617-824-8857.

·      Sunday, April 12, 6:00 pm: Emerald Empowerment Variety Show, Bordy Theater, 216 Tremont Street. Several student performance organizations will perform in the show. Donations are encouraged and will be accepted at a table in the Little Building the week of April 6, 5:00–8:00 pm.

·      Monday, April 13, 8:00 pm: Talking Down Rape Culture with Laci Green, host of Sex+ on YouTube, in the Bright Family Screening Room of the Paramount Center. In addition to Sex+, a popular sex education show that reaches 5 million young adults every month, Green also hosts MTV’s first original YouTube channel, Braless, which is an examination of gender, race, and sexuality issues in pop culture. In her talk, Green will take a deep look at rape culture and talk about ways to end sexual violence through consent and bystander intervention.

Green has a degree from University of California Berkeley and holds a certificate in rape and dating violence crisis counseling. She is an educator and consultant for Planned Parenthood, Discovery, and MTV Act. Her work has been featured on ABC, Dr. Phil, The Science Channel, Atlantic Magazine, Ms. Magazine, The Huffington Post, Upworthy, and other media outlets.

·      Tuesday, April 14, 8:00 pm: Paths to Prevention and Response, in the Beard Room of the Little Building. This workshop features Emerson’s interim Title IX coordinator and representatives from Violence Prevention and Response, Emerson Counseling and Psychological Services, the Center for Health and Wellness, and Emerson College Police Department. They will offer an engaging and informative session on navigating resources available to you at Emerson. Representatives from Casa Myrna Vazquez and Transition House will talk about services they provide in Boston and Cambridge.

·      Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 pm: Screening of The Hunting Ground, at the Bright Family Screening Room of the Paramount Center. From the Academy Award–nominated filmmaking team behind The Invisible War comes a startling expose of sexual assault on U.S. college and university campuses, institutional cover-ups, and the brutal social toll on victims and their families. The Hunting Ground promotes a much-needed conversation on rape culture and rape prevention on college campuses around the country. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion with Betsy Facher Rauch, Emerson’s interim Title IX coordinator; Melanie Matson, director of Violence Prevention and Response; and Jason Meier, director of Student Activities. Greta Spoering, survivor advocate at Violence Prevention and Response, will be present in the lobby for students who want to speak with her regarding the film or discussion. The event is co-sponsored by the Bright Lights Film Series, Violence Prevention and Response, and Phi Alpha Tau.

·      Thursday, April 16, 7:00 pm: Let’s Talk, in the Multipurpose Room of the Max Mutchnick Campus Center. Join Emerson students as they share their thoughts in this TED-style event about the world we live in, and how to make it better together. “It’s time to let student voices be heard. Why? Because our voice matters,” reads a promotional description of the event.

·      Friday, April 17, 12:00-1:00 pm: Jeans for Justice Rally, at Common Ground, 10th Floor, Walker Building. Wear jeans all day on April 17 and join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Violence Prevention and Response for the Jeans for Justice Rally, which includes speakers, performances, recognition, and refreshments. “No matter what you wear, no one is ever ‘asking for it,’” reads a description of the event. “Put on your favorite pair of jeans for the day to participate in this international campaign to demonstrate support for survivors and nonviolence.”

·      Friday, April 17, 3:30 pm: Pay It Forward Campaign, in the Multipurpose Room of the Max Mutchnick Campus Center. Become an Emerald Empowerment Partner and stop by to talk about why prevention matters to you at the Because We Are Equal documentary photo and video shoot. Co-sponsored by Phi Alpha Tau.

·      Saturday, April 18, 7:00 pm, and Sunday, April 19, 1:00 pm: Black ’n Blue Boys/Broken Men, in the Cabaret of the Little Building. This performance is directed by Allie Raynor ’16; features Blake Vesey ’16, Julian Sky ’17, and Kai Tshikosi ’15; and is co-sponsored by the Emerson Treble Makers a cappella group. Black ’n Blue Boys/Broken Men is a gritty monologue play that portrays five unforgettable male characters, linked by their efforts to forge identities in families fractured by abuse. Each relates a story that transforms these challenges into a celebration of our capacity to survive.

Emerald Empowerment Week is made possible from contributions from the Bright Lights Film Series in the Visual and Media Arts Department, Violence Prevention and Response, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Student Activities, Emerson Mane Events, Student Government Association, EVVY Awards, and Phi Alpha Tau.

This week of events, or individual activities during the week, contain information about sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence that may be distressing, disturbing, or traumatizing. If individuals would like to discuss personal reactions during the week or at any time, please contact:

·      Emerson Violence Prevention and Response; 617-824-8857.

·      Boston Area Rape Crisis Center; 800-841-8371.

·      Safelink (Abusive Relationships) at Casa Myrna; 877-785-2020.

·      The Network/La Red; 617-742-4911.

·      GLBTQ Domestic Violence Project; 800-832-1901.