Providence, RI: March 31, 2006 -- Delivering a radio ad as mixture of rap and spoken word, a team of four Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center
(WACTC) teens win first place in the Your Voice, Your View Radio Contest, sponsored by the Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center.
First place winners, Edwin Ortiz, Anthony Berthiaume, Nikki Meigges and Jonel Morales, developed an ad that touches on the root causes of sexual violence, models men in a positive light, rejects a culture
infused with violence, and creatively captures listeners attention. The radio ad will air on HOT 106 and 92 Pro-FM throughout the month of April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
"In the workshops, SATRC kept focusing on root causes: what causes and influences violent behavior," says Nikki Meigges, WACTC. "We started thinking about how we ourselves learned how to behave
respectfully, and we realize that we are influenced by all sorts of things, the media, our parents, our friends."
"We decided to focus on growing up," said Eddie Ortiz, WACTC. "How over the years we learn all sorts of things, but ultimately it's up to each of us to make decisions for ourselves to know our boundaries and to
respect others."
SATRC invited teens statewide to create a 60-second radio ad to share their voices and views on how to
help stop sexual assault, especially among their peers. Ads were expected to challenge attitudes and behaviors, unveil the root causes of violence, dispel rape myths, emphasize consent or show the important
role of bystanders in preventing assault from happening. More than 50 teams from 14 Rhode Island schools expressed interest in the contest. SATRC provided 27 education workshops in conjunction with the contest.
"Each and every participant in the Your Voice, Your View Radio Contest has taken an active step to get involved in sexual assault prevention and we hope they will continue in this work," says Peg Langhammer,
executive director, SATRC. "For a safe and healthy future, it is vital to change the peer culture that fosters and tolerates violence."
The theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is "Men's Role in Prevention." Though 97% of sexual assault are committed by men, we know that most men are not sexually violent. Sexual assault is often
regarded as a women's issue, but it is a men's issue as well; thousands of men and boys are sexually assaulted every year and many men know a parent, friend, family member or girlfriend, who is a victim.
Sex offenders are all ages, come from all ethnicities and all socio-economic backgrounds. Sex offenders often start abusing early. Predatory behavior begins as early as age 12. We are educating teens and
asking for their involvement with the hopes of intervening and intercepting violent behavior early.
SATRC will sponsor events and activities throughout the month of April including a youth and adult poetry
slam at the Black Repertory Theatre on April 17; a five band benefit rock concert at AS220 on Wednesday, April 26th and a clean-lyrics all ages alternative concert at Lupo's on Thursday, April 27th. For more
information or to get involved, please visit
