WOAR’s Board President obtained funding from the Connelly Foundation to implement a closed circuit television system at Family Court’s “Safe Court 4 Kids” initiative. This system permits child witnesses to testify outside the presence of their accused abuser in sexual assault/sexual abuse cases; WOAR held 4th Annual “Take It All Back” event in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness month in April. This year a community walk continued and a raffle was held. Senator Tartaglione presented Senate Resolution 63, which passed on March 31, 2009, declaring April as “Sexual Assault “month in Pennsylvania. Mayor Michael Nutter and Councilman William Greenlee also spoke at the event. WOAR’s court advocates are founding members of the Safe Courts 4 Kids coalition, a collaboration between agencies serving children in court in Philadelphia. Members include the District Attorney’s office, the First Judicial District, the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance, and Keystone Mercy, represented by WOAR board member Maria Pajil Battle. In 2008-2009, the Safe Courts 4 Kids coalition wrote a grant to provide funding for the installation of closed-circuit television system in Courtrooms A and B at 1801 Vine Street, where child victims of sexual abuse testify against their perpetrators. We received the grant on May 14th, 2009 from the Connelly Foundation. WOAR partnered with Councilman William Greenlee to get a bill passed in Pennsylvania whereas victims of sexual violence would be eligible for Family leave with their employer providing their company was qualified under the “Family Leave Policy”. On September 24, 2009 WOAR held a fundraiser titled“ Bridge of Courage”. WOAR honored Kathryn M. Brown, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania; Councilman-At-Large William K. Greenlee, City of Philadelphia 15th Ward; Ralph J. Riviello, MD, FACEP, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine; and Rev. Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Senior Pastor, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church for the work they do in the community supporting WOAR’s mission. ArcheDream for Humankind, a dance troupe, performed “Jessica’s Story”, about a survivor of rape. The event was attended by 112 persons and raised $22,500.
