RISE is bringing a community‐based sexual violence prevention program called Close to Home (C2H) to the City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) starting February 1, 2019. RISE is one of eight organizations in the state of California to receive funding to implement C2H as an evidence‐based strategy to prevent sexual violence.

According to the Nation Sexual Violence Resource Center, 63 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Statistically, one in five women and one in seventy‐one men in the US will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Reports by the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) in the New Times March 2018 show that the San Luis Obispo leads the county in reported rapes. These statistics indicate that more efforts to prevent sexual violence are needed locally.

C2H will utilize a proven, four‐phase model that engages the community directly and will be implemented each year for the next four years. This model aims to prevent sexual violence in the San Luis Obispo by empowering citizens to identify methods that reflect SLO’s unique culture and history as first adopters. C2H and RISE will hire an Education Program Coordinator (Youth Organizer) to work with RISE’s Adult Organizing Team Leader to recruit, train and support local youth in preventing sexual violence in their community.

RISE is partnering with Stand Strong, Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA), the City of SLO, SLOPD, Cal Poly Safer, and the SLO County District Attorney’s office during implementation to ensure the program reaches as many people as possible. RISE will begin to recruit local youth and adult leaders in the new year to spearhead this exciting endeavor. For more information, or to get involved, please contact Robert Diaz, Education Program Manager at rdiaz@riseslo.org. To apply for the Education Program Coordinator (Youth Organizer) position, please send a resume and cover letter to Jane Pomeroy, Associate Director at jpomeroy@riseslo.org.


About RISE

RISE is a non‐profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to transform the lives of sexual and intimate partner violence survivors, their families and the community through services and education that promote safety, healing and empowerment. RISE provides the following programs: 24‐hour crisis line, case management, restraining order assistance, accompaniment and advocacy, two emergency shelters, individual and group counseling, and prevention education.