Friends of MSARC Campaign

Friends,

We are writing you today about the current staffing and accounting issues at the Memphis Rape Crisis Center "MSARC" and the lack of information made available to the public on this issue. Staffing and management issues are at the heart of this situation and have resulted in a 14 year sexual assault victim being turned away in her time of greatest need. The currently there is a risk of exacerbating the capacity problems with the Rape Crisis Center by the proposed shift of sexual assault examinations for minors to LeBonher. This is not a solution, in fact it may only make the current situation worse by dismantling a once nationally respected center into a confusing and complicating web of overlapping services.There is also the issue of clear accounting and financial impropriety resulting in close to $500,000 in missing state funds.

The time has come to take action to ensure accountability and public safety for women and children within our communities.

The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is working to build a coalition grassroots effort to inform and activate registered voters within those communities with the highest concentrations of sexual assaults. We will do this via an aggressive phonebanking,canvassing and voter registration campaign. the goal of this effort is to ensure the continued operation of a fully intact rape crisis center, with proper funding, staffing,community oversight and transparency.

We are asking that

1. All funds generated by sexual assault victim exams be allocated to the operation of Rape Crisis Center services.

2. Rape Crisis Center services should remain fully intact and be fully staffed with all shifts covered and that all victim needs are met for examination, collection of evidence, counseling, advocacy and community outreach, by June 30 and that staffing not drop below 90 percent thereafter.

3. A Victim Services Board be established and appointed to advise and support operation of The Rape Crisis Center, its membership to include survivors and its recommendations to go directly to elected officials who appoint it.

4. Sexual assault victim services be transitioned out of City of Memphis jurisdiction to Shelby County government where all other local victim services, criminal justice, health care and most regional service collaborations reside.

HERE IS WHERE YOU COME IN!

We will be hosting weekly canvasses in District 7, EVERY Saturday from 10am-1pm. At these events we will go door to door, giving the people of District 7/Super District 8 information about the current MSARC situation and letting them know how they can make their voices heard.We will also work to register NEW VOTERS in these communitites.

Our First Canvass is Saturday, JUNE 6th, at 10am.

We will begin our phonebanking of Super District 8 REGISTERED VOTERS next Tuesday June 2nd, and continue every Tuesday-Weds-Thurs from 6pm-9pm every week until these concerns are addressed.

To sign up to volunteer as a phonebank or canvass volunteer! Contact Brad@midsouthpeace.org

WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE.

Brad Watkins
Organizing Coordinator
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
901-725-4990-office
901-495-0818-cell