On Monday, November 23, Miles Community College’s (MCC) Board of Trustees signed a proclamation that made Miles Community College the first Start by Believing campus in Montana. Start by Believing is a public awareness campaign through the organization, End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI). EVAWI is dedicated to improving the criminal justice response to violence against women on every level.
This opportunity was presented to Miles Community College by Caroline Fleming, Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault’s (CNADA) Executive Director. Caroline worked with MCC administration to launch the Start by Believing campaign and provided presentations about the campaign to faculty, staff, and the Board of Trustees. “Miles Community College and Custer Network Against Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault have worked together for several years, providing education to students and staff concerning safety from and prevention of sexual assaults and offering advocacy to survivors on campus. I and the CNADA staff are thrilled to have played a part in helping MCC become Montana’s first Start By Believing campus and look forward to continuing our campaign, both on campus and in the wider community,” says CNADA Executive Director Caroline Fleming.
Start by Believing is a public awareness campaign focused on the public response to sexual assault. The goal for the Start by Believing campaign is to improve the response and reactions of friends and family members so victims of sexual violence can get started on the path to justice and healing. As a Start by Believing campus, Miles Community College is proclaiming that its campus shares a critical concern for victims of sexual violence and a desire to support their needs for justice and healing.
“Miles Community College has worked hard to eliminate sexual violence and violence against women and are dedicated to providing safe learning environments for all. The Start by Believing campaign is key to our ability to support survivors, gather necessary information, and take necessary action to decrease such horrendous actions. I am proud of our Board of Trustees for adopting this proclamation and taking a stance against violence,” says MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein.
To learn more about the Start by Believing campaign, please visit www.startbybelieving.org
