Category: Awareness months

STI Awareness Week (April 14th – 20th)

Posted on by Haley Mangette

April 14th through April 20th is STI Awareness Week! As a part of this week, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages individuals to get screen for Sexually Transmitted Infections as a part of their regular health care routine.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea remain the most common STIs. “Teens and young adults across all demographic groups are most impacted by chlamydia and gonorrhea, with Black Michiganders being disproportionately affected compared to white Michiganders. Syphilis continues to increase at an alarming rate throughout the state. (MDHHS, April 15, 2024).

Local Testing Options:

Cares Sexual Wellness Services

Services offered

  • FREE HIV and STI testing by friendly, knowledgeable staff in a confidential and safe environment.
  • Free Condom Delivery
  • Case management assistance for individuals diagnosed with HIV
  • Access to PrEP
  • Support Groups

Planned Parenthood

Services offered

  • Abortion services
  • Emergency Contraception
  • Birth Control
  • Pregnancy Testing and Planning
  • Gender-Affirming Care
  • Prenatal and Postpartum Services
  • Wellness and Preventative Care
  • Sexual and Reproductive Concerns
  • STD testing and Treatment
  • HIV Services
  • Vaccines

Kalamazoo County Personal Health Division

Services offered

  • Confidential STI and HIV testing for anyone ages 12 years and older.
  • Complete screening and counseling for STI & HIV risk reduction.
  • Pre- and Post-counseling for HIV testing.

What’s going on in April?

Posted on by Haley Mangette

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (also known as SAAM). During the month of April, groups and organizations across the country hold events to raise awareness for and acknowledge the impact that sexual assault has on those within our and other communities.

Want to know what our campus is doing during this month? Check out our Awareness Months page for more information.

Call for Speakers at Annual Take Back the Night Speak Out

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) begins in April. During SAAM, different groups and organizations hold events to raise awareness for and acknowledge the impact that sexual assault has on those within our and other communities. A Speak out, which will be hosted on Denim Day (Wednesday, April 24), is an annual event with the mission of ending sexual, relationship, and domestic violence in all forms. The Speak out allows victims and survivors of gender-based violence and intimate-partner violence the space to share their experiences and/or pieces of writing or art to empower themselves and raise awareness of the issue in a supportive, “off-the-record” environment.

 Anyone is welcome to share their experiences. If you wish to participate, please reach out to either Abbigail McMillian or Haley Mangette (contact information included at the end of this post). Due to the nature of this subject, there is also the option for survivors to anonymously share their experiences to be read out. You can submit your pieces at Anonymous Submissions.

We will also be offering a series of confidential writing workshops that offer a safe and mediated space to put their experiences into words. Check out @kc_s.p.e.a.k on Instagram for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact Abbigail.McMillian20@kzoo.edu (student) or Haley.Mangette@kzoo.edu (staff member). 

Thank you for your time.

Take Back the Night Planning Committee

Posted on by Haley Mangette

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As part of this month, the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention, in partnership with other department and groups across campus, is putting on events to contribute to efforts of awareness and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault. Annually, the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Advocacy organizes a group of students to help plan Take Back the Night and other events during the month of April. Take Back the Night (TBTN) is a worldwide movement bring awareness to sexual violence and support victim-survivors of this violence.

If you are interested in helping plan Take Back the Night or for questions, please contact Haley Mangette, haley.mangette@kzoo.edu. 

Take Back the Night Speak Out tonight

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Join us tonight, April 26th, at 7 p.m. in the lower quad for the Take Back the Night Speak Out. The Speak Out is an annual event with the mission of ending sexual, relationship, and domestic violence in all forms. The Speak out allows victims and survivors of gender-based violence and intimate-partner violence to share their stories and/or pieces of writing or art to empower themselves and raise awareness of the issue in a supportive, “off-the-record” space.

As audience member, please respect the following guideline when in attendance:

  1. While we invite open expression, we do ask that everyone be respectful to others in the audience. Please feel free to leave the space and visit one of the debriefing spaces offered around campus.   
  1. The speak out is “off the record”, meaning that no reports will be made of any of the stories.   
  1. No “photography” unless the speaker specifically gives permission for their image to be used.  
  1. Although this space aims to provide a supportive environment, anyone can attend this event. Please do not assume all individuals in the audience are allies.   
  1. To respect the survivors speaking, please maintain discretion over the information you hear. Please do not repeat it, post online, or gossip about it.  
  1. Those who exhibit behavior against the mission of the event will be asked to leave the area.  

Victim-Survivor Love Letters Video

Posted on by Haley Mangette

As part of efforts for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we are hoping to put together a compilation of videos from faculty, staff, and administration with messages of support for victims and survivors of sexual assault. We are hoping to collect 15 to 20 second videos by April 17th to compile and send out on the SPEAK Instagram. If you need any assistance in developing the letter or recording, please let Haley Mangette (Haley.Mangette@kzoo.edu)! 

Examples of positive affirmations:  

  • “I want you to know that even though we may have never met, I care about you and believe in you. You are not at fault for what happened to you. You are brave, powerful, intelligent, and I am here for you.”  
  • “You are not alone. Please, do not hesitate to reach out to resources here at K like the counseling services, the office of gender equity, or our YWCA Advocate, Mya. You are strong. I care about you and want you to know that you do not have to go through this alone.”  
  • “I believe you. This shouldn’t have happened to you and you are not at fault. You did not do anything to deserve this.” 

Phrases/ words to avoid:  

  • “I understand what you are going through.”  
  • “You will be okay” or “You will get through this”  
  • Triggering words (such as rape). 


If you would like to participate in this effort but not on video, we have an online anonymous collection you can submit to as well: https://sexualsafety.kzoo.edu/sll/.

Take Back The Night Speak Out: Speakers

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Every April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). During SAAM, different groups and organizations hold events to raise awareness for and acknowledge the impact that sexual assault has on those within our and other communities. A Speak out, hosted on Denim Day (Wednesday, April 26), is an annual event with the mission of ending sexual, relationship, and domestic violence in all forms. The Speak out allows victims and survivors of gender-based violence and intimate-partner violence to share their stories and/or pieces of writing or art to empower themselves and raise awareness of the issue in a supportive, “off-the-record” space.

Because of the nature of this subject, we also offer the opportunity for victim-survivors to anonymously share their stories to be read on stage. You can upload your submission at Anonymous Submissions  .

We will also be offering confidential writing workshops that offer a safe and mediated space to put experiences into words.  The first workshop will be held this Thursday, April 6th from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. in the CCE Community Room (Dewing).Anyone is welcome to share their stories, poetry, art, etc. If you wish to participate or have any questions, please contact Abbey.Mcmillian20@kzoo.edu  (student) or Haley.Mangette@kzoo.edu (staff member).