This year marks 30 years of Rise Above Violence standing as a beacon of safety, hope and healing for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in our community.
In a rural area like Archuleta County, isolation can be one of the greatest dangers facing victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
As the only victim advocacy and crisis support organization in Archuleta County and surrounding areas, Rise Above Violence fills a critical role in helping to make sure no one has to navigate trauma alone.
Help at every stage of healing
Healing from interpersonal violence is rarely linear, and Rise Above Violence designs its programs to meet survivors wherever they are on their healing journey.
Rise links survivors with essential, wrap-around resources including:
• Immediate safety planning and on-scene crisis response.
• Guidance through court systems and help filing protection orders.
• Counseling to help victims process trauma and rebuild emotional well-being.
• Emergency shelter, transitional support and housing assistance.
Educating youth to end the cycle
While supporting survivors in the present is vital, Rise recognizes that stopping domestic and sexual violence before it begins is key to creating lasting community change. Through its youth prevention education program, Rise equips local young people with the tools to build healthy relationships.
By teaching conflict resolution, boundary setting, and warning signs of teen dating violence, Rise actively fosters a culture of respect among Archuleta County youth aimed to dismantle cycles of violence for generations to come.
Supporting the mission: Runway for Rise
To keep these critical services free and accessible to every survivor in need, Rise relies heavily on community support and fundraising.
One of the biggest events of the year is Runway for Rise, which brings together local design teams, sponsors and community members for a high-energy fashion showcase featuring creative, eco-conscious and thrifty couture.
This year’s Runway for Rise will be held on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts.
As Rise steps into its next decade, community involvement is crucial, and you can help. One of the easiest ways to help is by attending the event and/or supporting participating teams. Teams are vying for community votes to help them win the coveted Prada Award. One vote equals $1.
To help you know which teams are creating outfits for the Runway this year, we will be featuring one each week.
This week’s featured team is Metamorphosis. Donna Muir, Kim Buscaglia and Meagan Zimpfer are no strangers to the runway as they return for their third season.
Team Metamorphosis says they “walk the Runway for Rise in honor of survivors and the incredible strength needed through every stage of life.”
Rise is super excited to see what this team comes up with this year as they added, “Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, transformation is rarely easy, but it is beautiful. Together, we celebrate resilience, healing, hope, and the courage to rise above violence.”
You can vote for Team Metamorphosis online between Aug. 10 and Oct. 3.
To learn more about Runway for Rise, supporting the event and teams, or to find out more about Rise Above Violence services, visit riseaboveviolence.org.
If you or someone you know needs support, Rise offers confidential help 24/7 at (970) 264-9075.
>