Meet Jeanine Maldonado, October 2023 Volunteer of the Month
(She, Her, Hers) Victim Advocate What drew you to The Rowan Center? I found out about the agency through one of their former counselors in 2017. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to follow her footsteps and help others, especially when it came to survivors of assault. What keeps you at The Rowan […]
Meet Ady J. Matos, September 2023 Volunteer of the Month
(She, Her, Hers) Counseling Intern and Advocate What drew you to The Rowan Center? The service and education provided, both to clients and to volunteers. What keeps you at The Rowan Center? I enjoy being able to help and educate those in need. What do you wish people knew about The Rowan Center? We can […]
Meet Marissa Eve Ferrao, the May 2023 Volunteer of the Month
Marissa Eve Ferrao (she/they), Resident Counselor, LPCA, MAATC What is your role at The Rowan Center? I am a volunteer Sexual Violence Advocate and Counselor What drew you to The Rowan Center? I coordinated with the center for mental health awareness/wellness programs when I worked in higher education. Then I was introduced to the crisis […]
Human trafficking can happen anywhere, and to anyone
Human trafficking happens right here in Connecticut. Recent headlines make this abundantly clear: “Bristol Man Charged with Sex Trafficking, Related Offenses,” “Bridgeport man charged with trafficking, prostituting teenaged girl,” “Arrests made in connection to juvenile sex trafficking: Norwalk Police.”
Five Instrumental Women in the Fight to End Sexual Violence
Concerning Mental Health Trends in Teens
The latest CDC Youth Risk Behavior survey notes alarming rates of sadness in teenagers, especially in girls and lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) teenagers. The Wall Street Journal reports that three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness in 2021 (double the rate of boys), and one in three seriously considered attempting suicide. In addition, […]
Meet Cody Baird (she/her), the February 2023 Volunteer of the Month
Cody is a student of Public Policy & Nonprofit Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School. What is your role at The Rowan Center? I am a volunteer advocate at The Rowan Center. What drew you to The Rowan Center? I am interested in the intersection of policy and sexual violence, including the development and implementation of […]
Take Action to End Human Trafficking this January
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We are shining a light on this important issue in our community. When we think about human trafficking, it’s easy to imagine that it happens somewhere else or that it’s an issue that exists, but that doesn’t impact our daily lives. This is a myth—and it’s one that makes […]
“The Rowan Center set me on a path to healing and wholeness”
We are honored to serve victims and survivors of sexual violence, regardless of when the violence occurred. Recently, we heard from a male survivor of sexual violence who shared just how powerful and transformative his experiences meeting with a counselor at The Rowan Center were for him on his path to healing. When the memories […]
Mourning Madi Brooks
The devastating news of the death of LSU student, Madi Brooks, is a chilling reminder that sexual violence is still a prevalent societal issue. As her community grieves her loss, we hold her friends and loved ones in our thoughts—and we remember the work we still have to do to make the world safer for […]