New Horizons for Learning: Giraffe Project, October 2001

What's a giraffe?

giraffe icon GIRAFFE IN THIS ISSUE

Making a Difference
Connie Kirkland

Connie Kirkland founded a 24-hour rape crisis center—almost a quarter-century ago. Such facilities have become an accepted part of many urban areas' services, but back then, they were anything but accepted.

Resources for serving her clients were scarce, but insults and obstacles were abundant, coming from people who didn't want the issue of rape brought to light. "At that time," Kirkland says, "we didn't have the support of the police or the prosecutors."

For long, difficult years Kirkland persevered despite all obstacles; flash-forward to the present and the picture changes dramatically.

Kirkland's pioneering work now has the broad acceptance it deserves. She founded the Northern Virginia Turn-Off-the-Violence Coalition, an organization of community agencies that educates citizens about the effects of violence and about alternatives to violence. She has written legislation, training manuals, brochures and reports, all focused on victims of crime and on rape-prevention. She's been a criminal justice analyst and a victim advocate at George Mason University, where she directs a program to prevent sexual assaults and to assist victims. She has organized dozens of community events promoting the safety of women, including luncheon talks, anti-violence fairs, self-defense days, rallies, and roundtable discussions.

"Turn Off the Violence Week," an annual event, presents self-defense workshops, forums for discussion and debate, showings of anti-violence media, and keynote addresses by national leaders, all focused on supporting victims and protecting their rights. The event has the backing of the Fairfax and Alexandria city councils, as well as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Kirkland works with local police in rape/assault cases, but she also works without them, when victims choose not to inform the police. Most police departments have come a long way on the issue of violence against women since the 1970's, but many women are still mistrustful of them, fearing that they will be insulting to a rape victim or will view the crime as minor.

Kirkland speaks regularly, still working to help people understand the seriousness of the crime and to help victims get good medical care and fair treatment from the justice system.

"It's time to create a better world, one without violence, and we can do it," says Connie Kirkland.

We asked the folks at the Giraffe Project to let us share some of the wonderful stories of personal transformation and public service here at New Horizons for Learning. The people at the Giraffe Project believe in being "free flacks for heroes -- finding, commending and publicizing people who stick their necks out for the common good." Their mission is to get others to look up, notice, and appreciate the quiet leaders in our communities.

Visit the Giraffe website to learn about The Giraffe Program, a K-12 curriculum that teaches kids about real heroes and gets them going on lives of courage, caring and responsibility, and the Giraffe Partners Trunk--everything a business or club needs to help a classroom full of kids to stand tall.

Posted with permission by New Horizons for Learning
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