Nova Scotia launches next phase of sexual violence strategy

Nova Scotia's community services minister launched the next phase of the province's sexual violence strategyMonday, announcing more than $250,000 for11community groups, with the goal of preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors.

Joanne Bernard said an additional $600,000 will be made available again in the fall, for a total investment of more than $1.2 million over two years.

Since the sexual violence strategy began two years ago, the province has spent $1.25 million on community grants, provided 211 and 811 phone operators with special training, and struck an interdepartmental committee aimed at streamlining government policies related to sexual violence.

A public awareness campaign is expected to be launched this fall.

As part of the announcement, Dartmouth studentKayley Dixon, 14, read "A Touch of Sexual Assault," a powerful and troubling poem she wrote about what it's like being a teen girl today.

Dixon is involved inthe Youth Art Connection project,one of the groups that received funding from the Nova Scotia government this week to fight sexual violence.

Bernardannounced the latest grant recipients at theNorthbrookCommunity Centre in Dartmouth on Monday.

Theyare:

• Youth Art Connection, Youth Arts Leadership project, $22,250
• Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Strong and Safer Together Project, $50,000
• AlexColeyand Cameron Ure, Campus Sexual Violence Prevention training, $4,954
• Centre for Housing and Residence Life, Saint Mary's University, SMU Residence Consent Project, $2,500
• Central Nova Women's Centre, Engaging Youth in a Violence Free Future project, $5,000
• Northern AIDS Connection Society,LookOUTPhotovoiceproject, $12,000
• MusicLiberatory, Women Safe and Sound project, $30,000
• AIDS Coalition, Totally Outright in Nova Scotia training, $10,000
• YWCA, Girls SpaceZineproject, $5,000, and YouthonLineOvercome Violence education, $15,000
• Heartwood, Cultivating a Community Network for Working with Boys and Young Men, $50,000
• Chebucto Connections, Boys Circles/Girls Circles program, $40,000