Tuesday, June 4, 2024 / St. Louis, Missouri – YWCA Metro St. Louis, the largest provider of sexual assault and domestic violence services in the region, is proud to present “Start by Believing,” an impactful conversation with survivor-advocate Kimberly Corban, on Tuesday, June 11, at 9am at Mercy Hospital, McAuley North Conference Room, 615 New Ballas Road.
In May of 2006, Kimberly Corban’s life took an unimaginable turn when she experienced a traumatic assault in her college-area apartment. Despite the challenges she faced, Kimberly courageously reported the crime, which led to the perpetrator’s conviction for sexual assault. Her unwavering advocacy and dedication to empowering survivors have made her a leading voice in the movement for change.
“We are glad to provide this important opportunity to engage with Kimberly to our first responder partners and also to the public,” said Samantha Wayant, Community Engagement Manager at YWCA Metro St. Louis. “This is a meaningful training opportunity for our SART Team (Sexual Assault Response Team) and it will be an impactful educational experience for everyone in the room.”
YWCA Metro St. Louis is the only YWCA in the country with a Sexual Assault Response Team, and Wayant coordinates ongoing training for community first responders, including EMS, police officers and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, with the goal of continuously improving the response experience for victims of assault and rape. All partners have committed to providing a comprehensive support system to ensure every survivor receives compassionate care and advocacy.
YWCA is the only dual services (sexual and domestic violence) agency in the St. Louis region that offers crucial support to survivors through its 24/7 Crisis Help Line, Drop-in Center, and Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Another essential component of SART is the YWCA Volunteer Advocate who is dispatched when an assault victim is brought to the hospital or reports at the police station. The SART Advocate stays with the survivor throughout her journey, ensuring she understands her rights and that her voice is heard.
“Survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported,” said Corban. “Events like this are crucial in fostering a community where all survivors feel empowered and supported.”
Limited seats remain for the June 11 event and registration is required: ywcastl.org/event/start-by-believing-with-kimberly-corban/. More information about YWCA Crisis Services can be found at ywcastl.org