Dear previous participants and supporters of Take Back the Night-Detroit,

The 10th anniversary of our annual Take Back the Night-Detroit in 2018 led by the SASHA Center was our last one.

SASHA Center provided a fun and safe space for survivors to acknowledge April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month for ten years and we made the announcement that we would no longer lead, organize or coordinate this event going forward as we have to use our resources to advance our infrastructure and develop our programming for survivors attending our support groups.

However, SASHA Center is willing to support organizers going forth in an advisory role to any women of color who are willing and ready to step up to organize this special event!

TBTN-D was amazing, healing, encouraging, empowering and memorable! We know and believe that the space was cathartic and inspiring for all! It was the first ever Women of Color lead event like this in the state and we believe the country!

Our founders of Take Back the Night-Detroit were Lori S. Robinson and Kalimah Johnson in 2008.

We are very proud of this accomplishment of providing this event for a total of ten years!

We originally partnered with Serenity Services, Marygrove College, Salvation Army and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.-Detroit Alumni Chapter to celebrate survivors of sexual assault and we were very thankful for the opportunity and connections!

We also connected with local organizations that provide sexual assault and domestic violence services and are truly thankful to Wayne County SAFE (WCSAFE) who also provided staff and financial support to the event over the years in addition to other organizations, community members, corporate and other non-profit organizations. Thank you for everything and all done individually and collectively.

Going forward any person or organization that plans on organizing a Woman of Color led Take Back the Night-Detroit, our Executive Director is open to advising on a limited basis and our organization will continue to ATTEND, PARTICIPATE, SUPPORT and WORK with organizers in the future. Please check with your local DV or SA program for a calendar of Take Back the Night activities in Michigan throughout the year or click on the link to the National Take Back the Night.

We endorse the annual Take Back the Night in Ann Arbor:

We endorse the annual Take Back the Night at the Center for Creative Studies:

We endorse the annual Take Back the Night at U of M Dearborn:

We will also endorse any Take Back the Night at our local DV/SA agencies or colleges/universities and we will be engaged, involved and will have representatives from the SASHA Center in full participation from serving on the planning committee (if staffing allows) to tabling, so while we are changing our role we are most certainly on board in celebrating survivors!!!

Thank you again for all ten of the amazing years! SASHA Center will remain a powerful staple in the African-American community, feel free to check our announcements and our free and confidential peer groups including our Healing is Possible Series for support.

Follow us on social media and thank you for allowing us to make space for new and innovative leaders to create and keep traditions alive with the annual Take Back the Night-Detroit.

Sincerely,
SASHA Center