Rape Crisis Center welcomes 14 volunteers at grand opening
Brenda Carter wants to make a difference in the lives of women who have been sexually assaulted.
The 53-year-old was once in their shoes when she became a victim at the age of 16.
“I had too much to drink and I wasn’t able to fight back,” she recalled. “I don’t think we ever completely heal. The feelings are always there.”
Carter was among 14 new volunteers who took part in a graduation ceremony Wednesday evening at the Rape Crisis Center in Las Vegas after completing 50 hours of training.
The center marked its grand opening at its new location with the graduation event, which was attended by Kelly Petersen, president-elect of the Nevada Women’s Philanthropy and representatives from the office of Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.
The Rape Crisis Center’s new home across from University Medical Center is nearly twice the size of its previous site. The building at 801 S. Rancho Drive, Suite B-2, is just under 3,000 square feet.
Given its proximity to UMC, the new location will help reduce advocates’ response time to victims at the hospital, said Daniele Dreitzer, executive director, in an earlier interview.
Response time is expected to decrease from 20 minutes to about five minutes during regular business hours.
Advocates meet victims at the hospital for support, answer hotline calls and provide an ear to victims going through a traumatic time, officials said.
Last year, the Rape Crisis Center handled more than 6,000 hotline calls and accompanied more than 400 victims to the hospital, according to the center’s statistics.
The new graduating class will bring the number of volunteers up to about 40, Dreitzer said. They all must go through an intensive five-week program before being allowed to assist victims.
The new group of advocates range in age from early 20s to mid-60s and they speak Spanish, Russian and Navajo.
Sexual assaults happen across-the-board, regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status or ethnicity, officials said.
The volunteers make a difference since they help keep the center open 24 hours, seven days a week, and help assist victims with different backgrounds.
“It’s an issue that never stops,” Dreitzer said.
Women in Nevada are three times more likely to be raped than in any other state, Petersen said.
That’s what made Joanie Billiman, 32, want to become a volunteer.
She said many young tourists, who come for a weekend of fun, sometimes end up being victims of sexual assault.
“A lot of people don’t report it. A lot of people are afraid to speak,” Billiman said. “I definitely want to make an impact on anybody who feels there’s nowhere to turn.”
Many victims lose hope, but Edelmira Lizaola, 39, a new volunteer, wants to help women regain hope.
And so does Carter.
“I wanted to commit my life to something I believe in, where I can make a difference.”
Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.
