#monumentquilt

Many of us have followed the story of Emma Sulkowicz, the Columbia University student who has carried her mattress around campus for month to emphasize the great weight that survivors carry with them every day. She has called out for justice and action, even bringing her mattress across the stage at her recent graduation.

Like the Monument Quilt, Emma’s brave, public stand has helped people to open up a conversation with their loved ones – perhaps for the first time – about the weight that they are carrying with them as survivors. For many people, sharing their story is an important part of healing.

When the Rosebud Sioux Tribe hosted the Monument Quilt in White River, SD, Greg Grey Cloud told his story.

“It was the first time I had ever spoken of what had happened to me as a young boy. It was super difficult to even think about, but when I shared what happened to me, they women there opened their arms and helped me feel okay. Since then, I have grown so much!”

The Monument Quilt is many things: an educational tool to raise awareness about rape culture, an artistic representation of the epidemic of sexual assault that we hope will compel lawmakers to take action. But first and foremost, it is a public healing space by and for survivors of rape and abuse.

Greg is just one person at one quilt display who has been touched by the Monument Quilt. We are now 20 displays and over 600 quilt squares into this project. But the most important statistic of all is the countless survivors who have had transformative experiences via the Monument Quilt.

We are working towards a display of 6,000 squares spelling out “Not Alone” on the national mall--a huge and important statement in our nation’s capital that will hopefully reach many more survivors. Along the way, we are having conversations that raise awareness and make change at the social, cultural and policy levels. But we need your support to keep this vital work alive.

This month, our goal is to raise $20,000 to help us continue to bring the Monument Quilt to communities across the US. We are more than halfway to our goal with a challenge gift of $10,000 from an anonymous donor and with over $3,000 in smaller donations! Whether you give $5 or $50, your money will make a difference in our work to honor survivors and end rape culture.

Please, DONATE TODAY! Thank you.