Santa Cruz County Latino Affairs Commission
Local News, Activities, Events and Resources
of Interest to the Latino Community
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, support survivors, and strengthen prevention efforts. While sexual violence affects all communities, Latina women and farmworkers often face unique risks and barriers to reporting and accessing support. The following reports provide insight into both the prevalence of sexual violence and the structural factors that shape survivors’ experiences, helping to inform more culturally responsive and effective approaches to prevention and response.
Reports
What You Can Do
Preventing sexual violence is a shared responsibility. Here are a few ways individuals and communities can take action:
- Learn and share information about consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships
- Support survivors by listening without judgment and connecting them to resources
- Speak up safely when witnessing harmful behavior or harassment
- Promote respectful workplaces and communities, including clear reporting pathways
- Support organizations working to prevent violence and serve survivors, especially those rooted in the communities most impacted
For more information and ways to get involved, visit:
Local Ways to Take Action
Get support or help someone connect to services
- Monarch Services
- 24-hour bilingual crisis line: 1-888-900-4232
- Provides advocacy, counseling, legal support, and accompaniment for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking (monarchscc.org)
- Offices in Watsonville and Santa Cruz
- Survivors Healing Center
- Support groups, workshops, and community education focused on healing from sexual abuse
- Serves over 2,000 people annually in Santa Cruz County (fsa-cc.org)
Learn, participate, and help prevent violence
- CARE (UC Santa Cruz)
- Offers prevention workshops, advocacy, and education programs
- Opportunities to learn about consent, bystander intervention, and supporting survivors (care.ucsc.edu)
- Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women
- Works to advance prevention, policy, and community awareness
- Engages the public in addressing sexual and domestic violence locally (Santa Cruz CA)
Help reduce barriers for vulnerable communities
- Share resources in Spanish and culturally relevant formats
- Support outreach efforts to farmworkers and immigrant communities, who may face barriers like fear of retaliation or deportation when reporting abuse (Lookout Santa Cruz)
- Promote awareness of confidential, non-law-enforcement-based support options
Everyone has a role to play in preventing sexual violence. By staying informed, supporting survivors, and connecting people to trusted local resources, we can help build a safer and more responsive community.
2023 Hispanic Heritage Art Wall Exhibit
The Commission hosted a meet and greet event to celebrate their Hispanic Heritage Art Wall on Friday, October 22, 2023. Supervisor Koenig attended the event and presented certificates of recognition to District 1 Commissioner, Yadira Flores-Martinez, the Latino Affairs Commission and Santa Cruz County Park Friends in recognition for all they do to preserve Hispanic Heritage in Santa Cruz County.
The exhibit featured photographs by local photographer Carlos Campos of a recent event hosted by Santa Cruz County Park Friends' Young Outdoor Leaders Program where local children made pinatas and Catrin/Catrinas.
Meet and Greet Event
Commissioners accepting certificates of recognition
Artwork artists
Community members enjoy the exhibit
2023 Hispanic Heritage Art Wall Exhibit
Your COVID-19 Bubble Resources (Provided by SAVE Lives Santa Cruz)
EVENTS
Current Pajaro Valley Arts events and exhibits can be found here.
2018 Hispanic Heritage Art Wall