Increasing Safety Depends on Connections

We're in one of those moments where life can be a bit overwhelming. A community partner introduced us to the idea of, "what is possible". It's a good place to start a brainstorming session but more than that it's a mindset, an opportunity to focus on a positive future that you have some control over. As we launch into a new year the SAFE Bar Network is focused on all that is possible.

Executive Director, Haleigh Harrold shares her experience and the SAFE Bar Network's approach to engaging people in increasing safety and preventing harm.

For a long time, I thought that to get people interested in preventing sexual harassment and sexual assault I had to convince them that it was a problem. I had to scare them into wanting to be part of the solution. At some point in the last 10 years, I realized something profound. Whether people know it or not, they are already preventing sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of harm.

I've come to believe in an approach that is a 180-degree shift from where I started. To engage people in increasing safety we have to paint a picture of what is possible. Through conversation, we create comfort and routine around talking about noticing uncomfortable and unsafe situations and interrupting to help. Increasing safety depends on the connections between all of us and the support we offer each other.

SAFE Bar Training conversations are simple, manageable, and they work – but you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out these real-life, Everyday Active Bystanders.

Interested in learning more about the SAFE Bar Network and our work to give everyone a safe night out, sign up for our monthly newsletter here. Or contact us at info@safebarnetwork.org

The SAFE Bar Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) you can join the team by donating your time, talent, and money to the mission of giving everyone a SAFE Night Out, just click here.

To learn more about active bystander skills check out our blog post, Obstacles. What obstacles? 3 Full Proof Everyday Active Bystander Skills.

Interested in learning more about bystander intervention? Visit our friends at With Us Center for Bystander Intervention.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment our partners can help. Visit MOCSA.org and RAINN.org

To learn more about the field of violence response and prevention visit PreventConnect.org and NSVRC.org