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Our Impact: Local Stories of the SAFE Bar Network's Mission in Action

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The SAFE Bar Network hit the ground running in January. We've trained venues in Cedar Rapids Iowa, Appleton Wisconsin, and Fayetteville Arkansas just to name a few. Along the way we had some incredible local journalists share about our work. Check out these stories about the SAFE Bar Network's mission in action.



“It creates accountability between staff and management, between staff and staff, and then the venue and community. As you have venues that are sharing with the community around them that it’s important to be able to manage situations, you’re also creating clear expectations about what is realistic and what isn’t realistic for a venue to be able to do in a situation,” says Darian Everding, with the SAFE Bar Network.


Kenyon Thorp, owner of the Ideal Theater & Bar, says she was excited by how different this training was. “There’s a lot of organizations that focus specifically on alcohol consumption. There’s not a lot that talk about the behaviors around that consumption,” says Thorp. “We talked about, how do you know when someone is just feeling uncomfortable in any sort of social interaction? You know, whether there’s alcohol present...or not.”



Emma Alexander, a facilitator with SAFE Bar Network, led Monday’s training at Fayetteville Taco & Tamale Co.


“Alcohol is not a bad thing at all. It’s definitely why a lot of restaurants and bars exist. It’s a bread and butter, but it is a factor that changes people’s behaviors,” Alexander said.


However, she says it’s still important to have situational awareness when it comes to alcohol, which the training aims to teach,


“We are always responsible for our actions. We are whether we are under the influence or not, we are still responsible for our actions,” Alexander said. “When People use alcohol as a tool to exercise power and control. That puts someone else at risk and it takes away their safety and it makes them uncomfortable.”



Freeman said the process to joining SAFE Bar Network started when the organization contacted Dave Willems, the owner and curator of Gibson Community Music Hall.


"I had done the online bystander training through SAFE Bar and got to know their program a little bit more," Freeman said. "We ended up scheduling them to come into the venue and train our entire staff."


Freeman said once she learned more about what SAFE Bar was teaching, it was easy for Gibson to partner with the organization.



Learn more. You can find out more about the SAFE Bar Network at safebarnetwork.org

 

Like what we’re doing? Be connected and stay updated with the SAFE Bar Network - join our mailing list, www.safebarnetwork.org/signup 

 

Curious about us? Join us at a SAFE Night Out session where you’ll connect with others and learn the magic behind a safe night out. Trust us, it’s fun. Sign up here, tinyurl.com/safenightout

 

Join the team. All you have to do is share about the SAFE Bar Network with venue leaders you know. Learn more at safebarnetwork.org/join and safebarnetwork.org/bettertookit 

 

You can even send their contact information our way and we’ll do the sharing for you, Help Us Grow Our Good.

 

Sharing is caring. If you have two minutes you can help us out by sharing our work on Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

Pass the hat. The SAFE Bar Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and your tax-deductible donation goes directly to our work increasing safety at alcohol-serving venues, safebarnetwork.org/donatenow

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