Work-shopping at SBCC

Kaylie, Caitlin, Vanessa, Me, Brian and Thaddeus - Sigma Chi Eta, SBCC

After months of working with a Reno NV group planning a safety day for their community and doing some online outreach to students at SBCC and UNR, I headed a few hours north to speak at a workshop produced by SBCC's Sigma Eta Chi and sponsored by the President's office and Communications Department.

Knowing that the community was grieving the loss of the much loved Brianna Denison, I hoped for a full house. The school did a great job promoting the workshop as most of the seats were filled on this Tuesday afternoon in the middle of classes and so very close to finals.

I was greeted by two incredible women: Professor Sarah Hock and Sigma Chi Eta's president, Vanessa Gonzalez. Bright eyed and so very welcoming, I knew that if asked to do so, I would make this trip a thousand times over. We put out RAINN posters, call cards, and flyers and syched up the tech stuff. David disappeared into the almost full room as Sigma Chi Eta rolled their presentation and introduced today's speaker. I listened as if it were a stranger until I heard my name. Oh right, that's me (sometimes I forget). To make that quick change to survivor/activist takes a second - you are you, and then you are the you that has a story to tell. It's what I call turning the light on so that other survivors and co-survivors can find me. It's always on, really, but on stage it becomes a spotlight.

The topic was creating a safer campus but in order for people to care about anything I have to say, they have to know why I'm there to begin with. So to begin I go back to 1996. And then the aftermath. Now we can talk about now. Creating a campus isn't tearing up a street or installing more lights in darker places (although that is helpful), it's about caring and protecting your community - yourself and the people around you. College is another family. You love your chosen family - you respect and protect them. It takes courage to speak about a taboo subject - not for me so much as students who want to just be as much as they want to trust their environment. It's a step towards some serious responsibility but in itself it is powerful just how much one word, one action can change your landscape.

I met some amazing people on my short trip to Santa Barbara and took a little piece of their hearts home with me. To Vanessa, Kaylie, Thaddeus and Brian - thank you for your kind hearts. To everyone was there or wasn't able to attend but still wrote to me, you know where you can find me, always. So keep writing - my love and admiration will be with you long after finals are over.

xxoo

Pre SBCC - Santa Barbara Living

Shintori Sushi Factory, Santa Barbara

Two weeks ago I spoke at Santa Barbara City College where Brianna Denison went to college. I rarely think of reliving or altering the past but I could definitely see myself in Santa Barbara as an 18 year old freshman . It's quaint, quiet and absolutely gorgeous. The ocean has a calm force over the landscape and the people who inhabit it. You live by the ocean and the sun dictates your days. For those who love and are inspired by their physical landscape Santa Barbara is almost a throwback to simpler times.

David made the trip with me and we stayed at some odd hotel stuck in the 70s (Tripadvisor you have finally let me down) The reviews said it's natural landscape was gorgeous; no need to stay at a resort! I'll give it points for being clean and the staff congenial but it was straight up shaggadelic without the discso: bubble font, lucite and swirly pattenered carpets with indoor waterfalls and concrete stairs. The natural landscape is actually a swamp you had to cross over to get to the pool and their much talked about breakfast which what much ado about nothing but some cereal, pastries and coffee. groovy.

We found a great sushi place that we ate at um, three times. Overpriced but I expected most restaurants to be in SB. I loved the paper lanterns that were signed by all the patrons. They also had an affinity for chocolate. I appreciate that too. Obviously.

A few wrong turns led us through swirling roads reminding me of my hometown- particularly Shippan and views of the quiet and calm ocean. Santa Monica is too crowded, Malibu is better but still so populated, Venice is a circus. Santa Barbara is the type of ocean I know - where the waves roll in and out and people come and go - leaving time behind.