April does not ask for attention in Prince William County. It asks for participation.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month has become a steady, intentional presence across the community, shaped not by a single event but by a series of moments that invite residents to engage in ways both visible and deeply personal. This year, two of those moments carry particular weight: Wear Teal Day on April 15 and the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Symposium on April 29 at the A.J. Ferlazzo Building.
They are different in format but closely connected in purpose. One is a visible signal. The other is a place to sit, listen, and understand. Together, they reflect how awareness begins and how it deepens.
A Visible Invitation
Wear Teal Day is, at first glance, simple. Community members are encouraged to wear teal, the nationally recognized color for sexual assault awareness, and share that visibility with those around them. Yet the impact of that simple act extends further than it appears.
“Visibility is the invitation,” said Paige Meade, Co-Chair of the 2026 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Steering Committee. “When someone puts on a teal shirt and walks into their office, their classroom, or their place of worship, they are making a public declaration that this issue matters to them.”
That declaration does more than raise awareness. It creates a moment of recognition for those who may be watching quietly.
“That one small act can give a survivor the courage to speak or give a bystander the confidence to ask a question they have been holding for years,” Meade said.
In that way, Wear Teal Day functions as an opening. It creates space. It signals that conversations about sexual violence are not only allowed but supported. It tells the community that this is something worth acknowledging together.
But visibility, on its own, is not the endpoint.
Stepping Into Understanding
The work of understanding, of building knowledge and connection, continues at the end of the month with the SAAM Symposium. Held on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event brings together survivors, advocates, educators, and professionals working in victim services and prevention across Prince William County.
For those attending for the first time, the experience is intentionally designed to meet people where they are.
“There is no expectation that you arrive with expertise or with perfectly polished language,” Meade said. “You are welcomed exactly as you are, with your questions, your uncertainty, and your willingness to learn.”
The symposium offers a setting where information and experience come together. Attendees can expect honest conversations, speakers grounded in local work, and sessions that reflect the realities faced within the community. Survivor stories may be part of that experience, providing perspective that cannot be replicated through data alone.
“You may hear from survivors who have chosen to share their stories, and that experience alone can be profoundly moving,” Meade said. “Most importantly, you will leave feeling connected, to other attendees, to local resources, and to a larger sense of purpose.”
Connection is a consistent thread throughout the day. It happens in conversations between sessions, in introductions to local organizations, and in the recognition that this work does not belong to one group alone. It belongs to everyone willing to engage.
From Awareness to Action
The relationship between Wear Teal Day and the symposium is intentional. One creates visibility. The other creates understanding.
“The symposium is where that initial spark becomes a sustained flame,” Meade said. “It is where people move from ‘I care about this’ to ‘I understand this, and I know what to do.’ The two work together in a deeply intentional way. One opens the door, and the other invites you to walk all the way through it.”
That sense of movement, from awareness to action, is at the core of how Sexual Assault Awareness Month has evolved over time. Communities are no longer asked simply to recognize the issue. They are asked to respond to it.
What happens after the symposium matters just as much as what happens during it.
“The most meaningful next step is connection paired with consistency,” Meade said. “It is easy to feel energized at an event and then allow that energy to fade when ordinary life resumes.”
Instead, she encourages participants to act quickly and intentionally.
“The most important thing someone can do after the symposium is take one concrete step within 48 hours,” she said. “Volunteer with a local organization. Share what you learned with someone in your circle. Sign up for a training. Talk to your employer about workplace policies that support survivors. The specific action matters less than the act of doing something.”
That emphasis on follow-through reflects a broader understanding that this work is ongoing. It is not defined by a single day or event, but by the choices made afterward.
A Community That Chooses to Engage
Sexual violence is not a distant issue. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 71 men experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Those numbers represent individuals within every community, including our own.
In Prince William County, the response continues to take shape through participation, education, and collaboration. Wear Teal Day offers a way to be seen. The symposium offers a way to understand. Together, they create a path forward for those ready to take part.
On April 15, wear teal.
On April 29, take a seat, listen, and learn.
Then take the next step.
Rebecca Barnes is the Publisher of Prince William Living and CEO of Imagine. With a background in journalism, communications, and public information, she is committed to telling stories that inform, connect, and strengthen the community. Rebecca is also an active volunteer and advocate for initiatives that support health, safety, and quality of life across Prince William.