Nightlife Partnerships to end sexual violence in maryland

WE can end sexual violence

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Rape & Sexual Assault Prevention Program (RSAPP) conducted surveys in 2019 to address patrons, nightlife businesses and sexual violence professionals. Over 70% of patrons surveyed stated that sexual harassment and sexual violence is a problem at bars, restaurants, music venues, and clubs in their respective communities.

In response to these findings, the MDH granted Shawna Potter funds for the creation of a short-term project to address the issue of alcohol-facilitated sexual violence in nightlife. Running from June to September 2020, Nightlife Partnerships of Maryland (NPofMD) employed multi-level strategies to train nightlife staff to recognize, prevent, and respond to alcohol-facilitated sexual violence. NPofMD conducted training sessions for venue staff, distributed sexual violence prevention resources, used social media to dispel common myths and raise awareness of the issue, and created a social media community for nightlife workers to debrief and share skills.

COVID-related challenges have had a significant impact on nightlife venues, like a decrease in overall attendance and revenues. However, the same risk of sexual violence facing patrons before the COVID-19 pandemic will exist after nightlife restrictions are eased. In fact, given the increase in social isolation, loneliness, and alcohol dependence brought on by the pandemic, sexual violence and harassment may be at an all-time high when people regain access to these nightlife establishments. Taking the time to train staff in recognizing and preventing sexual violence and harassment is a very worthwhile use of low attendance periods in the industry. Many businesses who were approached by this program did not prioritize voluntary participation in these training sessions, having to focus instead on their own COVID-related hardships. It is therefore recommended by NPofMD that the training remain an available service that can be performed on demand by Project Lead Shawna Potter, paid per session by the appropriate government department.

If you live or work in Maryland, contact Shawna here to receive free resources on sexual violence prevention (until supplies run out). If you’d like to inquire about bookings, trainings, collaborations or consultations, reach out here.

Who and How

Project Lead Shawna Potter wrote the book on safer spaces, literally. She has been training venues of all kinds in safer space tactics for years, has lived in Baltimore for over a decade, and has worked in nightlife and food service in various roles. She understands the concerns of both business owners and customers. She can help make it easier to keep the party going, violence-free.

Outreach Coordinator Melanie Keller was an advocate and crisis counselor for victims of sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence and human trafficking in both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD before moving to Germany, where she's currently pursuing a PhD in Linguistics. As a survivor of rape herself, Melanie applied all of her personal and professional knowledge to this project, as well as the co-creation of Hollaback! Baltimore's Safer Spaces Campaign with Shawna.

This work was made possible through a generous grant from The Maryland Department of Health Rape and Sexual Assault Prevention Program. It ran from June through September 2020.