In solidarity with national Sexual Assault Awareness month, the Oneida Crisis Center hosted a pop-up taco stand which they refer to as, “Teal Taco Tuesday”.  With Board president Gabe Jimenez at the grill, supportive Board members John Christophersen, Melissa Clark, Candis Schow, Kristi Christophersen and Mattie Probst quickly assembled and distributed tacos to passers-by. Crisis Center Staff members Holly Llewellyn, Malena Jimenez and Terrie Valentine were on hand to “taco” about the importance of consent and share information about sexual assault and how it impacts our community. Holly Llewellyn extended a special thank you to Idaho Real Estate Group for providing the space and warmest thanks to all the community members who supported the event.  Watch for “Teal Taco Tuesday” in April 2025!

According to Crisis Center Advocate Malena Jimenez, “Misconceptions within our community create major barriers for individuals impacted by sexual violence. The primary purpose of the Oneida Crisis Center (OCC) is to erode these barriers and enhance the quality of services for these individuals and their families. OCC core services include: English and Spanish 24/7 crisis hotlines, crisis intervention, medical and legal advocacy, assistance with civil protection orders, case management, holistic healing modalities, support groups, safety planning, mental health counseling/referrals, emergency shelter, and financial education along with limited emergency financial assistance. In general, we know that many survivors experience great difficulty in disclosing a sexual assault, especially when the perpetrator is known to them.  In rural communities the propensity to not report may be reinforced by informal social codes that dictate privacy and maintaining family reputation.  Sexual assaults in rural areas are mostly hidden crimes, hidden both intentionally and unintentionally, by characteristics of a close-knit culture and an isolated lifestyle.”