Take Back the Night Event Coordinator

Job Description:

The PEI Rape and Sexual Assault is seeking proposals to coordinate a project to raise awareness, support survivors, and bring attention to the work needed to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse, and all other forms of sexualized violence culminating in a Take Back the Night 2020 event Thursday September 17, 2020.

Project work may begin as soon as February 24, 2020 and must be completed by September 30, 2020. The contract will be for $5,000 – $7,000 depending on the coordinator’s experience, qualifications, and workplan and to be negotiated with the successful applicant.

Take Back the Night (TBTN) is the earliest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence, especially violence against women. TBTN Events began in the 1960’s in Belgium and England with protests about how women were not able to be safe walking down the street alone. These early events have grown into hundreds of events on college campuses and in communities of all sizes and locations (https://takebackthenight.org/history/).

The event includes a media campaign, pre-march banner and sign making, a rally with speakers, a walk through the main part of the city of Charlottetown and ending with an information fair and entertainment. Leading up to the event will be community organizing to engage survivors, supporters, and organizations in PEI who typically serve people who have experienced gendered sexualized violence, (e.g. PEIRSAC, PEI Aboriginal Women’s Association, UPEI, Holland College, College de L’Isle, PEI Women’s Network, PEERS Alliance, Anderson House, etc.). The promotion of the event itself over the months leading up to the event in September 2020 is an important opportunity to do public education around the issue of, and solutions for, sexualized violence.

Working collaboratively with PEIRSAC staff and the Advisory Committee, the project elements that the Event Coordinator will coordinate will include at minimum:

• the awareness and public education multi-media campaign leading up to the TBTN event, in collaboration with the TBTN graphics/media designer (Fresh Media) as well as developing swag for distribution at TBTN event and fundraising items
• community outreach to engage survivors, supporters, and organizations who have experienced – and/or serve those populations who have experienced – sexualized violence to find out if and how they would like to be involved
• plan and coordinate pre-march events (e.g. banner-making) with volunteers and organizations
  source locations for the rally/walk/march, contact city of Charlottetown and Police Services to obtain necessary permits and security;
• develop a speakers list, sound and stage for pre-walk rally;
• approach and develop relationships with PEI-based musicians to perform at the Respect Fair, and stakeholder organizations who want to participate in information sharing tables;
• coordinate the TBTN event with post-secondary institutions’ Student Orientation activities usually also held in September
• Coordinating, attending, and reporting to monthly Take Back the Night Advisory Committee meetings
• Cooperation with the project evaluator

Proposals should outline the applicant’s relevant skills and experience that will allow them to successfully

• Engage in community development with stakeholder groups
• Support and motivate individual volunteers
• Coordinate walks, rallies, or similar events
• Create and coordinate awareness and public education campaigns including social media
• Work independently as well as collaboratively, and evidence excellent time management
• Write and present reports

The candidate must have an intersectional feminist analysis of sexualized violence, and work in a manner that is congruent with PEIRSAC’s values (http://peirsac.org/about_us.php) and goal to support and advocate for survivors of sexual assault and abuse in their healing … to ensure that all residents of PEI are safe from sexual violence (and by working) collaboratively with, and in ways that empower, individuals and organizations.

In keeping with our commitment to represent all our communities, Indigenous, francophone, queer-identified, and racialized candidates are especially encouraged to apply and self-identify.

Proposals may include documentation such as a resume, examples of past work, a sample workplan, and/or a letter of reference.

Additional supports available to the successful applicant will include administrative and advisory support from the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre and the Take Back the Night Advisory Committee; access to office space with internet, office equipment, and printing; access to promotional and communication channels (website, social media) as needed; additional funds for meeting expenses and travel.

The PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre is accepting proposals to coordinate this work until 5:00 p.m., February 14, 2020. Selection will follow by February 20, 2020.