Community stakeholders attend the 2023 Advocacy Academy presented by the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence at Saipan World Resort on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
TUESDAY, Aug. 1, was the opening day of the 2023 Advocacy Academy, presented at the Saipan World Resort by the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
The two-day Advocacy Academy gathers community stakeholders for a series of workshops and seminars that covers topics related to domestic and sexual violence.
Discussed on Tuesday were advocacy, understanding sexual assault, and confidentiality and privileged communications.
Maisie Tenorio, the executive director of the coalition, said the mission of Advocacy Academy is to “increase our capacity to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; to learn from each other; to learn from survivors; and to recommit ourselves to doing the best that we can to serve victims and survivors of both domestic violence and sexual assault.”
Tenorio said the participants are from agencies on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, including the Division of Youth Services, the Public School System, and the Community Guidance Center.
She said there were around 200 individuals participating.
She hopes that stakeholders leave the Advocacy Academy “better at supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.”
“I think [the CNMI] is making some progress because we’re seeing victims report earlier. We’re filling the room with people who are interested in learning about these really difficult topics…. People are more willing to engage in the conversation, which definitely was not the case 10 years ago,” she added.
The Advocacy Academy continues today, Wednesday, Aug. 2.
