San Miguel Resource Center Celebrates 20 Years with Bravo and Lunafest

07 Oct San Miguel Resource Center Celebrates 20 Years with Bravo and Lunafest

Twenty years ago, psychologist Marshall Whiting needed safe housing for a client who had an abusive partner. When she discovered no such housing existed, she gathered a group of concerned citizens to discuss developing an organization that would provide services to victims of abuse. At one of their meetings, attorney Anne Munch came in with a client who’d been badly beaten. Everyone pooled money for a hotel for the woman for the night, and the San Miguel Resource Center was born.

Fall Colors Over Dallas Divide: Celebrating San Miguel Resource Center’s 20th Anniversary

Today, the SMRC annually receives over 2,000 calls on the 24-hour hotline and provides approximately 1,300 in-person sessions with victims/survivors. Additionally, the agency’s programming has grown to include an impressive breadth of community education, support groups, art therapy for child victims, cultural outreach to immigrants, intensive volunteer advocate trainings, and a state-recognized violence prevention education program for our area schools.

The SMRC has seen a dramatic increase in client numbers in 2013. In just the first six months of this year, the SMRC worked with more sexual assault survivors than it has ever served in an entire year.

In response to these recent increases, as well as a dedication to continued growth, the SMRC is hosting a number of exciting events this month to raise both money for and awareness about the organization.

October 10th- Healing yoga workshop for SMRC survivors and advocates
October 12th- Community Hoe Down at the Elk’s Lodge from 7pm-10pm. Tickets $10 adults/kids free
October 14th -Luna Fest at the Ah Haa $10 6pm-9pm- A traveling film festival of award-winning short films by, for and about women created by Luna Bar
October  17th-Bravo at the Sheridan Bar $5 7pm-9pm – A wild night of men modeling art bras to auction and fundraise (Look for a detailed story on that tomorrow.)
October 22nd-West End Community Appreciation Luncheon for Volunteers and Service Providers
October 23rd – Latino Movie Night at the Wilkinson Public Library 6pm-9pm featuring “Te Doy Mis Ojos”
October TBA -Salsa Dancing

You can learn more about SMRC’s history and  upcoming events here in the following podcast with Melanie Montoya.