Nina’s college experiences volunteering for a local domestic violence shelter and researching and interning in emergency medicine led her to the same conclusion. “We need to do better,” says Nina. “There’s always room for improvement and we need to do better for people who are survivors, anybody who’s coming in, regardless of what their background is or where they’re at now. I decided that if there’s anything I can do for survivors, I’m going to do it.”
That spirit of determination drove Nina to become a volunteer with BARCC. She is currently studying to become a physician assistant while working full-time at a men’s health clinic. It may seem like a lot is on her plate, but once Nina sets a goal, she doesn’t give up.
“I feel like in my generation, there is more vocalization around [sexual violence]. But even for me growing up, there was still a lot of stigma against it and not a lot of space to talk about it, or even seek help, or understand the medical side behind it,” says Nina. “In my own experience as a survivor, a lot of the services that BARCC offers are the resources that I wish I had.”
Nina shares that the work itself can be challenging, especially when a shift ends without much resolution. It can be frustrating, she shares, “because at the end, I just want to know that this person is safe. And that’s not guaranteed, especially for people struggling with addiction or people who are unhoused.”
But having a supportive community of fellow volunteers and supervisors makes a big difference. “BARCC does a fantastic job of making sure you feel supported,” she says, especially after particularly intense shifts. “Witnessing folks go through the course of emotions can be difficult to process in the moment. But I’m really grateful for the peer supervisors that are super attentive and listen, even if it’s three a.m. and I just need to get things off my chest.”
If you’re someone who is passionate about changing the conversation around sexual violence, who has empathy and patience, shares Nina, you are someone who can make a difference by volunteering with BARCC.
“You might not know how to respond right away because there’s a lot of things that get brought up that we don’t talk about in our daily lives, and it can be difficult to respond. But you learn with each training, with each simulation, and with each conversation,” explains Nina.
And even in the moment, you might not know all the answers, says Nina. But your peer supervisor is always available. “You can always reach out and ask questions, regardless of the time of day, they’re going to support you. You’re never alone,” says Nina, and perhaps that’s the most important part of becoming a BARCC volunteer.
When you volunteer with BARCC, you show survivors they are not alone, and you join a strong, compassionate community of people who show up for each other every day with kindness and care. Together, we are making a difference.
“I feel really proud of volunteering and being able to destigmatize the conversation around sexual assault,” shares Nina. “Even if one day you feel like you didn’t do enough, you can take a step back and look at everything else. You have this whole organization behind you making these changes. And it just feels really good, beyond words, to be able to do that.”
Only by working together can we accomplish our mission to end sexual violence. Every person’s contribution, whether it’s volunteering, educating others, or offering support, plays a vital role in shaping a community that values consent, equality, and the well-being of survivors. By volunteering with BARCC, you take an active role in the movement to end sexual violence, where the work you do today can create the largest ripple effect of change.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, visit barcc.org/volunteer to learn about our next round of training sessions!
