PASAC Changes Name to Lotus

Purchase Area Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center, or PASAC, announced Friday that they are changing their name to reflect their mission in a modern era where prevention is discussed as much as intervention.

Executive Director Lori Brown explained that the new name, Lotus, represents the spirit of survivors of sexual violence. 

"The lotus grows out of the mud, the murk, and grows toward the conditions where it can really thrive, and blooms into one of the most remarkable, beautiful flowers," she said. 

The flower does this every day, and Brown said, "For us, it perfectly reflects the healing journey of our survivors, that amazing resiliency. But it also reflects our expanded mission of what we're doing in the community. Our goal for a collective, unified community that supports survivors, that meets survivors with compassion and belief, and a community that says, 'this type of violence is no longer OK,' and takes the responsibilty to work together for us to end this violence."

She recognized some local students from Calloway and Marshall County High Schools who have participated in the "Green Dot" bystander intervention program. Over the last five years, researchers say they have observed a significant reduction in sexual violence perpetration and victimization among students where these programs are in place.

Brown said, "I've been in this work for a long time - 25 years - and I remember a day when we thought prevention wasn't possible, and that is no longer the day. We know prevention is possible."

She thanked those who attended the announcement Friday night, saying the crowd that was there was a glimpse of what they hope to continue doing: providing sanctuary for survivors and working with them, while getting community partners and other providers involved to be a part of their progress.

Brown said, "We hope our mission of supporting survivors, strengthening families, and empowering communities to end violence is all of your mission, too."