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News | April 16, 2021

International Denim Day to be observed with ‘lunch and learn,’ sexual assault awareness speaker

By Nancy Benecki DLA Troop Support

A virtual lunch and learn session to mark International Denim Day will conclude a month-long series of events and observations during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support will host the lunch and learn on April 28 from noon to 12:30 p.m. To access the event, visit https://conference.apps.mil/webconf/troop-saapm. The dial-in number is (410) 874-6300 or DSN (312) 874-6300, and the pin is 195957773. Participants are asked to log in 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.

Teresa White-Walston, the Director of Education Services for the Women Organized Against Rape/Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, will discuss “The Role of Prevention – What You Can Do.”

White-Walston has more than two decades of experience in victim services. She is responsible for the development and management of WOAR’s prevention services that support K-12 schools, colleges and universities, technical institutes, community agencies and professionals. She also directs WOAR’s strategies to reach victims and survivors of sexual violence who live in Philadelphia.

“This is the perfect way to wrap up a month where our DLA Troop Support workforce came together virtually to become more aware about preventing sexual assault,” said Gina Ingrao, sexual assault response counselor. “As SAAPM ends, I hope people realize that sexual assault awareness and prevention goes beyond April. We need to have safe workplaces, whether they are in person or virtual. Those who have experienced assault or harassment need to know there are resources available to help them.”

International Denim Day is acknowledged every year on April 28. This year, DLA Troop Support employees are asked to wear denim and submit their photos to Ingrao at gina.ingrao@dla.mil.

Sexual assault can be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Employees can contact Ingrao at 267-253-8953 or the DLA SAPR Hotline at 1-800-841-0937 for resources or to make a report of sexual assault or abuse.

For resources and more information please visit the DLA SAPR webpage.

The annual Denim Day campaign started more than 20 years ago, according to the Denim Day website. A ruling by the Italian Supreme Court for rape allegations was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.