Boston Area Rape Crisis Center: BARCC

Tonight's the night! 📺✨ We are incredibly grateful to Erika and the team at WCVB Channel 5 for featuring BARCC on "5 For Good."

Tune in tonight at 5pm to see the feature and learn more about how we’re working together to make a difference in our community!

Missed the broadcast? Don't worry! The segment will be airing all weekend long, and you can watch it anytime on the WCVB 5 For Good website.

Introducing - Creative Connections: Open Art Studio for Survivors

We are fostering creativity and connecting with other survivors through BARCC’s Open Art Studio this summer. BARCC will host biweekly open studio sessions where survivors are welcome to explore a variety of art materials and create in a safe and supportive space. Guests are welcome to create anything from coloring pages to collage; from expressive paintings to abstract art. Material will be provided by BARCC. Sessions are free and anonymous.

You are welcome to attend all of the sessions or just one.

If you don’t want to attend a workshop alone, friends, family members, siblings, and partners are more than welcome.

No RSVP is required. If you have additional questions or need accommodations please contact Bella at 617-649-1262.

When?

Tuesday July 7th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Tuesday July 21st from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Tuesday August 4th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Tuesday August 18th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Where?
At the BARCC offices at 99 Bishop Richard Allen Drive, Cambridge, MA.

We hope to see you there!

PS: Office dog Watson will be joining us!

More than 2 million visitors are expected to come to Massachusetts during the World Cup.

Preparation efforts are already underway: security plans, transportation upgrades, emergency coordination.
And- there is another side of safety that deserves attention. Research on mass gatherings found that more than 1 in 4 reported sexual assaults occurred during large-scale events, with incidents peaking during major holidays and event weeks. The same study found that alcohol or drug use was associated with nearly four times greater odds of sexual assault in these settings.

What does this mean for BARCC?
We're training volunteers, strengthening our hotline capacity, and ensuring survivors have access to free, confidential support throughout the tournament period.

Help us meet the moment & donate to our Safety Net: https://support.barcc.org/campaign/808786/donate

Thank you to the Cambridge Community Foundation for supporting survivors!

BARCC recently received an incredibly generous grant from the Cambridge Community Foundation to support our work with local survivors. In the face of challenging times and federal budget cuts, we are so grateful to join this powerful community of nonprofits that are doing good in Cambridge.

To learn more about CCF’s annual Community Fund grants, visit their website at cambridgecf.org/community-fund-2026.

Huge congratulations to our Executive Director, Liz Speakman, who was officially sworn in today as a new member of the Governor’s Council on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking!

We are incredibly proud to have Liz representing BARCC and bringing her decades of expertise as a clinical social worker and community advocate to this vital council. Together, we will continue working hard every day to uplift survivors, drive systemic change, and end sexual violence across the Commonwealth.

Join us in celebrating Liz and this incredible milestone for our community! 💜

WE ARE HIRING 🎉 Join the BARCC Team!

Ready to join a mission-driven organization making a real impact in the movement to end sexual violence? BARCC is looking for three passionate leaders to join our Senior Management team in Cambridge!

We are currently seeking:
💜 Emergency Services Program Senior Manager
💜 Emergency Services Volunteer Senior Manager
💜 Operations Senior Manager

Swipe through the photos to see the individual blurbs or view the entire job listings on our site, https://barcc.org/get-involved/careers/

Join us in providing healing, empowerment, and social change.

We’re hiring! 🌟 Join the BARCC team as our next Operations Senior Manager!

Are you a proactive, detail-oriented leader who thrives on keeping things running smoothly? We’re looking for an experienced operations professional to oversee our day-to-day office operations, facilities, and technology systems, while supporting a dedicated team of volunteers.

If you want to use your organizational talents to help create a welcoming, supportive environment aligned with our mission to end sexual violence, we want to hear from you!

Apply at https://barcc.org/get-involved/careers/

This support genuinely moves things forward.

Thank you to our sponsors for standing with BARCC and helping make the 20th Walk for Change possible.

People and organizations who choose to be part of this work sustain it. We’re grateful to have you in it with us!

Some words from our sponsors:

"BIDMC is a proud partner and supporter of BARCC – we know they provide invaluable support, education, and advocacy. We stand with survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones and are honored to walk alongside BARCC to empower and heal survivors.”

"The Law Firm of Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten proudly supports the Boston Area R**e Crisis Center and its vital role in providing compassionate, survivor-centered services to individuals affected by sexual violence. The organization’s commitment to support, prevention, education, and advocacy aligns with our firm’s dedication to seeking justice for survivors and strengthening the communities we serve. We work closely with survivors by providing thoughtful, trauma-informed legal representation, helping them understand their rights, navigate complex legal processes, and pursue meaningful remedies, and we share BARCC’s commitment to supporting survivors in their recovery."

"NPCM is proud to support the Boston Area R**e Crisis Center and the vital work they do for survivors across our community. BARCC’s commitment to healing, advocacy, and prevention reflects exactly the kind of mission-driven impact we’re honored to help sustain behind the scenes."

The issue is not a lack of resilience; it's a lack of support.

In our latest blog, “The Silence After Violence,” survivor Adiely Cifuentes shares a powerful reflection on navigating sexual violence within cultural and systemic barriers. Her story sheds light on the realities many Latina survivors face, from stigma and silence to gaps in culturally responsive care - and the urgent need for systems that truly support survivors of all backgrounds.

Content note: This piece includes references to sexual violence and systemic mistreatment.

Read more on the blog to hear Adiely’s story and why breaking the silence matters.

https://barcc.org/barcc-statements/the-silence-after-violence-a-survivors/

We celebrated our 20th Annual Walk for Change on Sunday, 4/26, and we’re still feeling so grateful for the partners who make this work possible.

One of those partners is our friends at Kirkland & Ellis, who generously sponsored the event at the Advocate level and showed up to walk in solidarity with our community.

"It’s a true privilege for Kirkland & Ellis to be able to support BARCC’s Walk for Change. Not only is this event a great way to bring together a community of like-minded volunteers and advocates, but it also serves as a reminder of the vital work BARCC does to raise awareness of and provide support to survivors of sexual violence.”

With a global platform of approximately 4,000 lawyers in 23 cities across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Kirkland & Ellis provides elite legal advice and a relentless commitment to client service. The Firm is also proud to donate millions of dollars each year to worthy causes in our communities and around the world.

Thank you for helping us sustain this work & for showing up for survivors.