Imagine a map of your community. Imagine that the map is covered in red dots, each one representing an act of power-based personal violence (sexual violence, child abuse, partner/dating violence, stalking, bullying). A red dot is any word, choice, attitude or behavior that either contributes to violence, or allows it to happen. A red dot is a sexual assault. A red dot is a threat. A red dot is a word that justifies or minimizes the violence. A red dot is the choice to turn away from a high-risk situation, to say “this is not my problem”.

The Crime Victims Assistance Center has adopted Green Dot as a community mobilization strategy. Green Dot approaches all individuals as bystanders to violence, and asserts that as bystanders, we have only two choices: do something, or do nothing.

So, what's the solution? 

The solution needs to be a reflection of the problem: from red dots, to green dots! A green dot is any word, choice, attitude or behavior that expresses an intolerance of violence, and actively contributes to building a safer community.

• A green dot is pulling someone out of a high-risk situation.
  
• A green dot is checking in with a friend about their relationship.
  
• A green dot is hanging an awareness poster, wearing a green dot button, or supporting your local rape crisis center.
  
• A green dot is having a conversation about power-based personal violence, or bringing a prevention training to your community.
  
• A green dot is the simple choice to do something to make it less likely that a red dot will happen.
  
• Over time, the green dots on the map replace the red dots. With everyone doing their part, the red dots are outnumbered – one green dot at a time!
  

To learn more about green dot, or to schedule a bystander training, please contact Meghan Whalen, Education Coordinator at CVAC at Meghan@cvac.us.