Local Advocate and Educator Receives National Award for Anti-Sexual Violence Work

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and each year, the National Sexual/Violence Resource Center honors advocates and community educators across the country for demonstrating excellence in anti-sexual violence work.

The Visionary Voice is awarded to one person from each state, nominated by the state coalition, who is leading the work to end sexual violence and “whose work allows us all to unflinchingly believe in a better tomorrow.”

The 2016 Visionary Voice Award recipient in Texas is Crystal Garcia-Ward of the Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center in San Angelo. The NSVRC and CVRCC noted, "Crystal is truly a leader in the field. She consistently finds creative and impactful ways to engage and inspire her community in prevention and social justice work to create an environment where sexual violence is less likely to occur. She is a staunch advocate for social justice and for the rights of survivors. She tirelessly gives herself to the work."

The award will be presented to Mrs. Garcia-Ward during an open house at the Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center located at 36 W. Beauregard St. B100 in the Wells Fargo Building downtown.

The Ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. today. Ted Rutherford of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault will be in attendance to present the award to Crystal on behalf of the NSVRC.