Former cast member of MTV's ""The Real World: Brooklyn"" Sarah Rice and spoken word poet Steve Connell stressed the importance of identifying those involved with sexual assault as survivors rather than victims at an event Monday in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Connell recited ""Angel Rising,"" a poem inspired by Angela Rose, founder of PAVE, who was in the audience. The poem described images of sexual assault victims without tongues finding their voices and moving through stages of shame and rage to awakening and empowerment.
Connell emphasized the importance individuals have in creating the world they share.
""I feel blessed as a poet simply to create a work that reminds us that we are all connected, and reminds us about the responsibility we have to each other as a community, as a family, to take care of each other, to listen to each other, to respect each other,"" Connell said.
According to Connell and Rice, the move from depicting a person as a victim to a survivor begins by talking, opening up and getting rid of any taboo associated with sexual assault.
Rice, who was sexually assaulted by her daycare provider and her father, said it is important to believe every survivor and to treat them with respect.
She said by speaking at events she now hopes to help people and create fulfillment in their lives and her own.
Rice said she is proud to speak about her past rather than keep quiet. According to Rice, if she is able to help one person in the audience realize they are in an abusive relationship and empower that person to do something about it, then everything is worth it.
""You are only a victim if you look at yourself as a victim,"" Rice said. ""You are not a result of the things that happened to you in your life; you are a result of how you react to those things.""
Rice said she considers her opportunity to share her stories of sexual assault on national television through the filming of ""The Real World"" one of the things she is most blessed with in life.
""You really can turn that horrible [experience] to the thing that makes you the strongest person you could possibly be,"" Rice said.
