Timeline

1973

San Francisco Women Against Rape is founded as a 20-hour per week rape crisis hotline.

1980’s

SFWAR expands services to include a 24-hour hotline, in-person counseling and support groups.

1990's

SFWAR becomes a 501(c)(3) non-profit. SFWAR invited to join the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women Domestic Violence Committee. SFWAR begins it’s rape prevention and education program, producing video for teens and publishing Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese brochures. Establishes the medical and legal advocacy program. The first Poets Against Rape event is held. SFWAR becomes a member of the City of San Francisco’s Adult Sexual Assault Task Force and Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

2000's

SFWAR becomes a majority women of color organization at all levels (i.e. volunteer, staff, executive director and board). Poets Against Rape grows into Artists Against Rape including poetry, performance, visual art, music, film and dance. SFWAR launches it’s Community Initiatives Program to develop and support community-based primary prevention approaches to ending sexual violence. SFWAR holds the first WALK Against Rape. SFWAR affirms it’s commitment to women of color leadership and develops working principles to sustain the leadership of women of color at all levels of the organization.

2010's

SFWAR partners with the Center for Young Women’s Development and Mission Girls to enhance and expand direct services to young women. SFWAR celebrates 40 years of supporting survivors and working to wards ending rape with it’s anniversary event “Beyond Resistance Toward Liberation”.

Today

SFWAR continues to focus on enhancing our work with those who are most vulnerable to sexual violence. This includes young women; women with physical, mental, and development disabilities; immigrant women, particularly those who are limited English proficient; lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women of color; incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women; and women who are marginally housed or homeless. To realize our shared vision of a world without rape and violence, we rely on, and are strengthened by the support of our community that has sustained us for over 40 years. In 2018 SFWAR will be celebrating our 45th Anniversary. Please follow us on social media or sign up for our email list to stay informed of our upcoming events!