Colorado faces a 40-50% cut to our annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) award in the next funding cycle.
Many sexual assault and domestic violence (SA/DV) programs are already working beyond their means to meet the growing needs of survivors in their communities. Inconsistent funding hurts survivors and victim service providers alike, and a devastating cut like this could shutter programs across the state, leaving survivors without support in their time of need.
Join Violence Free Colorado and the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) at our joint Day at the Capitol on March 7th and tell state legislators what the devastating VOCA cuts will mean for victim service programs and survivors in Colorado. Your voice is essential to helping legislators understand the critical need to fund victim services on the state level.
Thursday, March 7th, 2024
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
First Baptist Church - 1373 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203
Registration required here!
Church & Capitol Map
Two entrances are available for Capitol visitors. You may enter the building on the north side (Colfax and Sherman Avenues), up the stairs, or use the ADA-accessible ground-level entrance (14th and Sherman Avenues) under the stairs.
Financial Assistance
If you need financial assistance, please contact Kathleen Melendy at kmelendy@nullviolencefreeco.org. Please make sure to save all of your receipts.
Do’s & Don’t’s
Food
We will be serving breakfast. Please let us know on this form if you have any food restrictions.
Agenda
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8:30 am – 9:00 am Check-in – breakfast provided
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9:00 am – 9:30 am Learn about the history of VOCA and this year’s funding need
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9:30 am – 9:45 am Hear from our legislative champion(s)
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9:45 am – 10:00 am Hear about other bills that would expand survivor rights and protections
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10:00 am – 10:15 am Practice your advocacy pitch
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10:15 am – 10:45 am Break into small groups and walk across the street to the Capitol
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10:45 am – 12:30 pm Meet with legislators and share your stories!
Reception hosted by The Blue Bench (time and location will be shared closer to the event)
Meet our Legislative Champions!
Find My Legislator lets you find your state Senator and Representative in the Colorado State Legislature. To use the search, enter your address information in the search bar on the screen’s left side and click the search button. You may also click anywhere on the map to bring up legislative member information for that area.
Majority Leader Monica Duran (House District 23)
As a survivor of domestic violence, Majority Leader Monica Duran has championed legislation related to domestic and sexual violence, animal welfare, and supporting working families. She has led legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to reduce gun violence, improve wages for home care workers, support survivors of violence, and protect children. Majority Leader Duran represents House District 23, which includes Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Applewood, Mountain View, and Lakeside.
For more information, please get in touch with Kathleen Melendy at kmelendy@nullviolencefreeco.org or Onnastasia Cole at onnastasia@nullccasa.org
Want to stay updated on our efforts to secure sustainable funding for victim services?
Join Violence Free Colorado, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA), and Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) for biweekly update calls.
Dates and times
Biweekly on Thursdays: 12:30-1:00 PM MST (2/15, 2/29, 3/14, 3/28, 4/11, 4/25)
Register here!
Meet the Team
