As part of the national effort to increase awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence, Suffolk County Community College participates in several events related to Take Back the Night.

The college and the Suffolk County Anti-Trafficking Initiative recently hosted the Human Trafficking Awareness Walk at Belmont State Park. Members of the Suffolk County Community College Take Back the Night Planning Committee, along with Suffolk students, faculty and alumni, attended the event. Other members of the community also present included representatives from ECLI/Vibes, Survivor Advisory Board, Crimes Victim Center, The Retreat, LIADV, Touro Law's Women Bar Association, Sepa Mujer, SCATI Long Island, Legislator Sam Gonzalez and Staff, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Human Trafficking Detective Division led by Detective Lieutenant Cassidy and Sgt. Linda Piotrowski from the office of Police Commissioner Waring, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Nu Phi Zeta Chapter, Farmingdale State College, St. Joseph's University.

“This is one of the events we host each year leading up to Take Back the Night, which is a nationwide initiative that gives the college an opportunity to share resources and support for survivors of sexual violence, which include survivors of human trafficking,” said Dr. Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College.

Take Back the Night was started in the 1970s to end domestic violence and sexual assault in all forms through events such as a march, vigil or rally. It aims to raise awareness of and bring an end to domestic violence and sexual assault in all its forms by empowering survivors with hope, inspiration, support and resources to begin healing from trauma.

Members of the community are welcomed to be a part of the upcoming event on April 11, 2024 at Suffolk County Community College’s Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood. To participate or learn more about becoming involved with the Take Back the Night initiative, visit https://forms.office.com/r/ce9ZSfwbY3 or contact Danielle DiMauro, Chair of the Take Back the Night Committee, at dimaurd@sunysuffolk.edu.

About Suffolk County Community College

Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling approximately 21,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood and Riverhead. Suffolk offers the Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), and Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, as well as a variety of certificate programs. Offering affordable college tuition, a highly respected Honors program, workforce training programs, extensive extracurricular activities, championship athletic teams, and numerous transfer programs, Suffolk is a first-choice college for Long Island students. Visit us online at sunysuffolk.edu.