RAAP was established in 1983 when a close friend of RAAP's three founders was raped. In the process of trying to find help for their friend, the three women learned that there was no agency providing low-cost services or immediate crisis intervention services for victims of sexual assault in Denver. The three women, experienced in grassroots fundraising, organized a door-to-door canvass to raise money and started Denver's first rape crisis center, the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program.
Timeline 1983 February First night of door-to-door canvassing.
March Phone line put in office of basement of St. Barnabus Church to support hotline
First hotline volunteer training
Take Back the Night" March with Flo Kennedy and Andrea Doworkin as speakers
Development of Board of Directors
Applied for 501(c)3 status 1984 Prevention program began being offered in schools which included the development of "These Things belong to Me" (Abuse Prevention Play inspired by the Illusion Theater program in Minnesota)
Mayor Pena hosted a premiere showing of play at the Paramount Theater
Sponsored the start up of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) 1986 Began offering individual counseling services to those who had no resources and then moved into group counseling
Hosted National Coalition Against Sexual Assault Conference in Denver 1987 Received the equity of home for office space from the Albi family and a generous donation from an anonymous donor to secure the space 1988 Worked with CCASA to present Marital Rape Bill legislation 1989 Added Ayuda and TDD hotlines 1990 Growing staff created the need for more office space so attic space was converted
After facilitating focus groups to understand how better to serve women of color, began offering African American women and Latino groups 1991 Began offering Self Defense Classes 1995 After two years of effort, the Denver Sexual Assault Interagency Response Protocol was signed and initiated 1996 Opened first satellite office in southeast suburbs to serve residents of the 18th Judicial District 1998 Added case management/victim advocate component
Began developing the 18th Judicial District Sexual Assault Interagency Council
Began program offering services specifically to Temporary Aid to Needy Families recipients
Elementary and Middle & High School Prevention Curriculums were re-written
RAAP website was developed 1999 Growing staff and programs created need for major renovations and addition to building
Began offering counseling services to monolingual Spanish speaking clients 2000 Administrator/Teacher Sexual Harassment Prevention Training was added
Development of specific college prevention curriculum 2001 Opened second satellite office in Northern suburbs to serve residents of 17th Judicial District
Signed Sexual Assault Interagency Protocols in the 17th and 18th Judicial Districts
Established Intern Therapy Program
2003 In 2003, the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program celebrated 20 years of service to the metro-Denver community. The clients, staff, Board of Directors and volunteers of RAAP took time over the course of 2003 to reflect on where we have been and where we are going.
RAAP's special events for 2003 fell under the "20 Year History" umbrella, giving RAAP a unique opportunity to raise awareness for the organization. Several local television and print media outlets ran stories on the momentous occasion.
RAAP looks forward to the next 20 years of service to the metro-Denver community. RAAP will continue to provide a comprehensive range of quality victim services as well as education programs on the prevention of sexual violence.
First male Executive Director in the history of RAAP
Landscaping at RAAP
2004 Purchased newer van for Canvass Department outreach efforts
2005 Sexual Assault Interagency Council 10-year signing ceremony
Website redesigned
2006 Expansion of Case Management/Advocacy Services
2007 Expansion of outreach to diverse communities
First Annual RAAP fundraising Golf Tournament
2008 Purchased another newer van for Canvass Outreach efforts
2009 Expanded therapy services with Pro Bono providers
Expanded Volunteer services
Focus on network/outreach with Victim Services community
