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DMACC's National Crime Victims' Rights Week

NCVRW 2025, April 7-11 2025

For the week of April 7, 2025, join us across DMACC locations to show support of survivors and victims of crime in our community.

This is an opportunity to learn about and participate in helping victims of crime feel validated and backed by local neighbors, family, friends, crime officials/experts, health providers, and more.

All events and activities are free and open to the public!

 

It's not what's wrong with you, but what happened to you - unknown

  • crime survivors
  • first responders
  • friends and families of survivors
  • health care providers
  • law enforcement officers
  • local community
  • those interested in self-care strategies
  • victim services providers or advocacy services


For the two-day activities at Ankeny campus, the NCVRW at DMACC committee has obtained CLEs for legal professions (three hours for activities in Ankeny on April 9th); NASW-Iowa approval for social workers for Ankeny’s April 8th and 9th activities, and are seeking advocate CEUs for advocates through IowaCASA for Ankeny’s April 8 and 9th activities. Contact DMACC professor Samantha O’Hara at sjohara@dmacc.edu with questions.

 Choose your campus/center location below and plan to attend now!

NCVRW at DMACC Events

Three total hours Continuing Legal Education (including 2 hours Wellness) has been approved by the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education for DMACC’s NCVRW Sessions 5A, 6A, and 7A on April 9th at the Ankeny Campus. 

The Iowa Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers has confirmed that all sessions on April 8th and April 9th meet criteria for continuing education.

Approval for continuing education units has been requested of Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault for victim advocates for all activities offered on April 8th and 9th. This will be updated when approval or disapproval is received.

Please contact Samantha O’Hara at sjohara@dmacc.edu with questions.

The DMACC Library Services will be hosting a Story Walk again across the district. The title is the lovely Rain Before Rainbows.

Opening and Closing Sessions (PDF)

Tuesday, April 8

8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

  • Student Showcase, Crime Victims’ Rights Historical Display, and "What They Wore", an art installation by DMACC Fashion Program students. 
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

8:30 - 9:45 a.m. Opening Keynote

  • Session (1A): "First Responders’ Wellness: A Conversation on Trauma". Presenters: Chief Mark Rehberg, City of Clive Police Department and Chief Clay Garcia, City of Clive Fire Department.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

8:15 - 9:30 a.m.

  • Session (1B): "In Her Shoes: A Domestic Violence Simulation". Presenter: Lori Jensen, Children and Families of Iowa Domestic Violence Services.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

  • Thematic Panel (2A): "Preventing Crime Together: Law Enforcement and Community Collaboration". Sgt. McGraw, Ankeny Police Department; Sgt. Parizek, Des Moines Police Department; Sgt. Martin, Polk County Sheriff's Office; Special Agent Hai Tran, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

  • Session (3A): "Child Advocacy Centers and the Team Approach, How Working Together Helps People in Need, and Helps the Helpers: An Introduction". Presenter: Laura Christensen, Blank Children’s STAR Center.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 

  • Activity (3B): "Circle of Serenity: Mandala Drop-In Art Workshop," Presenter: Kate Karwan Burgess, Photographer and Artist. 
    Bldg. 5 by Student Activities Council space

1:00 - 2:15 p.m.

  • Session (4A): "Navigating Justice: Voices from Victim Services". Panelists: Ruth Thompson, Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services; Louise Alitz, Aging Resources of Central Iowa; Jodi Bowden Fuentes, L.U.N.A.; John Gish, Iowa Department of Justice.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center
  • Session (4B): “From War to Wellness: A Journey of Resilience and Transformation,” DMACC’s War and the Human Experience Speaker Series. Speaker: Emma Dedic-Sakanovic, Iowa DOC 5th District and DMACC Criminal Justice program.

Wednesday, April 9

8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

  • Student Showcase, Crime Victims’ Rights Historical Display, and "What They Wore", an art installation by DMACC Fashion Program students. 
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

  • Session (5A): "Strengthening Justice: Evidence-Based Approached for Serving Victims," Presenter: Shannon Marie Bogolin, Polk County Attorney’s Office.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

8:15 - 9:00 a.m.

  • Virtual Session (5B): "Exposing Hidden Scars: Transforming Trauma into Triumph," Presenter/author Cheyene Hanson, virtual presentation to be recorded for DMACC classes.
    Recorded and streamed from Bldg 6

9:45 - 11:00 a.m.

  • Session (6A): "Vicarious Trauma for First Responders,” Presenter: Brenda Bash Cooper, Iowa Department of Justice, Office of the Iowa Attorney General, Victim Assistance Section.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

  • Session (7A): "Case Study: Application of Building Resilience and Identifying Vicarious Trauma," Presenter: Shannon Bogolin, Assistant Polk County Attorney.
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

  • Activity: (7B): "Circle of Serenity: Mandala Drop-In Art Workshop," Presenter: Kate Karwan Burgess, Photographer and Artist. 
    Bldg. 5 by Student Activities Council space

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

  • Activity (7C): "Advocacy and Assistance Tabling Event".  Approximately 10-15 non-governmental and governmental organizations to provide education and outreach materials.
    Bldg. 5 Student Center area

11:30 a.m. - 12: 30 p.m.

  • Session (7D): Therapy Dog Visit, Animal Rescue League
    Bldg. 5, Student Center area

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

  • Closing Keynote Session (8A): "Exposing Hidden Scars: Transforming Trauma into Triumph," Presenter/Author, Cheyenne Hanson. 
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center and live stream to other campuses/centers

2:00 - 2:30 p.m.

  • Activity (9A): Author/Book Signing; Advocacy and Assistance Tabling
    Bldg. 5 Conference Center

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.

  • Activity (10): "A Healing Bonfire", provided by DMACC Fire Science program chair Brent Conklin. Presenters: Annie Wood, Des Moines Area Community College.
    Bldg. 5 Fountain on the Promenade
  • DMACC Libraries StoryBook Walk 
    Bldg. 5 Fountain on the Promenade
Post Session Survey
Mandalas Workshop Post Survey

Monday, April 7

8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

  • Presentation:  Soaring Hearts Foundation

The DMACC Library Services will be hosting a Story Walk again across the district. The title is the lovely Rain Before Rainbows.

April 10

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

  • Crime Victims’ Rights Historical Display
  • DMACC Graphic Design program stickers and button giveaways
  • DMACC Culinary Arts program cookies

Courter Center

The DMACC Library Services will be hosting a Story Walk again across the district. The title is the lovely Rain Before Rainbows.

Monday, April 7, Tuesday, April 8, & Wednesday, April 9

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 pm

  • Healing Tree Exhibit 
    • “Share Your Story" Box   
    • “What They Wore” Exhibit
    • DMACC Graphic Design program stickers and button giveaways
    • DMACC Culinary Arts program cookies

Wednesday, April 9

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

  • Family Crisis Centers of Iowa will be tabling with information on victim services they provide.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

  • "Exposing Hidden Scars: Transforming Trauma into Triumph," Presenter/Author, Cheyenne Hanson. Lunch from Subway served to attendees at 12:30 pm, with “Share Your Story” presentations. Representatives from CAASA will be present and have victim services information available.
    Streaming for guests in Carroll in Knott Commons

Thursday, April 10

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

  • A member with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office of Iowa provide a presentation.
    Auditorium

Dallas County Health Department will be tabling with information on victim services they provide and 988 resources.

Tuesday, April 8, Wednesday, April 9, & Thursday, April 10

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

  • Healing Tree Exhibit
    • DMACC Graphic Design program stickers and button giveaways
    • DMACC Culinary Arts program cookies

Thursday, April 10

8:15 - 9:15 a.m. and 1:45 - 2:45 p.m.

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

  • Representatives from Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Centers will be present and have victim services information available
  • Representatives from Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence will be present and have victim services information available
  • “Talk It Up, Lock It Up” Gun lock giveaway table, compliments of Dallas County Suicide Prevention Coalition

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

  • “What They Wore” Exhibit

Thursday, April 10

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • Crime Victims’ Rights Historical Display
  • DMACC Libraries StoryWalk
  • DMACC Graphic Design program stickers and button giveaways
  • DMACC Culinary Arts program cookies

8:15 - 9:15 a.m.

  • "In Her Shoes: A Domestic Violence Simulation". Presenter: Lori Jensen, Children's and Families of Iowa.
    Criminal Justice Classroom

NCVRW Events at DMACC Urban (PDF)

The DMACC Library Services will be hosting a Story Walk again across the district. The title is the lovely Rain Before Rainbows.

“Needs Drive” for Dorothy’s House at Urban Campus during NCVRW. Please show support for Dorothy’s House by donating the following needed items:

  • Grocery store gift cards
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper Towels
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Dish Soap

Items can be dropped off at the Urban Campus Library in Bldg. 1 and the Student Activities Office in Bldg. 7

Wednesday, April 9

8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

  • Doors open for self-guided displays
    • DMACC Libraries Story Walk
    • DMACC Graphic Design program stickers and button giveaways
    • DMACC Culinary Arts program cookies
    • Craft Table with beaded bracelets and messages

11:00 a.m.

  • “Gridshock” documentary. Gridshock is a 55-minute documentary exposing the hidden and disturbing reality behind sex trafficking in Iowa.
    Bldg. 7, Room 170

12:15 p.m.

  • Speakers from “Dorothy’s House”, a safe place for the practice of life for those whose lives have been interrupted by human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution.
    Bldg. 7, Room 170

Thursday, April 10

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

  • “From War to Wellness: A Journey of Resilience and Transformation,” DMACC’s War and the Human Experience Speaker Series. Speaker: Emma Dedic-Sakanovic, Iowa DOC 5th District and DMACC Criminal Justice program
    Bldg. 1, Room 142

NCVRW Events at DMACC West (PDF)

The DMACC Library Services will be hosting a Story Walk again across the district. The title is the lovely Rain Before Rainbows.

Tuesday, April 8

10:00 a.m.

  • DMACC Libraries Story Walk outdoors

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

  • Student Showcase and Crime Victims’ Rights Historical Panels

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

  • “Exposing Hidden Scars: Transforming Trauma into Triumph," Presenter/author Cheyene Hanson

Wednesday, April 9

Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Resource Coordinator Nicole Lampley

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

  • Student Showcase and Crime Victims’ Rights Historical Panels

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

  • Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
  • Employee and Family Resources
  • Iowa Office of Recovery Services – NAMI
  • West Des Moines Police Department and Fire/MEMT

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

  • Iowa State ADMYRE presentation.
    Auditorium

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

  • “Exposing Hidden Scars: Transforming Trauma into Triumph," Presenter/author Cheyene Hanson.
    Live streamed to the Auditorium

Wednesday April 9

2:00 - 4:30 p.m.

"All The Beauty And The Bloodshed" - Varsity Cinema. Movie showing with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Drake University.  Open to the public. A brief, optional discussion will follow the film.      

988 Suicide Hotline

 

Call - 988

Chat

Text - 988

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming it - Helen Keller

Resources

Videos

DMACC’s Nondiscrimination Policy is available online. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all DMACC sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact 515-964-6234 or dso@dmacc.edu. If you need a sign language interpreter please complete the online Sign Language Interpreter Request.

 

For general information or questions, contact Samantha O’Hara, DMACC Criminal Justice Professor, sjohara@dmacc or 515-964-6667