Envisioning a culture of consent
Jam with Roland: Just Say "No" © 2019 Michele Beaulieux Oil Pastel on Paper Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics famously sang: "Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves." Widely hailed as a feminist anthem of empowerment, I'm now wondering why sisters ended up resorting to doin' it for themselves. Out of necessity, victim-survivors … Continue reading Victim-Survivors Are Doin’ It for Themselves, and That’s a Problem
Letter to the editor about the impact of reflexive support for Fr. Pfleger by Michele Beaulieux in Chicago Sun-Times Today, the Chicago Sun-Times published my letter to the editor about how the reflexive support for popular Chicago priest, Fr. Michael Pfleger, impacts victim-survivors of sexual violence. St. Sabina parishioners as well as Rev. Jesse Jackson, … Continue reading My Chicago Sun-Times Letter on Fr. Pfleger’s Support
Michele Beaulieux stands with her oil pastel triptych, "Jam Series," at the Side Street Studio Arts Gallery in Elgin, Illinois Photo by Ivette De Santiago My triptych, "Jam Series," looked great at the Going Dutch Festival at Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin, Illinois. It was very well lit and had good company with the … Continue reading Art about Safer Brave Space at Going Dutch Festival
April showers rain on RAINN's reign Take Uber or Lyft? Stay in Airbnb? Use TikTok? Drink Absolut? One way to support victim-survivors of sexual violence this Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is by advocating for a change in leadership at the Rape Abuse Incest National Network. Please join me in contacting corporate partners of … Continue reading April Showers Rain on RAINN’s Reign
Bradford William Davis of Insider did an excellent exposé of Rape Assault Incest National Network (RAINN)'s toxic workplace culture: "Insiders say RAINN, the nation's foremost organization for victims of sexual assault, is in crisis over allegations of racism and sexism: 22 current and former staffers say the organization favored by Hollywood and corporate America is in crisis. 'How can RAINN be helping survivors externally, when they're traumatizing … Continue reading Finally! Rain on RAINN’s Reign
More To The Story Podcast (Artwork by Aaron May) In the episode, "Navigating Decisions," of the podcast, More To The Story, host Jamie Sivrais and I, Michele Beaulieux, talk about making decisions after sexual violence. I share my story and explain how I came to create the My Choice Decision Navigator and Our Choices Solution … Continue reading Our Choices Solution Facilitator on Podcast: More to the Story …
Simone Biles “has assumed the role of a prophet, publicly calling the institution to account and refusing to simply go away.” That’s what Professor of Catholic Studies Susan Bigelow Reynolds asserted after the only (known) victim-survivor of U.S.A. Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse decided to compete in the Olympics this summer. Biles, a Catholic … Continue reading Simone Biles and Rachael Denhollander: Modern Prophets
Michele Beaulieux with U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III when she was an intern for him in July 1980 I won’t read Tara Reade’s memoir, Left Out: When the Truth Doesn’t Fit In. Her October surprise hasn't garnered any press so it doesn't look like many other people will either. Nevertheless, let me take the opportunity … Continue reading Why, as a Sexual Assault Survivor, I Don’t Believe Tara Reade
In this fictional scenario, Liz, a college junior, explains the My Choice Decision Navigator to Miriam, a first year student, after Miriam confides that Gabe, another first year student, sexually assaulted her and she is at a loss to figure out what to do. The trio are featured in a virtual poster that Michael Runge … Continue reading Liz Tells Miriam about the My Choice Decision Navigator
Alternatives © 2020 Michele Beaulieux Oil pastel on paper How might Contact Improvisation (CI) groups respond to teachers who are known to troll? And by that I mean teachers who consciously and systematically search for sexual partners among students. I wrote two counterstories—stories with alternative outcomes that represent a moral shift away from the dominant cultural narrative—that imagine how … Continue reading Just Say “No” to Teachers Who Troll : Counterstory #2: Alternatives
Reservoir of Hope 
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