ST. PAUL, MN – This week, State Representative Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester) received an award from the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA) for her work to prevent and end sexual violence.
MNCASA is a voice for victims/survivors, sexual assault programs and allies committed to ending sexual violence. The Coalition represents over 70 service programs statewide and engages with members and stakeholders through outreach, training, collaboration, public policy initiatives and other activities that raise awareness about sexual violence prevention and system intervention.
Liebling received the award on Tuesday, April 29 at the Coalition’s eighth annual AWARE event, an opportunity to educate the community about sexual violence, acknowledge individuals and organizations that have played a key role in working to end sexual violence and to focus attention on the growing call for an investment in prevention.
“It has been a pleasure to partner with MNCASA to try to improve the Minnesota Sex Offender Program and help protect Minnesotans from sexual assault,” said Liebling. “Minnesota is fortunate to have MNCASA’s calm and authoritative voice helping craft state policies that support victims of sexual violence and prevent victimization before it happens.”
“Tina has been incredibly approachable on the topic of sexual violence,” said Jeanne Ronayne, Executive Director of Dodge, Fillmore and Olmsted County Victim Services. “She has been an inquisitive, curious student anxious to really understand the complexity of sexual violence and in particular the prevention of sexual violence. She asks perceptive questions, meets with the experts and also listens to those with lived experience. Tina has demonstrated great courage and fortitude in being willing to tackle an issue – sex offender commitments and the sex offender program – that others have avoided.”
“This year’s award winners represent a wonderful diversity of talent in awareness-raising work on the issue of sexual violence during this last year,” said Donna Dunn, Executive Director of MNCASA. “The harm of sexual assault and child sexual abuse affects nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men, and the approach to ending this harm must be taken on in every facet of our society. These folks represent some of the most dedicated efforts to preventing the abuse.”