We are taking Hollaback! to the next level, take a minute to watch our campaign video and to donate here. Yesterday was the first day of our campaign and we already raised $1,570 of our $25,000 goal! Help us to end harassment on college campuses! Donate today, every donation counts!

I grew up on a pretty steady diet of Sesame Street. I moved to New York City from Richmond when I was 18 years old — and as I was exiting my dorm some guy said “hey baby” to me. Assuming New York City was like grown-up Sesame Street, I said “hey” back. He responded, “I want to **** the **** out of you.” The harassment continued throughout my college education, and I figured it was my fault. I didn’t look “tough” enough, and if I was really a strong woman than it wouldn’t hurt so much. But it did.

We started Hollaback! in 2005 thinking that street harassment was an urban problem. Over the past seven years I’ve talked to thousands of college students, and they’ve shown me that street harassment happens all over college campuses. It doesn’t matter how big or small the campus is, or if it’s in a rural or urban area. Studies show that 51% of college men admit to harassing their female counterparts, which of course means the reality is much, much worse.

My sister is going to college next year, and from where I’m sitting enough is enough. In a 2005 study 57% of students said that they wanted an anonymous online reporting platform to address campus harassment. It was by far and away the #1 solution voted for by students. When I called the author of the report, she said that no one ever implemented the recommendation. NO ONE. Luckily, anonymous online reporting is what Hollaback! does best.

We’re taking Hollaback! to the next level, and we need your support. Take two minutes to watch our campaign video and donate here.

This is a long fight — but we’re in it to win it. And with your support, all the baby girls rolling around in strollers today will never have to experience campus harassment the way that we have.

What is the Healthy Masculinity Action Project (HMAP)?

The Healthy Masculinity Action Project (HMAP) is a two-year national grassroots initiative to build a new generation of male leaders who will model non-violent, emotionally healthy masculinity and serve as positive change makers in society – helping to take their communities from awareness to action. Everyday men, women, and teens nationwide are all driving HMAP.

Who is behind HMAP?

Men Can Stop Rape, the project leader, is joined by HMAP’s organizing partners: the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Men Stopping Violence, Coach for America, Women of Color Network, and A CALL TO MEN.

A number of organizations are helping by promoting HMAP to their national networks. Hollaback! is among them.

We hope you will join us in this effort. Ultimately, it will take everyone for HMAP to be a success.

The Healthy Masculinity Summit will kick off HMAP this October. Watch for more information in upcoming weeks.

Hello Hollabackers!

Not gonna lie. Hillary Clinton is a childhood hero of mine.  When I was little, I only knew about three women who wanted to change the world. There was Susan B. Anthony, but she was way before my time.  There was Mother Theresa, but I thought I liked boys too much for that path.  And then, there was Hillary Clinton.  I read “It Takes a Village” cover to cover when I was fourteen, and I’ve been watching and admiring ever since. Who knew, that I’d grow up to co-found a nonprofit that got funded by the AMAZING New York Women’s Foundation — and that I’d get to share a stage with Hillary Clinton.

Thank you all for your ongoing support that makes Hollaback! happen, and without further ado, updates!

We held our first safety audit in Queens! We want to thank Councilmember Ferreras and her team for partnering with us — it was a total success! Details are here.

We presented at the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Violence Conference! I kicked of the conference with a keynote about our work to end street harassment. It was their first conference in six years, and over 200 people were there. WOOT!

We’re expanding to address campus harassment! We met with students from NYU, Rutgers, and Western Carolina who are going to pilot our new campus harassment initiative.  Our indiegogo campaign to support our work with campus harassment starts next week — stay tuned!

If you’re in New York, join us at our benefit show hosted by our friends at Permanent Wave next Tuesday (the 15th) and sign up to march with us in the Pride Parade on June 24th.

HOLLA and out!

Emily

While we don’t think that violence is any answer to street harassment, we do understand where these women are coming from. Street harassment is scary, and our studies show that speaking up and speaking out about minimizes the emotional trauma.  So keep it up, ladies! We’re fighting right alongside of you.

I could not believe what he had just done in Karachi, Pakistan, in front of the whole busy lane and in an area full of traffic. By his looks, he seemed to be a thug and he could very well be amongst those people who harass women and get away with it. His ability to put his finger in my ass line and run it through so quick showed how perfectly he had mastered his skills at this. I was ashamed myself and did not want to provoke any confrontation with him in such a public place. I said nothing and went my own way to avoid any attention to what had occurred.

Could we have a new location for Hollaback be Seattle, WA?