Kansas City Kansas Community College

The impact of the Women’s Resource Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College has stretched all the way to Iraq.

Thanks to Roger Harrison, KCKCC Veterans Certifying Official and Student Services Coordinator at the Leavenworth Center, and John Burright, KCKCC’s Bookstore Manager, 50 T-shirts were provided the 287th Sustainment Brigade stationed in Cob Adder, Iraq.

The T-shirts were provided to fill a request from Sgt. First Class Kathy Zabel as part of a Sexual Assault Awareness month observance which included a run and group dining of Unit Victim Advocates (UVAs). “The State Sexual Assault Coordinator offered to send pamphlets and posters but was unable to provide T-shirts,” said Zabel.

“Kathy worked with my wife when they were in the Army together and she called and asked if we could help and I said what do you need?,” said Harrison. “I felt it was a way to help and to promote the College and the Women’s Resource Center since it goes hand in hand with combating sexual assault.”

At Zabel’s request, the front of the T-shirt carried the 2009 Sexual Assault Awareness Month theme of “My Strength is for Defending” with a teal colored ribbon and “Tallil, Iraq 2009.” The back of the T-shirt carried the college’s logo with the words Women’s Resource Center, Veterans Serving Veterans, www.kckcc.edu.

Zabel said Unit Victim Advocates wore the T-shirts while distributing pamphlets and other information to all soldiers as they entered the dining facility. “The information provided the soldiers with the contact numbers to call in case of an assault and all the avenues available to protect them from further harm,” Zabel said in a letter to Harrison.

"We really appreciate Roger providing this donation,” said Jennifer Gieschen, Director of the KCKCC Women’s Resource Center which is a part of the Community Outreach Counseling Program. “We have always tried to observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month through our newsletter and special programs on campus during the month of April. We often work with students and refer them when necessary to MOCSA, the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault.

“We have also worked with a limited number of female veterans upon their return from Iraq. The T-shirts provide a way to reach out to other veterans as they return, and let them know that we are available, for all kinds of counseling and advising needs."

In addition to the Iraqi project, Harrison and Burright have collaborated on previous projects including providing T-shirts for the 7th Annual Kids Triathlon held at the Leavenworth Riverfront Community Center April 18 which highlighted the KCKCC Leavenworth Center, Veterans and the Wellness Center. Depending on age, 62 youngsters between the ages of 6 and 13 swam 50, 100 or 150 meters, then rode bicycles for a mile and than ran a half mile.