HFC and L’Oréal Paris present Stand Up Against Street Harassment

Join us for the April 13 session at noon

Join us for the April 16 session at 2:00 p.m.

In partnership with L’Oréal Paris, HFC is hosting two Stand Up Against Street Harassment virtual seminars:

• Monday, April 13, from noon to 1:00 p.m.
• Thursday, April 16, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

“April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During Anti-Street Harassment Awareness Week, we’re taking action,” said HFC Title IX Coordinator Munira Kassim.

Stand Up Against Street Harassment is a training program designed to give you the tools to safely act when you encounter harassment in public spaces, whether you witness it or you experience it yourself. During this training program, you’ll learn a clear, adaptable, and expert-approved set of tools that have been proven to reduce the prevalence of street harassment called the Right To Be 5Ds methodology.

The 5Ds

The 5Ds Methodology is as follows:

• Distract (Indirect Approach): Interrupt the situation by drawing attention away from the harassment, such as asking for directions, dropping an item, or starting a random conversation with the person being targeted.
• Delegate (Get Help): Find a third party or a bystander to assist. This includes alerting a manager, bus driver, security guard, or teacher.
• Document (Record): Take notes, photos, or videos of the incident to help the victim later. It is crucial NOT to post the incident online without the victim's permission, and never put yourself in danger to record an incident.
• Delay (Check-in): If you could not intervene in the moment, check in with the person after the incident. Ask them if they are okay, and offer support or resources.
• Direct (Speak Up): Address the harasser directly to stop the behavior. Keep it short and firm, such as saying, "That is not okay," or "Leave them alone."

By using the 5Ds methodology, you will learn simple, effective strategies to support others and help create a safer environment for everyone.

“We’ll start by deepening our understanding of street harassment and its impact,” said Kassim. “Then, we’ll talk through five strategies for intervention – distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct – and how to prioritize your own safety while intervening. We’ll also talk about what to do if you’re worried the violence will turn on you and how to avoid escalating the situation. Then, we’ll talk about what to do if you experience harassment and give you tools to safely get your power back. We’ll have time at the end for practice. Exit polls show 99% of attendees leave the training feeling like there is at least one thing they can do the next time they witness harassment.”

These two hourlong virtual sessions are free. Choose the one that is most convenient for you and register at one of the links above. For questions or more information, contact Kassim at mmkassim@hfcc.edu.