It's Time to End The Backlog
Posted on Wed, Sep 29, 2010
By Caroline
We wear a lot of hats at Metis Communications - messaging experts, media specialists, start-up advocates, mavericks and the list goes on. Our recent work with Joyful Heart Foundation is a great hat to wear.
Joyful Heart Foundation -- an organization that helps victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse mend their minds, bodies and spirits and reclaim their lives -- was founded by “Law & Order: SVU” actress Mariska Hargitay. Promoting this foundation, which supports such an important cause, has been rewarding work for us.
Joyful Heart is working on an ongoing and important issue in the United States – helping to end the rape kit backlog. Rape kits store the DNA evidence to bolster investigative leads, and are no easy task for victims. Today, most states have a backlog of thousands or tens of thousands of untested rape kits -- a needless contribution to the 80 percent likelihood that a rapist will get away with the crime. The foundation is launching the first comprehensive website on the rape kit backlog, endthebacklog.org, in conjunction with the airing of a special Law & Order: SVU episode on the topic. One of the goals is to educate others on this backlog within in our justice system, encourage people to support the cause and deliver this message to victims: your cases matter.
In spreading awareness about the rape kit backlog and supporting JHF events, one of our Mavericks, Rebecca Joyner, otherwise known as Country-Fried Mama, has enlisted the support of the blogger world (mommy, daddy and beyond) to spread the word about Joyful Heart.
Yesterday, Rebecca hosted a blog carnival on CountryFriedMama.com on the topic, “the world I want for my daughter.” Bloggers are encouraged to get creative with the topic in support of Joyful Heart - plug in “son” or “children,” etc., but the goal is in line with Joyful Heart’s mission – vocalize your greatest hopes for the future and let’s arrive there by working together to mend the world. By evangelizing these talented writers, Rebecca and her community are looking beyond the root issue of rape kit backlogs to the future we want for our children – an environment of love, hope, kindness and acceptance.
From a public relations perspective, we are helping to tap into a powerful online community. Dedicated bloggers are out there spreading the word within their circles, telling a few hundred or thousand people who tell a few hundred or thousand more. The blogosphere represents an opportunity for true grassroots movement, and it rallies for the causes that matter.
Nothing beats working for an organization that makes you feel like a part of something meaningful, something that can make a positive difference in the world. We hope that this groundswell will only increase as more people get involved in the discussion and feel that hope that we feel. If you are interested in joining the blog carnival, please visit Rebecca’s blog for details -- www.countryfriedmama.com. You can also show your support by visiting or donating to www.joyfulheart.org / www.endthebacklog.org, and remember to watch NBC tonight for the special “Law & Order: SVU.”