PARIS – The Rape Education and Crisis Hotline, or REACH, will hold two events in April in recognition of national awareness month for sexual assault and child abuse.

The organization will hold a Speak Out! at 2 p.m. April 1 at its office in Paris. A candlelight vigil will take place at 7 p.m. April 13 in Moore Park.

Speak Out! is an annual event inviting victims of sexual abuse to talk about their experiences and present artwork, poems and written pieces. Those not wishing to present a creative piece personally can have a member of REACH do so.

“It’s essentially a forum for people who are victims of sexual assault,” said Suzanne Dunham, administrative assistant and marketing executive at REACH.

The organization asks that children under the age of 16 not attend the Speak Out! Parents of abused children are welcome, as are friends and family of victims and members of the community. The event is open to both men and women.

Debbie Dembski, executive director of REACH, stresses that the events are open to the public, who can gain greater insight into what victims of sexual assault go through.

“It’s a hard subject. People don’t want to talk about it,” Dembski said, “but silence and secrecy is what allows sexual assault to keep happening, and if we don’t talk about it, it will never end.”

REACH, founded in 1982, is active in schools, educating middle and high schoolers about sexual harassment and violence. Dembski said the candlelight vigil is a way of incorporating younger people in the organization’s event.

Candles will be provided at the event, which is open to people of all ages.

REACH’s office is at One East Main Street in Paris. Its 24-hour support line is 1-800-871-7741.