Community Programs

Advocates of Routt County has been serving victims of sexual and domestic abuse for nearly 40 years. In 2018, Advocates launched its Social Change program and began offering “primary prevention” programs for free to schools, businesses and community groups. COMMA is a direct spin-off program from Advocates’ Social Change program, expanding prevention efforts and extending their reach beyond Routt County. Now any community can benefit from improved awareness and exposure to key knowledge for addressing these interpersonal harms. Drawing on research, social context, and best practices , each COMMA Community Program defies expectations of the average harm reduction program by empowering participants to recognize their own power to affect change, rather than simply burdening them with knowledge of problems and procedure.

Programs:

THE GOODS – ON SEXUAL ETHICS AND SOLID RELATIONSHIPS

COMMA’s flagship program provides social context and covers a range of fundamental concepts for ensuring healthy interpersonal interactions, including:

  • Dynamics of Consent
  • Observing Personal Boundaries
  • Communication & Decision-Making
  • Elements of Healthy Relationships
  • Refusal and Accepting Rejection
  • Providing Support & Reporting

 

GOOD FOR BUSINESS: EMPOWER YOUR WORKFORCE TO PREVENT MISCONDUCT

COMMA believes your workforce has a key role to play in improving public safety.

Empower them to disrupt misconduct and help your business!

Key Topics Include:

  • Understanding sexual misconduct as a public safety issue
  • The impacts of sexual misconduct
  • Intervention strategies and tactics
  • Supporting victims and reporting

 

INTERVENE: INTERRUPTING TOXIC BEHAVIOR MAKES ALL COMMUNITIES SAFER

“Bystander Intervention” is among the most effective practices for disrupting problem behavior before it escalates to a severe incident. Learn safe methods for redirecting problem behavior and how active bystanders can make their communities safer.

Key Topics Include:

  • Develop Observation Skills
  • Indicators of Personal Boundaries
  • Discuss Strategies and Tactics for Safely Interrupting Toxic Behaviors

 

HEY FELLAS: EXAMINING TRENDS AND EMBRACING THE BEST OF MASCULINITY

This (pilot) program explores the socialization of boys and men by investigating the history, social conditions, and influences that define masculinity. By questioning the parameters set on stereotypical manhood, participants compare these social expectations to their own ideas and values.

Key Topics Include:

  • Stereotypes and “gender policing”
  • Social challenges faced by men
  • Media influence and the “alpha” scam
  • Healthy communication and useful tactics

 

GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP: SPOT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SUPPORT VICTIMS

Human trafficking is a challenging issue to face, yet any community can be host to this crime, regardless of geography, demographics, or socio-economic status.

Collaborating with key stakeholders, survivors, and first responders, this presentation has been designed to empower workers who may be faced with human trafficking situations.

Key Topics Include:

  • The scope & nature of the issue
  • How to spot visual and behavioral indicators
  • A simple protocol for safely intervening and alerting authorities.

THE “CONSTELLATION PACKAGE”: EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY TO PREVENT MISCONDUCT

It may seem obvious, but when more community members learn the dynamics of sexual misconduct and are provided skills to prevent it, that community becomes safer. Coordinators willing to conduct outreach to local schools, businesses, hotels, and/or nightlife venues can provide a rare opportunity for all of these groups to get behind a unified effort to address these harms together by setting up multiple COMMA programs at once! Moreover, combining resources means no one group has to bear the cost burden alone…

So put Graham to work! “The Constellation Package” provides a discounted rate for as many COMMA presentations and consultations we can fit into a single day. Let’s collaborate to empower your community!

Testimonials

“One of the best speakers I’ve ever seen. Graham not only has a strong understanding of the subjects he covers, but his dynamic presentation style really draws people in.”
Lisel Petis
Criminal Justice Policy Expert & Advocate
R Street Institute

“I’ve had employees stop me or call me to say thanks, happy to see the company committing to a safer workplace and how valuable the information has been. A huge thanks to you for creating and providing this [Good for Business] training. This is a positive direction for not only our employees but the entire community.”
Trish Sullivan
Vice President – Human Resources
Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation

“COMMA’s programs are valuable in more ways than one. It is important for our students to learn the dynamics of consent and how to prevent dating violence or sexual assault. Having Graham present at RA trainings and Freshman 101 courses teaches them ways to safely engage in intimacy or disrupt misconduct… which is especially important considering what students are facing today.”
April Gilliland
Residence Life Coordinator
Colorado Mountain College

Bio: Graham Hackett

A seasoned educator and professional advocate, Graham spent most of his career as a specialist serving “high risk” youth, ultimately reaching juvenile inmates as part of gang violence prevention efforts in North Carolina. In 2014, he pivoted to join the movement to end sexual and domestic violence by touring programs to colleges across the country, advocating for consent culture. Graham went on to serve as Director of Prevention Programs for the rape crisis center of Buncombe County, NC before moving to serve as Social Change Program Manager for Advocates of Routt County. In Spring of 2023, Graham spun-off a new program and is currently serving as Program Director for COMMA, an agile, project-driven service program of Better Tomorrow specializing in harm reduction and community uplift.

Leveraging over 20 years as a program facilitator, Graham connects with a wide range of audiences to present COMMA’s programs for conferences, schools, colleges, businesses, and a wide range of community groups.

p.s. In his Creative Sector days, prior to committing to human services work, Graham also acted in over 40 theatrical plays, produced 30+ original arts events, and performed original poetry hundreds of times across the country – including at Bonnaroo 3 years in a row!