Take Back the Night! What does it mean? What does it mean to you? Picture this: You are walking alone at night down a dark and empty street. You see someone walking toward you. It is a man. Your heart pounds. You feel nervous. You cross your arms, look down, and pick up your pace. You see your destination in the distance and are really looking forward to getting there. The man gets closerandamp;#8230;If you are a woman, this may sound all too familiar. If you are a man, you probably havenandamp;#8217;t had quite the same experience, but think of your mother, sister, wife, daughter, best friend, who most likely has. For many women, the fear of being muggedandamp;#8230;attackedandamp;#8230;rapedandamp;#8230;is almost a daily occurrence. Walking to your car at night, being alone in a parking garage or parking lot, even making your way alone through a busy bar, can all trigger fear in women.April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and we want to unite as a community, men and women, to Take Back the Night! By coming together and educating one another we can make our community a place where all people; men, women and children alike, can feel free to live their lives without fear. Please join Tahoe Womenandamp;#8217;s Services for an evening of solidarity for a safer community on April 16 in Downtown Truckee. Take Back the Night will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Gioielli Specialty Beads, 10280 Donner Pass Road. The crowd will be greeted by Maia Schneider, director of community development and government relations for Tahoe Forest Hospital, and then march rally style to the Train Depot.Once assembled in the Train Depot parking lot, professionals and community members will speak about the effects of sexual violence on individuals, our community as a whole and discuss prevention strategies for risk reduction. The evening will end with a Speak Out, where community members are encouraged to share their stories and thoughts, and a candlelight vigil in recognition of victims and survivors of sexual violence. Men and women are encouraged to come and support this cause!In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Tahoe Womenandamp;#8217;s Services and the Charles Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Tahoe-Truckee (CGBJJATT) are offering free Personal Safety andamp; Empowerment self defense classes. Try them out April 10 and 17 from 4-5 p.m. at the CGBJJATT school, located at 11430 Deerfield Drive, Unit 4B, Truckee.April is also Child Abuse Prevention Month. This national campaign is dedicated to promoting safe, stable, and strong families. Locally, we will be celebrating children and families with a community Tea Party. Join TWS and Communities 4 Kids (formerly the Tahoe Truckee Child Abuse Prevention Council) in making children smile at the inuagural Wonderland Tea Party. Your family can join the characters from Alice in Wonderland in enjoying tea, food, and fun Saturday, April 17, 1-3 p.m. at the Resort at Squaw Creek. The event will benefit Communities 4 Kids, which is dedicated to ensuring that accessible, effective resources and programs exist for children and families in our community. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for kids. Tickets are available at http://www.tahoewomenservices.org, North Tahoe Family Resource Center and Family Resource Center of Truckee. Get your tickets now before they run out!andamp;#8212; Submitted by Trisha Baird, Tahoe Womenandamp;#8217;s Services prevention program manager and Jessica Linn, Tahoe Womenandamp;#8217;s Services childrenandamp;#8217;s program manager