Volunteer Spotlight: Rob Owen
Rob Owen, Outreach and Education volunteer
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month, we are so pleased to spotlight our talented Outreach and Education volunteer, Rob Owen!
Rob is one if our amazing Outreach and Education volunteers. During his time volunteering for us, Rob has helped in many different capacities, outreaching to universities, families, and youth, as well as facilitating workshops on behalf of the Rape Recovery Center. He leads with humility and compassion in his work, and is such an asset to our team!
What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?
I was introduced to the Rape Recovery Center by some friends at a time when I was looking for a way to volunteer and help out. My friends told me about the amazing work done by the RRC so I decided to investigate the center for myself. After just a couple conversations with the wonderful members of the RRC I was ready to go through the training and, by the end of the training, I was excited to help out. The work done by the RRC is especially important to me as people who are very close to me have been assaulted and I want to help shape a social perspective that finally sees an end to this violence and abuse.
What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?
Most of what I do within the RRC is tabling for various events. This is especially rewarding when people come up to me asking for more details about the center and the work it does. So many people want to help and, like me, just need to know more about the Rape Recovery Center to know that is where they want to serve.
What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?
I was fairly well-informed about rape and rape culture prior to my time with the RRC, but I have definitely learned more about this through my service with the center. Unfortunately, being more informed means that I can now see even better just how much work still needs to be done in order to change social perspective and understanding.
Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?
I spend a majority of my spare time hanging out with my wife, who is my best friend. I play a lot of video games, watch movies, and do what I can to help out friends, family and neighbors when possible. I also enjoy a few artistic pursuits such as digital graphics design, writing, drawing and pyrography.
You have immersed yourself in the very difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?
I've seen perspectives of individuals change. I've seen individuals gain insight and understanding. Knowing that people can change, even just one person at a time for now, gives me hope that the human heart is open to this change and with enough individuals on our side, we might be able to orchestrate a much greater social change.
What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?
I believe that the entire purpose of this life is to learn to love and accept those around us, everyone around us. It starts within our own hearts, our own minds. It's not easy, but the RRC is working toward this very same principle. They are helping educate volunteers, survivors and everyone else, who in-turn can spread this message on to others. I just can't think of a more righteous cause and service.