This Red Flag Workshop is an interactive activity created in response to the experiences of the &Rise support groups. Survivors often ask us, “how did I let this happen to me?” In return, we often ask survivors, "what would you have done if he physically harmed you on the first date?" and we always get the same answer, "I would've left.”

That simple answer reveals how insidious abuse can be. By examining red flags, this workshop offers survivors the tools to identify patterns, behaviors and understand how abuse doesn't happen in a vacuum, but gradually escalates over time. In our time together, attendees will identify green, yellow, and red flags and then use these new skills to examine past relationships. At the end of this workshop, our hope is that survivors will begin to let go of self-blame and shame over their abuse and continue their healing journey.

This event is for anyone who is curious about possible red flags in their own relationships or for those who just want a better understanding of what red flags could look like. It’s also a great tool to use for your teenagers who are just starting to enter the dating world.

This event is hosted by &Rise, a nonprofit organization that empowers women to be the ultimate versions of themselves no matter what adversities they’ve faced. &Rise offers personal and professional development events, free counseling for women in Illinois, and free in-person and virtual support groups for female trauma survivors. To learn more about &Rise please visit our website at www.womenrisechicago.org