Smith County proclaims April 2025 Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Smith County Commissioner—s Court on April 1 adopted a resolution proclaiming April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Smith County.

The resolution was read during the meeting by Commissioner Moore and adopted after a motion and second. The court—s action followed remarks from representatives of the East Texas Crisis Center highlighting local services and urging community support for survivors.

Jeremy Flowers, speaking for the East Texas Crisis Center, told the court the center provides trauma-informed services year-round and urged the county to "devote ourselves to being proactive" and to "advocate for change to create a safer Smith County." Maya Golden Bethany, identified in the meeting as executive director and founder of the 1 in 3 Foundation, was introduced as attending with the group.

The resolution text presented to the court noted that in 2024 the East Texas Crisis Center provided services to 157 survivors of sexual assault in Smith County and stated the county—s commitment to "compassionate understanding, holding perpetrators accountable, and to standing in solidarity with every survivor of sexual assault." The resolution was signed by the judge and all four commissioners and the court—s motion to adopt carried with unanimous voice vote.

The proclamation and the remarks emphasized awareness and local survivor services; no additional formal actions or funding were adopted at the meeting.