Leesburg commission to collaborate with LAWS on April 'Take Back the Night' events

Representatives from LAWS (Loudoun Area Women’s Services) asked the Leesburg Diversity Commission on Feb. 19 to co-host and help publicize a series of events in April centered on Take Back the Night, a survivor-centered awareness and prevention campaign for sexual assault.

The request matters because LAWS seeks town partnerships for outreach, venue support and on-site services including mental-health staff and safe spaces for survivors. LAWS staff said timing and venue logistics are already shaping planning choices and that the event should be widely publicized in advance to increase turnout.

At the meeting Leanne, volunteer coordinator at LAWS, said the group hopes to repeat the multi-part event it staged last year and again use public space in Leesburg. Diana, community services director at LAWS, described Take Back the Night as “a survivor-centered event” and said last year’s program included a march, a vigil, a keynote and a survivor speak-out. “It’s a chance for survivors to walk into the microphone and share their story or share whatever they want,” Diana said.

LAWS staff described several planning parameters the commission and town should consider: the group prefers an outdoor march and vigil but wants an indoor backup if April weather prevents an outdoor gathering; event programming could include alternative healing spaces (art, journaling, small-group conversations) because speak-outs can be triggering for some survivors; on-site mental-health staff or confidential one-on-one support should be available; and organizers will need help with outreach to grow turnout from last year’s estimate of roughly 30–50 attendees (staff, partners and members of the public).

Commissioners raised permitting and calendar conflicts. A commissioner noted the town recently lengthened the advance-permit window to roughly 90 days for some uses, so event organizers should contact the town events manager early. Commissioners and LAWS discussed potential venues including the town green, the courthouse lawn and an indoor banquet/meeting room in town facilities; accessibility and walkability were emphasized as decision factors. Commissioners also flagged a scheduling conflict with the town’s Flower & Garden show (the same weekend in April) and suggested the weekend before or a Friday night as alternatives to avoid being overshadowed by the festival’s setup and amplified sound.

LAWS confirmed it will form a planning committee and return with detailed proposals. The group asked for assistance with outreach and said it would follow up with contact information for town event staff; a commissioner offered to share the county public-information officer contact. LAWS left business cards and encouraged commission members to contact them for volunteer or coordination questions.

The commission did not take a formal vote on co-sponsorship or scheduling at the Feb. 19 meeting; members agreed to return to the topic after LAWS consults with its planning team and the commission consults town permitting staff.

LAWS provided a confidential survivor hotline and encouraged anyone with questions about services to use that resource. The group emphasized that available services are free and confidential and invited commissioners and community members to propose program ideas to expand healing options beyond a traditional speak-out.

Looking ahead, LAWS and the commission will determine a date in April, finalize venue options (town green, courthouse lawn, or indoor backup), confirm AV/PA needs if the Flower & Garden show stage is used, and work to secure mental-health staffing and outreach channels to increase public participation.