The KP Community Project centered around Denim Day 2025, an annual event held each April to raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The origin of Denim Day stems from a 1999 Italian court case where a rape conviction was overturned due to the victim wearing tight jeans, suggesting consent. This sparked global outrage and led to the symbolic use of denim to protest victim-blaming. The presenters—Leah Robson, Pedjay Dizon, and Selena Salazar—used this initiative to connect with local, community college communities and advocate for education on sexual violence.
Each Clinician brought a unique background and passion to the project. Selena, a previous Intern Clinician at West Valley College, returned to her practicum site to give back. Leah has experience volunteering with domestic violence and crisis services. Pedjay, a Registered Art Therapist, integrated expressive arts into the campaign, emphasizing healing through creativity. Their diverse experiences enriched the project’s reach and message.
The events were held at Mission College on April 23rd, 2025, and West Valley College on April 29th, 2025, where they set up interactive tables featuring community resources, expressive arts activities, and giveaways like denim tote bags and stress-relief items. Collaborating with partners such as YWCA, AACI, Planned Parenthood, and others, the team distributed brochures, educational materials, and facilitated meaningful conversations about boundaries, healthy relationships, and trauma recovery.
The project highlighted the seriousness and complexity of Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which affect all demographics. They shared signs of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse to help attendees identify red flags in relationships. Through visual displays and printed resources, they provided safety planning tools and encouraged students to seek help or share the information with others in need. Education was paired with reflection activities like self-affirmation prompts and creative exercises around the themes of love and healing.
The impact was meaningful both for the attendees and the facilitators. Students showed appreciation for Kaiser Permanente’s presence on their campuses, and many engaged in thoughtful dialogue about mental health and violence prevention. One county provider even expressed interest in future collaborations. The facilitators themselves described the experience as affirming, inspiring, and a reminder of the power of showing up for the community. Overall, the Denim Day initiative fostered education, support, and resilience across multiple levels of the community.
Contributed by: Leah Robson, Pedjay Dizon, and Selena Salazar
