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Disabled people face higher risks of intimate partner violence and relationship sexual violence, yet their experiences are often overlooked. Abuse can include control of mobility devices, denial of medication, isolation, and other forms of harm tied to disability. Understanding these risks through an intersectional lens helps create prevention efforts that are more inclusive, informed, and effective. Safer communities must value disabled people, listen to their experiences, and address the systems that make violence more likely.

Nerd culture can feel fun, creative, and welcoming, but harmful behavior can happen in any space. Harassment, sexism, and boundary-crossing are not limited to one type of person or group. Calling out these actions helps make gaming, fandom, tech, and online communities safer for everyone. Respect, consent, and accountability should be part of every community, no matter how “nice” or harmless someone may seem.

Pepper spray, tasers, and self-defense trainings are often seen as simple safety tools, but safety is more than carrying a device or learning a move. Real prevention means looking at why violence happens and working to stop harm before it starts. While personal safety tools may help some people feel prepared, stronger communities are built through education, respect, accountability, and care for one another.

The McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention brings people together to create safer campus communities. Through research, education, and action, the center works to prevent violence before it happens. Its mission focuses on learning from experts, supporting survivors, and building a culture of respect and care at the University of Utah and beyond.

Power shapes how people experience safety, harm, and support. A power-conscious framework looks at how identity, history, privilege, and systems affect sexual violence. It challenges communities to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and focus on the deeper causes of harm. By building self-awareness, naming oppression, and working together, this approach helps create prevention efforts that are more fair, inclusive, and lasting.

“Stranger danger” is a message many people learn early, but it does not tell the full story of harm and safety. Violence can come from people we know, trust, or see every day. By challenging this myth, we can better understand boundaries, trust our feelings, support survivors, and teach children that their comfort matters. Small changes in how we talk about safety can help build stronger, safer communities.

What if violence could be stopped before it ever begins? Primary prevention focuses on creating safer communities by building healthy relationships, teaching respect, and setting clear boundaries early. Instead of only responding after harm happens, it looks “upstream” to address the root causes of violence. Through education, awareness, and community action, primary prevention helps build a culture where everyone feels safer, valued, and respected.