Join us for the 15th Annual

Take Back the Night Philly

April 24th, 2025

First Unitarian Church

2125 Chestnut St

PLANNING IS IN FULL SWING!
Join us in strengthening the 15th Annual Take Back the Night Philly!!! We are calling all communities to unite and take a stand against domestic and sexual violence. Whether you are a survivor or a supporter, we are here for YOU. This space is held for YOU.  It feels more important than ever to provide this space for survivors to connect, be heard, and receive support.
follow us here or on our social media @tbtnphilly !
**Please note:  We are in no way affiliated with the Take Back the Night Foundation (TBTNF)**

Day of Event Information!

Details about event:

* March to take back the streets starting at one location – 36th & Chestnut – heading to the First Unitarian Church 21st & Chestnut.
* Participate in the “Bust the Myths” Street Action to address myths about sexual and interpersonal violence and abuse
* “Breaking the Silence” speak out; storytelling and sharing about living with and surviving violence, abuse, and oppression.
* A candlelight vigil to remember those still fighting, those lost to violence, and those surviving.
* Tabling to provide networking and resources for survivors and their families and friends from a coalition of beautiful, badass organizations and people.
*Performances interspersed in the speak out to provide opportunities to process, move, and pause
*”Light the Night” – an opportunity to write your share for those who do not feel comfortable or ready to speak aloud
*Art therapy table, self care stations, and support counselors
*Food and refreshments
We will only have one meet-up point this year. We will march and converge on the First Unitarian Church
Meet-up point:
West: 36th and Chestnut
5:30 — March meet up at point
5:45 pm — March begins
6:15 pm – join us for “Bust the Myths” street action raising awareness on the myths and facts of domestic and sexual violence at First Unitarian.
6:45 pm – 10:30 pm – Story sharing/”Breaking the Silence” speak out, “Light the Night”, and performances.
10:45: Candlelight Vigil

Performer Bios

What is Take Back the Night Philly?

“This incarnation of Take Back the Night was started in 2011 by staff and clients of an outpatient rehabilitation services clinic in South Philly. All members of the original organizing committee identified as survivors of violence as well as people in recovery from chaotic substance dependence.  At the time the original organizing committee was discussing the lack of support and visibility for survivors who were “regular people just living our lives”. One of our group members had participated in other Take Back the Night events in the past and another commented, “if they do this on college campuses then we can do it for us too, we can do it here” – ACN, original member & current organizer. 
 
Some of our mission goals and commitments include creating access to survivor resources and actions which extend beyond the reach of most college & university campus events and are more diverse and intentionally political—because fighting, resisting and unpacking Rape Culture is political and because we believe the only way to fully confront and end Rape Culture is by being truly inclusive and intersectional. It is important to us that this is a diverse, survivor- led event that supports access to healing and changing the narrative of our society’s victim blaming culture.

Over the last 15 years we have built a wide reaching coalition of collectives, organizations and nonprofits who all come together to volunteer their time and effort to share their stories, support survivors, increase access to resources and build community. None of our organizers or our coalition members are paid – this is a fully grass roots, community led event. We use various mediums of expression to reduce the stigma of talking about violence and being a survivor of violence including art, writing, dancing, testimonials/story sharing and resource access.  We have never affiliated with Take Back the Night, National for various reasons and we have no other affiliations outside of who is listed on our website. Please check out our Mission Statement which was created in 2016 in collaboration with the Philly Survivor Support Collective”. 

A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS….

dear all,

this year’s Take Back the Night Philly was one of the biggest, most beautiful, intensely powerful, intentional, and connecting ones to date. each year seems to grow & become more inclusive and more amazing than the last.  in our ninth year, we doubled our supporting organizations, our number of marchers & “Bust the Myths” participants, and the number of brave, strong, brilliant people who risked their vulnerability & their silence and traded it for safety and support; i am truly humbled and inspired by your strength & your stories of struggle, survival, resiliency, unpacking, reclaiming, & growth.

thank you to all who came out and participated, who spoke & shared, who made signs and art, gave donations, promoted & shared about it, bought t-shirts, and supported and created a safer space for each other. you made your burden and the burdens of others a little less heavy with your presence.  5 hours of powerful humans sharing their stories and energy and lives together.  thank you all for supporting my and your ever-changing, always evolving process.

it means more than you could ever  know.

it was: 

honesty. passion. love.
support. brutality. resistance.
resiliency. growth. unlearning.
unpacking. believing. seeing.

growing. hearing. healing.
being.
transforming.
realizations.
community. bonding. vulnerability.
boldly and bravely believing this life can be more.
building power through presence and intention.

you are strength. you are power. you are loved.

thank you for believing and manifesting that this world can be stronger, better, and safer for survivors.  thank you for trusting our organization, our dedicated volunteers & organizers, and the safer space we created, to share with us and grow with us.

please take care of yourself in the weeks to come. process, write, run, purge, sleep, eat well, exercise, draw, yell, share more – do whatever you need to do to feel safe, seen, heard, and supported. talk with your friends and loves about your experiences listening & sharing and feel free to write to us at [email protected] with any feedback, questions, comments, concerns, excitements, or other thoughts you have.

we hope to see you – and five of your friends – next year.

keep loving. keep fighting.

  • a. spitfire (2019)

KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR EVENTS THAT TAKE BACK THE NIGHT PHILLY WILL BE INVOLVED IN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR !  STAY IN TOUCH !

Email us with any questions, concerns, or to get involved at:

[email protected]