Sometimes it feels almost absurd to do our jobs.

Each day, the news in the United States brings another wave of disruption—another crisis, another fracture, another signal that systems many of us rely on feel increasingly unstable. In moments like these, it can feel genuinely difficult to sit down and write a membership report or prepare a deck for an upcoming meeting when the broader political landscape feels as though it is unraveling. That tension is real. And it is shared.

At ATSA, we are not immune to the emotional weight of this moment. Our members span disciplines, countries, and political perspectives. We do not all read the news the same way, and we do not all arrive at policy questions from the same place.

What we do share is a commitment to a common mission: creating a world where ending sexual harm is a shared responsibility and an achievable goal. That mission does not disappear when the world feels unstable. In many ways, it becomes the anchor.

A Diverse Membership, A Clear Mission

ATSA is intentionally multidisciplinary and politically diverse. That diversity strengthens our work and reflects the reality that sexual violence prevention requires engagement across systems, perspectives, and communities.

At the same time, our mission gives us a clear throughline. ATSA exists to champion research and treatment, inform public policy, and advocate for best practice in the prevention of sexual harm. Together, we work to shift narratives on preventing sexual abuse perpetration, grounding that work in evidence rather than fear, ideology, or reaction.

Because of that mission, there are moments when remaining silent would be inconsistent with who we are.

When policies, executive orders, or systemic decisions fly in the face of evidence—undermining prevention infrastructure, weakening collaboration, or ignoring what research shows actually reduces harm—ATSA has a responsibility to speak. Not as a partisan actor, but as a prevention organization committed to science, accountability, and shared responsibility.

Speaking in those moments is not about politics. It is about aligning our public voice with what we know prevents sexual violence.

The Discipline to Not React to Everything

That responsibility does not mean responding to every headline.

Leadership in prevention also requires restraint. Sexual violence prevention is long-term work. It demands sustained focus, careful research, thoughtful intervention, and collaboration across sectors. If we allow the chaos of the moment to define our agenda, we risk losing the very conditions that make prevention possible.

This is why ATSA will sometimes speak—and just as intentionally, sometimes stay focused on the work without public commentary. Our role is not to mirror the urgency of the news cycle, but to maintain a steady, evidence-informed presence that advances prevention over time.

When It Feels Like Too Much

It is also important to acknowledge the human side of this work.

When everything feels overwhelming—when the scale of harm, instability, and uncertainty feels too big—it is okay to pause. Step away from the screen. Get a drink of water. Take a breath. Ground yourself. Then return to the work when you can do so with clarity and intention.

This is not disengagement. It is sustainability.

Creating a world where ending sexual harm is achievable requires people who can stay in the work for the long haul. Caring for ourselves and one another is part of honoring the shared responsibility at the heart of our mission.

Holding Both Truths

We can hold two truths at the same time.

The world feels unstable, and many systems feel under strain. And still, our mission remains clear.

ATSA will speak when evidence and policy collide in ways that threaten effective sexual violence prevention. We will also stay focused on the broader work: advancing research and treatment, strengthening prevention strategies, supporting practitioners, and continuing to shift narratives toward perpetration prevention and accountability.

In moments like these, staying grounded is not avoidance. It is leadership.

And prevention—now more than ever—depends on that kind of steadiness.