KC bars, restaurants train staff to prevent sexual assault ahead of World Cup

Bar and restaurant staff across Kansas City are receiving training on how to identify and interrupt sexual harassment and assault as the city prepares for an influx of World Cup visitors.

The Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, known as MOCSA, is leading the effort through a program called SAFE Training — short for Sexual Assault-Free Environment. The free training covers what sexual violence is, what consent means, and how to recognize harassment before it escalates.

“Ultimately, our hope is that if someone is noticing the sexual harassment, it can be stopped before it becomes sexual abuse,” said MOCSA Education Director Brandy Williams.

Williams said research shows sexual violence increases 25% during large-scale events. She pointed to warm weather, large crowds, and alcohol as factors that can combine to create risk.

“We have had some larger-scale events like the NFL Draft a couple years back, and we did notice an increase in our crisis line calls and an increase in our hospital advocacy responses,” Williams said, “We’re not here to villainize alcohol by any means. We just like to notice and recognize that alcohol can be used as a tool to facilitate sexual violence.

With the World Cup bringing visitors from around the world, Williams said MOCSA has been preparing for language and cultural differences. The organization offers services in Spanish, has bilingual staff available on its crisis line in real time, and has access to a language line for additional languages.

ALSO READ: Organizations prepare for potential sex trafficking increase during World Cup Williams said knowing which countries will send teams to Kansas City has helped MOCSA anticipate cultural norms and plan accordingly.

916 Hospitality, which owns several bars and restaurants in Kansas City, is among the businesses that participated at Tuesday’s training.

Culinary team and bar team members, front house servers, support staff from Arrow Dart Club, Cosmo Burger in the Crossroads, Dodson’s in Waldo, and Goat and Rabbit on 39th Street were there.

Bar and restaurant staff across Kansas City are receiving training on how to identify and... Bar and restaurant staff across Kansas City are receiving training on how to identify and interrupt sexual harassment and assault as the city prepares for an influx of World Cup visitors.(KCTV5/Jiani Navarro) Kara Anderson, General Manager of Arrow Dart Club and Cosmo Burger in the Crossroads, said the conversational format of the training sets it apart from standard workplace policy reviews.

She said this training will be a huge help in preparing for World Cup visitors from all over the world.

“I want the team to feel empowered that they have the right words to de-escalate situations, to identify any problems that might arise, and so that they feel safe,” Anderson said.

READ MORE: Kansas City Police warn Congress: No money, no security for World Cup Anderson said the training’s focus on nonverbal cues is especially relevant given the language barriers expected.

“I think because the training talks a lot about nonverbal situations, I think that’s so important when we’re talking about language barriers anyway. Those are the cues that we really want to be able to pick up on,” Anderson said.

She also noted the program’s cost — or lack thereof — as a key selling point for other businesses.

Autoplay 1 of 5 Bar and restaurant staff across Kansas City are receiving training on how to identify and... Bar and restaurant staff across Kansas City are receiving training on how to identify and interrupt sexual harassment and assault as the city prepares for an influx of World Cup visitors.(KCTV5/Jiani Navarro) “One huge selling point as a manager of a bar is it’s free. Like they came and they provided this training for our staff just to help empower us and to give us the tools we need to operate a safe business,” Anderson said.

MOCSA’s goal is to train 200 businesses. Nearly two dozen have completed or scheduled sessions, with more scheduled through mid-March. Williams said she is also working to bring the training to bars and restaurants in the Country Club Plaza area.

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What a joke article. The tramps of KC will be lined up at these bars during the World Cup for some overtime action with Latin lover soccer fans and loving every bit of the attention they get.

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