Wing Care Team looks to start conversation at CommuniTEA & Conversations

Published 5:04 pm Thursday, February 12, 2026

Members of the Key Field Air National Guard Wing Care team set up outside Cash Saver for their CommuniTEA & Conversations event Wednesday. Photo by Thomas Howard

Weems Community Mental Health provides a variety of mental health, crisis care, substance abuse and other services to Lauderdale and the surrounding counties. Photo by Thomas Howard

Millions of Americans are victims of sexual violence each year, yet many are ashamed or embarrassed to talk about it. On Thursday, the Key Field Air National Guard Wing Care Team, along with community resources, set up outside Cash Saver in downtown Meridian to change that with its CommuniTEA & Conversations event.

“Not every topic is easy to address; that’s why we as the Air National Guard Wing Care Team decided to partner with our community agencies to provide resources regarding sexual assault, sexual violence, harassment, psychological health or just general stressors,” said Dr. Diana Shields, sexual assault response coordinator for the Air National Guard. “So just to let people know that there are ways to start difficult conversations.”

Shields said Weems Community Mental Health Agency and Wesley House, which also took part in the event, are two organizations her team works with closely as they work to connect people to resources in the community.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost half of women and one in six men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. One in three women experience verbal sexual harassment in the workplace, as do one in nine men.

Wesley House operates the East Mississippi Sexual Assault Crisis Center, East Mississippi Child Advocacy Center, educational services and other programs to help those in need in the community. Photo by Thomas Howard

“Sexual violence is also costly. Estimates put the lifetime cost of rape at $122,461 per survivor, including medical care, lost productivity from work and criminal justice costs,” the CDC states.

Shields acknowledges there is often stigma around the topic of sexual violence, but she and her team want people to know that resources are there to help them should they ever need them.

“We’re available 24/7. That’s what we’re here for, and that’s what we do,” she said.