Fairfield, CT -- For the fifth consecutive year, Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara will step out in a pair of towering heels to lead a community-wide rally and walk in support of victims of sexual violence and abuse.
The Center for Family Justice’s annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event kicks off on Saturday, April 29, at 8 a.m., with a one-mile trek through downtown Fairfield. The walk is noteworthy for the number of men who join the march wearing women’s footwear as an expression of solidarity during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The message of this powerful walk is clear: Sexual assault and abuse and the vestiges of rape culture are not just women’s issues. Men and boys play a vital role in breaking the cycles of violence.
The walk, which also includes a fundraising component with teams who’ve raised pledges to participate, has become one of CFJ’s signature awareness and fundraising events. Last year, it drew more than one thousand marchers to downtown Fairfield.
“It is hard to believe that we have reached our fifth year walking and spreading awareness,” said MacNamara. “There remains no better way to bring attention to the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. This walk reflects the dedication of community members from the entire region working to end both"
MacNamara will be joined on the walk route this year with representatives of the six communities – Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull – CFJ serves. Teams from local businesses and nonprofits will also participate along with other local police chiefs and political leaders. Representatives of the student bodies at Fairfield’s Ludlowe and Warde high schools, Fairfield Prep, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University and the University of Bridgeport are also expected to participate.
Many walkers will be members of CFJ’s White Ribbon Campaign, a group of male community leaders committed to engaging men and boys in the efforts to end domestic and sexual violence. MacNamara is also chairperson of CFJ’s White Ribbon Task Force.
“Every year, this walk inspires us and reminds us how critical it is to engage men and boys in the efforts to break the cycle of sexual and domestic violence,” says Debra A. Greenwood, President/CEO of CFJ. “We believe prevention is possible and this walk is an important step forward in those efforts.”
Greenwood also noted CFJ is grateful to be celebrating the event’s 5th anniversary. “By standing with us, Chief MacNamara has helped to galvanize the community and grow this walk into an important community event.”
Founded in California in 2002 by community activist Frank Baird, Walk a Mile began in support of a local sexual assault crisis center. It has since grown into a world-wide movement that includes the participation of tens of thousands of men and women, girls and boys.
This is a rain or shine event.
For more information about the walk, please contact Angel Telesco at (203) 334-6154 ext. 131 or atelesco@centerforfamilyjustice.org.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR FAMILY JUSTICE
The Center for Family Justice Inc. (formerly The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County Inc.), brings all domestic, sexual and child abuse services – crisis intervention, police, prosecutors, civil/legal providers, counseling – under one roof, in our headquarters in Bridgeport, CT. Together, we work to break the cycle of violence by helping those in crisis restore their lives. Although our name has changed, we continue with the work we have provided for 12 decades, providing free, confidential, bilingual crisis services in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. It is the comprehensive services our partners are providing that are streamlining the road to healing and self-sufficiency.
Within the past year, The Center answered more than 1000 calls on a 24-hour crisis hotline; assisted with the civil and criminal court processes for more than 2,500 survivors of domestic violence; responded to more than 500 survivors of sexual assault and their families; provided a safe home for more than 100 women and children fleeing domestic abuse; coordinated the investigations of more than 170 cases of child sexual and severe physical abuse, developing service plans for the young survivors and their families; and provided psycho-educational support to more than 1,200 survivors of domestic violence, planning for their safety and promoting self-sufficiency.
As part of our mission, The Center educates approximately 4,000 members of the community about the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse to prevent future violence and spread the word that about the services we offer at The Center for Family Justice. Annually, we teach more than 2,000 children and teens about building healthy relationships, bullying prevention and dating violence.
For more information, visit www.CenterForFamilyJustice.org.