Fairfield, Ct.—Hundreds of area residents committed to ending sexual violence will march in support of victims and survivors on April 28th during The Center for Family Justice’s sixth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.
For the sixth consecutive year the walk will led by its chairman, Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara, who will walk a one mile route along Fairfield’s Post Road wearing a towering pair of red heels to show his support for victims and survivors.
The walk is a fundraising and awareness event held annually during Sexual Assault Awareness Month by CFJ, which provides crisis and supportive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, in six Fairfield County communities, including Fairfield.
Walk a Mile in her Shoes is sponsored by CFJ in collaboration with the Fairfield Police Department and CFJ’s White Ribbon Task Force, a group of male community leaders committed to ending domestic and sexual violence.
Aquarion Water Company is the title sponsor of this year’s event.
CFJ’s President & CEO Debra A. Greenwood notes that the #MeToo movement, which gained national prominence after scores of high-profile women and men and came forward with personal experiences of sexual harassment and violence, make this year’s walk especially relevant and poignant. “People are beginning to recognize what we have known for so long; just how prevalent sexual violence is in our society and how many people it has impacted and traumatized,” says Greenwood. “This walk sends such an important message to victims and survivors—who often feel so isolated by their experiences—that they are not alone and that we support them and believe them.”
This year’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event will include delegations from the police departments in the six communities CFJ serves, including Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. The walk will also include teams from several local corporations and area high schools, Fairfield and Sacred Heart universities and the University of Bridgeport.
As part of this year’s walk celebration CFJ will honor the men of Sacred Heart University’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity chapter for their leadership in raising awareness about sexual violence on campus and promoting the idea that #MenCareToo about these issues.
“One of the most important elements of this walk is to showcase how men are allies in our efforts to break the cycles of domestic and sexual violence,” said Greenwood. “The support of law enforcement and students is an element of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes which is truly inspiring.”
Chief MacNamara said he is often asked why he walks wearing heels to show his solidarity with victims and survivors. “I tell them II walk to bring awareness and stop sexual assaults.” he said. “One of the best ways to support victim is to bring awareness to prevent more Victims. We can all talk globally but we all need to act locally. That is why I walk. But I feel the question shouldn't be why I walk, it should be, "Why don't you?"’
Greenwood also noted CFJ is grateful to be celebrating the event’s 6th anniversary. “By standing with us, Chief MacNamara has helped to galvanize the community and helped us 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 year’s Fairfield event begins with registration at 8 a.m. at the Fairfield Train Station on Mill Plain Road near downtown Fairfield. Walking begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at Fairfield’s Old Town Hall.
This walk takes place rain or shine.
For more information about the walk and to discuss participation and sponsorship opportunities please contact CFJ’s Director of Development Molly Bouffard (203) 334-6154 ext. 121 or mbouffard@centerforfamilyjustice.org.
To register for the walk, please visit 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, CFJ 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, CFJ 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.