Walk Raises Awareness About Preventing Gender-Based Violence

 FAIRFIELD, CT – Put on your walking shoes – maybe some red heels – and get ready as we raise awareness about preventing violence against women and girls during The Center for Family Justice’s 11th Annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® on Saturday, April 29.

Presented by the Aquarion Water Company, Walk A Mile will begin with registration at 8 a.m. at the Fairfield Train Station. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. To register as an individual or a team, go to bit.ly/cfjwam2023.

The walk is organized by the Center’s White Ribbon Committee – a group of male volunteers and community leaders who want to take a stand against gender-based violence. April is also Sexual Violence Awareness Month as well as Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.

“Thousands of people – men, women and children alike – have come out to support our walk because they know how important this issue is. We all know someone or know of someone who has experienced abuse,” CFJ President and CEO Debra Greenwood said. “But this walk not only raises awareness; it also helps us raise critical funds to run such vital programs for our youth who have been traumatized, either directly or indirectly, by sexual or domestic violence.”

White Ribbon Committee Chairman Gary McNamara, former Fairfield police chief and current Executive Directory of Public Safety at Sacred Heart University, said he hopes as many people as possible turn up for the event.

“Ever since our first step 11 years ago, the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes yearly event has had an impact on our efforts to combat sexual and domestic violence in our six communities,” MacNamara said. “We bring awareness of the problem, support The Center for Family Justice with needed resources, and help to improve the lives of the youth in our neighborhoods impacted by trauma.  I hope more people join us; to connect with other community members, catch up with old friends, meet new friends and help in our year-round efforts to make a difference.”

The Center for Family Justice – which serves residents in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull – has set a funding goal of $50,000. This will help provide support to Elizabeth M. Pfriem Camp HOPE America-Bridgeport, CFJ’s therapeutic summer camp and year-long mentoring program for local youth.

From 2017 to 2022, 267 youths have attended Camp HOPE-Bridgeport. An estimated 30 children have attended multiple years, and four former campers are now HOPE counselors.

This summer, 72 kids will get the camp experience, which includes a week of traditional overnight summer camp including swimming to campfires and hiking. The staff follows a Camp HOPE curriculum that takes a trauma-informed approach to building hope, resiliency, and empowerment.

Other participants at the April 29 walk will include a team of staff from the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

“CCADV is excited to have the opportunity to participate in this year’s walk and join the tremendous staff, community partners, and volunteers dedicated to supporting The Center and all of the survivors and children they serve,” said Meghan Scanlon, CCADC’s President and CEO. “Domestic and sexual violence affects everyone, so it will take the commitment and collective impact of all of us to finally eliminate this public health crisis.”

For more information about the Walk A Mile event, call Lauren Cicchetti at CFJ’s main office number at (203) 334-6154.

About The Center for Family Justice, Inc.

The Center for Family Justice breaks the cycle of abuse and violence – domestic, sexual and child – by providing services that create hope, restore lives and drive social change through education and community collaboration.

Our vision is to end domestic and sexual abuse and violence in our communities.

We believe that:

  • Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Collaboration with our clients, partners and communities is vital to achieve individualized choice, success, and empowerment.
  • Trust is essential for our work in building self-sufficient survivors.
  • Compassion and hope allow people to thrive and feel safe.
  • Community education, awareness and outreach are essential to drive and maintain social change and justice.

For more information, please visit: https://centerforfamilyjustice.org/about-us/what-we-do/mission-vision-values/

If you are in a crisis situation and need help, please call our 24/7 hotlines:

  • Domestic Violence: 203-384-9559
  • Sexual assault: 203-333-2233
  • Spanish: 888-568-8332
  • Text: (888) 999-5545