CFJ’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes® Event Will be Held May 31st!

Walk is Major Fundraiser for CFJ’s Camp HOPE for area youth

The public is encouraged to join The Center for Family Justice in bringing awareness and helping put an end to gender-based violence during its 12th Annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes®, scheduled for Saturday, May 31st at the downtown Fairfield train station.

Presented by the Aquarion Water Company, Walk A Mile will begin with registration at 8 a.m. with the walk starting promptly at 9 a.m.

The walk will feature appearances from state and local dignitaries. The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps will perform and lead the walk as it proceeds the mile-long route to the Old Town Hall on Old Post Road.

CFJ will also honor the following with its Take a Stand Leadership Award:

· The Connecticut Hurricanes, for their participation every year.

· Toby Ugwu, for his work as a HOPE Counselor for Camp HOPE.

· Matt Devino, Sacred Heart University’s Delta Tau Delta’s Advisor for his support of the White Ribbon Campaign and the Walk a Mile event.

The walk is organized by the Center’s White Ribbon Campaign 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 and Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.

“The national theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month this year is Building Connected Communities, and we can’t think of a better way to describe this walk,” CFJ President/CEO Debra Greenwood said. “We have high school and college students, families, community groups, businesses and individual supporters. It is a simple, yet powerful, way to take a stand against sexual assault.”

Statistics show that 81% of women and 43% of men nationwide reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.

“Community members of all ages are doing great work in the prevention of sexual assault and supporting victims. Most of this work is done behind the scenes. This is the 12th year we all come together to publicly show that support by walking a mile together,” said Gary MacNamara, chair of the White Ribbon Campaign Committee and CFJ Board member. “Whether this is going to be your 1st mile, your 12th mile, or somewhere in between, each step we take together shows support to victims, and support of the efforts we are doing to prevent these assaults from occurring in the first place.”

CFJ Board Secretary Scott Redfern, and member of the White Ribbon Campaign Committee, said the walk is a call to action for the “upstanders” out there.

“The difference between being a bystander and an upstander, is like a sporting event. If you’re up in the stands watching, you’re a bystander; but being on the field is where you are actually making a difference in the outcome of the game. With gender-based violence it’s time for us all to get out of the stands and onto the field to make a difference,” Redfern said.

Funds raised at the walk will go toward the Elizabeth M. Pfriem Camp HOPE America-Bridgeport, CFJ’s therapeutic summer camp and year-long mentoring program for local youth who have been impacted by the trauma associated with domestic and/or sexual abuse.

Hundreds of youths have attended Camp HOPE-Bridgeport since 2017, with many attending multiple years. Some former campers have become HOPE counselors.

This summer, around 70 kids, between ages 7-17, 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.

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