College to host Walk A Mile in Her Shoes
By Lindsey Adkison ladkison@thebrunswicknews.com
Domestic violence knows no bounds — it impacts all areas of society and shreds the lives of its victims. It often takes place in hidden places, behind the doors of private homes.
But one local event aims to shed light on the issue. College of Coastal Georgia will hold its 4th annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 17 on the campus in Brunswick.
The walk will be hosted by the college’s Office of Student Well-Being and Support in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It will take place on the pedestrian mall between the Clara Wood Gould Library and Hugh and Miriam Nunnally Hall.
Thearon Filson, health services coordinator, says this is the college’s fourth walk. She got the ball rolling locally, after being inspired by a national initiative.
“The event was inspired by the organization Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence, and was discovered through research on college initiatives to raise domestic violence awareness,” Filson said.
“The initiative, along with partnerships with local organizations like Glynn Community Crisis Center, Safe Harbor and Faithful Love highlights a strong community commitment to addressing and preventing domestic violence. Since 2018, additional partners such as Georgia Legal Services and the Sheriff’s Office have also joined forces with the college.”
Unfortunately, all of these organizations keep extremely busy. The Georgia Commission on Family Violence reported that there was 37,653 incidents of domestic violence in 2023.
And that’s only what was reported.
The upcoming walk will offer an way for the community to come together in support of those who are suffering. During the event, men will don red high heels to raise awareness of domestic, sexual and gender violence. It aims to spark discussions about the causes, effects and solutions surrounding this issue.
Walking in high heels will symbolize the difficulties faced by survivors. A supply of red heels will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
“Participants should be prepared for a one-mile walk, and we encourage everyone to wear comfortable clothing and shoes — although, in the spirit of the event, many participants opt to wear the red high heels provided by the college,” Filson said.
“For those who want to view the event, it is free to attend, and spectators are welcome to cheer on the walkers. It’s a great way to support raising awareness for an important cause.”
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Participants can register early on Eventbrite at at https://tinyurl.com/Walk-A-Mile-2024.
For Dr. Jason Umfress, the walk is yet another way the college fulfills its role as an active and engaged community partner.
“The college is committed to raising awareness about critical social issues like domestic violence. In Georgia, approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner,” said Umfress, the college’s vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.
“By spearheading the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, the College is happy to step up as a leader in raising awareness, educating our community, and promoting the importance of empathy, respect, and action in confronting gender-based violence. We believe it’s our responsibility to foster conversations and drive initiatives that encourage positive change, both on campus and beyond.”
If you go, the College of Coastal Georgia’s Office of Student Well-Being and Support will host its fourth Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 17 at the pedestrian mall between the Clara Wood Gould Library and the Hugh and Miriam Nunnally Hall on the Brunswick campus. The walk will kickoff at 10 a.m. To register early, visit eventbrite.com/e/walk-a-mile-in-her-shoes-tickets-1003661808487.
Republished with the permission of The Brunswick News. Originally published in The Brunswick News.