On April 22, Emmaus House and Community Solutions was set to host the 5th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – The International Men’s March to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence.
According to a statement from the groups:
The event will take place at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets in Hollister beginning at 10 a.m. Registration and information is available at: www.walkamilesanbenito.org.
Early registration is $35 for men, $25 for women, $15 for teens, and free for children 11 and under.
Designed as a men’s march against violence, male participants are encouraged to walk the mile in high heels. Women are also encouraged to participate in a show of solidarity. High heeled shoes will be provided to every male registrant. Proceeds from the event benefit Emmaus House, a Hollister based domestic violence shelter for women and children, and Community Solutions, a nonprofit human services agency serving San Benito and Santa Clara Counties.
“The Walk a Mile event encourages men to literally walk in the shoes of women to raise awareness and end violence against women,” said Erica Elliott, Sexual Assault and Prevention Manager at Community Solutions. “In 2016, Community Solutions provided crisis intervention and support services to 65 survivors of sexual assault and more than 75 survivors of intimate partner abuse in San Benito County.”
“In October 2016, Emmaus House celebrated its 10 year anniversary providing shelter services to over 1,445
survivors of intimate partner abuse and providing crisis intervention and safety planning to over 4,000
individuals,” said Patrice Kuerschner, executive director for Emmaus House, “We are excited to hold this event
again in Hollister. It is such a great event to raise awareness about these issues in our community.”
Emmaus House provides a safe harbor for women and their children seeking immediate relief from a threatening situation. In a secure and child-friendly environment, trained and nurturing staff support and assist a woman with her immediate concerns for safety, shelter, food and clothing. Emmaus House also has on-going resources and access to community networks providing opportunities for women in a time of transition. For more information contact Patrice Kuerschner, Executive Director at [email protected] or 831-630-5899.
Community Solutions is the most comprehensive nonprofit human services agency serving South Santa Clara and San Benito Counties and the surrounding areas. For 40 years, the agency has offered a broad spectrum of services for mental health, sexual assault, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence, and youth development. Community Solutions works in partnership with community-based organizations, law enforcement, local schools, and county health and human service providers. For more information, visit www.communitysolutions.org or call 408-842-7138.
