Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event planned for last week in April

The North Iowa Domestic & Sexual Abuse Community Coalition will sponsor their Third Annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes the last week of April 2011. Inspired by the old saying, “You can’t understand a person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,” male community leaders will proclaim their support for rape prevention efforts by walking in high heels at an awareness rally. Educators, students, law enforcement officers, elected and appointed officials, and other community supporters are expected to participate. There are three walks scheduled in North Iowa this year. The first event will be held on April 26, 2011 in Clear Lake’s City Park at noon. The second march is scheduled for April 27, 2011 at noon in Mason City’s Central Park. The final event will occur in Algona on April 28, 2100 at 5:00 p.m. Men are encouraged (but not required) to walk in women’s shoes. High heels in all sizes will be available to those who don’t have their own. If you are interested in participating in any of the events, please contact Mary Ingham at 641-424-9071 “One in three women has experienced gender violence in her lifetime. A woman is raped every 90 seconds in America,” said Frank Baird, Founder of the March. “That means someone you know, someone you care about has been the victim of sexual violence. This violence does not just affect women. Men are hurt and angered when women they care about are raped. Men are hurt and angered when they try to develop relationships with women in an atmosphere of fear and mistrust and blame. And the same violence that targets women also targets men because rape isn’t about sex, it’s about power, control and violence.” The mission of the North Iowa Domestic & Sexual Abuse Community Coalition is to reduce and prevent sexual assault and domestic violence in North Iowa through agency coordination, community education, and public awareness. Please make plans to join the Coalition as a participant or a spectator at one of these events in April.|