Women’s Center invites men to take a walk

Join the effort to help stop violence against women

The University of Missouri-Kansas City Women’s Center and the Violence Prevention and Response Project are again preparing for UMKC and Kansas City men to help stop violence against women by walking a mile in a woman’s shoes.

The annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes®: International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence event is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 at the University Playhouse, near 51st and Holmes St. in Kansas City, Mo. The march begins at 6 p.m., and a meal and raffle drawing begin at 6:30 p.m. In case of rain, the event will take place Tuesday, May 6.

“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes proves that violence prevention at UMKC is everyone’s responsibility. Each year, this event brings students, staff, faculty, administration, campus police, community organizations, our surrounding neighbors and businesses together in the understanding that we all play an active role in creating a safer campus community,”   said Arzie Umali, assistant director of the UMKC Women’s Center. “It is through collaboration that we cast the widest net and raise awareness of how sexual assault and gender-based violence can have detrimental effects on our students’ success.”

Registration is required. The registration cost is $15 for students with their own heels; $20 for students renting heels from the Women’s Center; $30 for non-students with their own heels; and $50 for non-students with Women’s Center shoes. Non-participants can purchase meal tickets for $7.

Participants can register, donate online and learn more about the event at the Women’s Center. Proceeds benefit the UMKC Violence Prevention and Response Project.

Frank Baird, a California-based psychotherapist, created Walk A Mile In Her Shoes in 2001 so men could help prevent sexual assault.

“Violence against women does not just affect women,” Baird has said. “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.”

For more information, visit the national Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign.

 


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