Guest Post: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Today’s post comes from a college friend of mine, Molly, who is currently working at the Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault in Springfield, IL. She’s doing some great work with women and men in her community, helping prevent sexual assault, educating people, and assisting victims. All of the services PCASA provides are given free of charge, which is WONDERFUL. However, I don’t have to tell you all how expensive that can get, and how state funding is being cut left and right for programs like these. That’s why Molly is participating in an event to benefit PCASA – Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. I’ll let her tell you more about it in just a second here, but please, PLEASE consider donating. This is so important!
Hello! My name is Molly, and I am a college pal of Ashley’s, a fellow writer, a social work grad student, and unabashedly a feminist. I am writing today to talk about one of the ways I am currently making small strokes in advocating for women’s issues.
I am currently working at the Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault (PCASA) in Springfield, IL, which is an agency that works to serve people who have experienced sexual assault and abuse and to end these terrible societal problems through prevention education. (You can learn more about the agency at http://www.prairiecasa.org.) I am interning as a counselor, so I see adults and children who have experienced this kind of trauma, as well as other loved ones who need assistance in coping. I also work by night as an on-call medical advocate. This means that if someone is sexually assaulted and reports to the hospital for examination and the so-called “rape kit” (police investigation/evidence collection), I come out (no matter what time of night!) and provide comfort, explain options, and support choices. Given my passion for women’s and gender issues and creating a sex-positive society for all people, PCASA is a great fit for me, and I love the work we do.
PCASA holds an annual event called Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, which is actually an international event held in many locations in April. (Visit http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org for more info.) It is very possible that you may have heard of this event. PCASA’s Walk A Mile is in downtown Springfield on the morning of Saturday, April 16, 2011. We are aiming to raise awareness as well as fundraise for our agency, which provides ALL services at NO CHARGE.
During Walk A Mile, men will lead a mile-long march through downtown Springfield while wearing high heels. Others follow, with or without heels. 🙂 There’s then a rally and an after-party at Caitie Girl’s, a local restaurant. It is all about the role that men can play in preventing sexual assault–it is so important to have men involved in the cause!
I told Ashley about the cause, and she implored me to write a guest post talking about how you can get involved. The big way, of course, is by donating! I am determined to raise the most money of everyone who is registered for our Walk A Mile. Can it be done?? I think it can (and currently I am in the lead!) Initially, I set my fundraising goal at $500. In less than 4 days, I had surpassed it! My new goal is $1000. Right now, I need to raise about $350 more to meet that goal by April 16… but of course I just want to raise as much as I can. If I get to $1000, I’ll up it again!
So, without further ado… here’s where you go to donate!
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/thelifeinpink/walkamile2011
Since I work here, so I’m ultra-passionate about the cause! It is so hard for survivors of sexual violence to come forward for help, so keeping our services as easily accessible and affordable as possible is an absolute must, especially with the state of Illinois projected to cut even more funding from rape crisis services (as well as many other social services in great need of funding). I know times are tough right now, but please, donate if you are able.
Other ways you can help: attend the event (if you are local or passing through Springfield that day), publicize the event or the Walk A Mile in your community, or get a Walk A Mile or another sexual assault awareness event going in your community.
I greatly appreciate every effort–even the effort to finish reading this very long post. 🙂
Thanks,
Molly