Men: It’s Your Turn to Step Up & Step Out!
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event Comes to St. Mary’s County on April 3rd
Lexington Park, MD (3/25/11)- It’s a common phrase, a sentiment repeated in different forms all around the world: If you want to get to know someone, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. A select group of brave men will be taking the phrase a little too literally on Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s College of Maryland when they will be trading in their comfortable flat-tops for women’s high heels in a display of solidarity to prevent rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
The event, known as “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” (WAM), is noted as “the international men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence”, according to the program’s web site (http://walkamileinhershoes.org/). The march was started in 2001 by Frank Baird, who at the time worked with victims of sexual assault at the Valley Trauma Counseling Center at California State University, Northridge. Baird created WAM as a way to get more men involved in efforts to end sexualized violence.
WAM is in its first year at St. Mary’s, and is being coordinated by Sexual Assault and Wellness Advocate Meghan Root, Laura Webb of Walden Behavioral Health, and a dedicated group of student volunteers. Root said, “The students members of the First Responder Network decided to host Walk a Mile in Her Shoes as a way to outreach to the men on and off campus to raise awareness about sexual assault, and educate our community that we can all do something to prevent sexual assaults.”
This year’s WAM will be held on the St. Mary’s track (with the College’s indoor recreation courts as a rain location), and will include other events like bocce ball, water pong, and cornhole. Prizes will be awarded to the individuals and teams who are most spirited, best dressed, best walkers, and most empowered. Participants will also be signed up for a raffle with prizes ranging from gift certifi
