Spiky red shoes – and the valiant people wearing them – took center stage at the 11th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to raise awareness and funds to support SafeSpace, a nonprofit organization whose programs and services assist victims of domestic violence.
“One out of three women and one in four men will experience domestic violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and this is what we have to stop. Together, we hope to raise funds tonight, but also awareness about this very serious issue. This is why we are here tonight and why we’re walking a mile in her shoes,” said event emcee Hamp Elliott, resplendent in Pippi Longstocking-style socks and a red tutu to complement his red stilettos.
After recognizing and thanking the 2022 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes partners and board members, Elliott stated that the event is a symbolic gesture to draw attention to the journey faced by domestic violence victims.
SafeSpace, the only state-certified domestic violence agency in the tri-county area, is dedicated to directly saving lives. It provides emergency shelter, victim advocates, legal assistance, educational programs and other services to empower victims so they might live lives free from domestic violence.
SafeSpace CEO Teresa Albizu, EdD, MFT, said that Walk a Mile events are held in October, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to underscore that help is available.
“It is sad to say that the global pandemic and its long-lasting effects continue to create very difficult living conditions for victims that spread beyond the home environment into our communities at large,” said Albizu.
“The numbers paint the best picture. Last year our advocates answered over 4,000 hotline crisis calls and that’s an 18 percent increase over the prior year. We are facing a very serious issue in our community, in this beautiful paradise that we call home,” said Albizu, encouraging everyone to tell people needing assistance that SafeSpace is there to help them.
She said that the opening of the new emergency shelter in Indian River County was timely, given the rising incidents of domestic abuse.
“We opened the shelter on April 7 and within one month the shelter was at full capacity, housing nine women and 10 children. And since then, it has remained at or close to capacity every single day,” said Albizu, who referenced the generous support of our local philanthropic community.
“Please know that domestic violence continues to be a serious issue around this country. Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States; 20 people per minute, every single day. And on average, four women lose their lives at the hands of their intimate partner every single day,” said Albizu.
“Let’s stand up, speak up and let them know that they’re not alone, they’re not invisible. That we will walk this journey with them, and that we’re here to help them every step of the way.”
As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Andrea Raffinan Shaffer, SafeSpace development manager, said she wished she had known that help was available.
“If I would have had that, I probably would have gotten out of that relationship a lot sooner. I would have not isolated myself; I would have felt a lot more empowered,” said Shaffer, urging anyone who needs help, man or woman, to reach out.
“Call our hotline, try to get out of it. We’re here to help and we’re here to make sure that people are safe. I’m just excited to be part of this movement to bring that awareness,” said Shaffer.
“There’s a stigma around talking about domestic violence. I was afraid to speak about it. I was ashamed of it, but there’s no shame in it. I survived those storms and I’m in a better place,” said Shaffer.
No longer a victim, she added, “I’ve rephrased it and reframed it to – ‘I’m a survivor of that.’ Our struggles make us who we are, and they make us stronger.”
For more information, visit SafeSpaceFL.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
