Cuesta College’s 2nd Annual Walk a Mile for Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Courtesy photos.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Cuesta College is collaborating with RISE to host Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® – The International Men’s March to End Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. It is often said, “You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” At the Walk a Mile event, Cuesta students, staff, and faculty will literally walk a mile in solidarity with those who have experienced gender-based violence.
The 2nd Annual Cuesta College walk takes place Thursday, April 19, on the Cuesta College SLO campus. Hosted by students enrolled in spring 2018 Human Development/Human Services courses, the event kicks off at 12:30 p.m. in the courtyard behind the cafeteria. Participants can wear shoes provided by RISE and walk a mile through the Cuesta campus.
“No one is immune from the impact of sexual assault, and we need to continue to speak out against its perpetuation and the shame and silence surrounding the issue,” said event organizer and Cuesta College Human Development/Human Services Instructor Bailey Drechsler. “Let’s join together to support survivors of sexual assault and raise awareness around this pandemic.”
Participants will receive free information about RISE services and Cuesta College counseling. People of all ages are invited to participate. Registration is free on the RISE website. Visit www.WalkAMileSLO.org to learn more, register, donate, and fundraise.
This event is sponsored by The Associate Students of Cuesta College, the Cuesta College Equity Action Committee, and the college’s Developmental Patterns of Women course and Human Sexuality course.
RISE is hosting three other Walk A Mile events in April, taking place in Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, and San Luis Obispo. For more information about these events, visit www.WalkAMileSLO.org.
All proceeds from the event support RISE. For over 40 years, RISE has provided services for survivors of sexual assault/abuse and intimate partner violence and their loved ones in San Luis Obispo County, offering free and confidential services such as counseling, 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, and prevention education.
ABOUT RISE: RISE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (formerly SARP Center and North County Women’s Shelter) whose mission is to transform the lives of sexual and intimate partner violence survivors, their families, and the community through services and education that promote safety, healing, and empowerment. RISE provides the following programs: 24-hour crisis line, case management, restraining order assistance, accompaniment and advocacy, two emergency shelters, individual and group counseling, and prevention education.