Alumni, Safety Chief, Fraternity Boost Event to Aid Women

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event supports services for victims of sexual abuse and other violence

Sacred Heart University will be well-represented at the 10th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an annual campaign to raise funds for The Center for Family Justice (CFJ) as it continues to advocate for abused women and children. Hundreds of walkers are expected to participate April 23 in Fairfield.

The center is a nonprofit organization that offers programs and services for victims of sexual abuse and other violence. It has conducted this event each April since 2012 to raise funds for its mission and highlight its work. Though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented an in-person walk-a-thon during the past two years, CJF conducted a virtual fundraiser in its place.

Sacred Heart has long-time connections to this event. Gary MacNamara, SHU’s executive director of public safety & government affairs, has chaired it since it began (at which time he was Fairfield’s police chief). Tracy Maus (MBA ’98) of Trumbull is a founding member of its committee. Members of Delta Tau Delta fraternity conduct its yearly white-ribbon awareness campaign on campus to coincide with the walk, and several alumni who lead the Fairfield Police Department, including Chief Robert Kalamaras ’17, are involved as well.

“I am happy to be part of the 10-year/10-mile club,” said MacNamara, who walks the entire route in bright red stiletto shoes. “I am even happier with what our 10th year means. We have had 10 years and thousands of people, not only supporting efforts to prevent sexual violence, but also walking hand-in-hand each year, with each step showing the community their support. In this case, change happens one step at a time―in high heels or not.”

Kalamaras noted the connections among the organizers. “Groups like Sacred Heart University and the Center for Family Justice are organizations within our community with which we interact on a regular basis,” he said. “These events give us an opportunity to celebrate our collaboration and strengthen those partnerships.”

Presented this year by Aquarion Water Company, the popular walk is produced by CFJ’s White Ribbon Committee, a group of male community leaders who collaborate with CFJ to draw attention to the impact violence and abuse has on women and girls. While anyone can join, “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” is noteworthy for the number of men who join in, wearing women’s footwear―including high heels―to signify their solidarity with victims and survivors of violence.

“We are thrilled to finally be able to bring our friends and supporters together this year to celebrate the milestone of our 10th anniversary,” said SHU alumna Debra A. Greenwood ’76, president and CEO of the CFJ. “While we’ve had virtual walks for the past two years that were inspiring and successful, there’s something special about coming together to say we care about creating safer, healthier communities, free of the trauma of abuse.”

The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps will accompany MacNamara as he leads the walkers down Fairfield’s Post Road toward the town hall on Old Post Road. In 2019, the last live event before the pandemic, more than 1,500 walkers followed the route. This year, organizers hope to attract even more and raise $50,000, said Maus.

A manager of product development at the utility company Avangrid, Maus was part of a team from Leadership Greater Bridgeport that helped create the walk. She said the experiences of family and close friends led her to this passion project and, as the mother of a son, she appreciates its emphasis on allies who model respect and dignity for women and girls.

Maus’ husband, Mike McKernan, and son Matthew support the effort by walking each year. “It’s a cause that’s near and dear to my heart,” she said. “This is one thing that touches everybody.”

This year’s walk once again will benefit the Elizabeth M. Pfriem Camp HOPE America-Bridgeport and its related Pathways to HOPE program. This CFJ program serves children and teens, ages 7-17, who have been affected by the trauma of abuse, offering them an evidence-based summer camp and a year-long engagement and mentoring program.

Individuals and teams can walk to raise funds for this life-changing program and also take a stand against sexual violence and abuse in the six communities the CFJ serves―Bridgeport, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. Walkers can sign up by visiting the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes website.