Men in Heels Fill the Streets of Northridge to End Domestic Violence

  • Hundreds of community members gathered at CSUN for Walk a Mile in Their Shoes: A March Against Sexual and Domestic Violence on Oct. 25. Strength United, a chartered center of CSUN’s Michael D. Eisner College of Education, organized the community event to raise awareness about sexual assault, domestic violence, child maltreatment and other forms of intimate abuse. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Breaking Bad actress Carmen Serano, an assault survivor and former Strength United client, spoke at the opening ceremony about her personal experience with domestic violence. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Many men at the march were encouraged to wear women’s high heels and literally walk a mile in their shoes, which they quickly learned is not an easy task. Participants could walk in whatever footwear they chose. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • The walkers chanted "break the silence and end the violence" down the streets of Northridge in protest against sexual violence. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Members of Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Sigma Nu, Zeta Beta Tau and Omega Phi held the banner and led the walk around CSUN. Many fraternities participated in this philanthropy to support the victims of domestic violence and abuse. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Registered participants received a free T-shirt for attending the event. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Men, women and children march down Reseda Blvd. to raise funds to support Strength United’s programs to serve victims of abuse. All proceeds from the event go directly to Strength United's work to end domestic violence in our community. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Many families and friends — like the the family of Maria Ines — walked to honor loved ones they lost to domestic violence. Every year, one in three women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her current or former partner. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Breaking Bad actress and assault survivor Carmen Serano took selfies with family members. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Attendees learn about healthy options from the Whole Foods vendors. Participants, volunteers and their families enjoyed a community resource and activity expo after the march. The expo allowed participants to learn about local businesses, agencies and resources, and enjoy fun activities as a family. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

Families, students and community members came together to break the silence and end the violence on Oct. 25. at California State University, Northridge. Many men walked a mile in high heels through campus and the surrounding streets to raise awareness and funds in support of those who have suffered from domestic violence. The march was followed by a community resource and activity expo for participants, volunteers and their families.

The event was a partnership between CSUN and Strength United, an organization which provides a unique approach to ending abuse and violence through the collaboration of mental health professionals, educators, researchers, students and volunteers. Accessible any time through a 24-hour hotline, Strength United offers not only emergency services, but also long-term safety planning, counseling, advocacy, abuse prevention and education programs, all provided free of charge to clients. The agency’s three locations serve people of all ages who have witnessed or experienced child maltreatment, domestic abuse, sexual assault, commercial sexual exploitation or violent crime. Staff and volunteers serve more than 14,000 people each year.