PennWest Clarion and PASSAGES, Inc., the sexual violence agency serving Clarion, Clearfield and Jefferson counties, will host Walk a Mile in Her Shoes at 11 a.m. April 11 in Gemmell Student Center.  

Since 2001, men, women and their families have joined the international Walk a Mile in Her Shoes events to raise awareness about the serious causes, effects and remediations to sexualized violence. While the event was started to address men’s sexualized violence against women, many organizations – including PennWest Clarion and PASSAGES, Inc. – expand the walk’s purpose to bring awareness to sexualized violence by any gender against any gender. One in four females and one in six males will be sexually abused in some way by age 18, according to the PASSAGES website.

During the walk, men are encouraged to wear red, high-heeled shoes to actively confront gender stereotypes and expectations. A limited number of high-heeled shoes will be available for men to wear on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register by calling PASSAGES at 814-226-7273 or email passages_advocate2@verizon.net. Registration is free, but donations will be accepted to advance PASSAGES’ mission of advocating for the rights and needs of survivors of sexual violence, while working to eliminate all forms of sexual violence by educating community members and promoting social change.

PASSAGES, Inc., has locations at 1064 B East Main St., Clarion, 814-226-7273; 90 Beaver Drive Suite 212 D, DuBois, 814-371-9677; and 18 Western Ave., rooms 108 and 110, Brookville, 814-849-5303. The 24-hour crisis hotline is 1-800-793-3620.