You Can Help: easy, important way to support new anti-violence campaign

What do you know, what do you think (and what do you think you know) about domestic violence and sexual assault and rape?

Those who are working hard on the issues surrounding assault and battering really do want to know, so we've created, with help from the University of Memphis Criminology folks, a brief survey that measures awareness, attitudes and inclinations.

Some of the questions or possible answers may surprise those who take the survey.

 It's easy. Please give it a try. And ask your friends to do the same - email the link to your contacts. You'll be helping an important cause.

Take the Survey

2015 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes - a hot trot down Main Street

Walking a mile in her shoes: Kevin Phipps, Shelby County Pre-Trial Services, left rear; MPD Deputy Chief Mike Ryall, left front; Andrew Kozak, WMC-TV, second from right. Photo by Haley Kirksey.

More than 40 men slid into women's shoes for the one-mile walk from the Cannon Center to Beale Street on June 25, joined by dozens of cheering women.

WMC-TV Channel 5 meteorologist Andrew Kozak talked on-air about the event all morning and live from the event- in his women's shoes - on Main Street. 

Others who led the way down Main included Memphis Police Deputy Chief Mike Ryall, joining for a fourth time; Mike Carpenter, executive director of the Plough Foundation and a co-chair of the first local Walk; Memphis City Councilmember Harold Collins; Doug McGowen, coordinator of the SAK task force and executive director of the Innovation Delivery Team; David Wayne Brown, president of Splash Creative, in his fifth Walk; Shelby County Judicial Commissioner Kevin Reed; Harrison McIver of Memphis Area Legal Services; Kevin Phipps of Shelby County Pre-Trial Services; Cardell Orin of Stand for Children and others from City Hall, University of Memphis, churches, 100 Black Men of Memphis, Shelby County District Attorney's office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Planned Parenthood of Greater Memphis and A Bridge of Hope.

Walkers carried signs demanding an end to rape and domestic violence.

David Wayne Brown, Splash Creative, left, strolls with supporters down Main Street.  Photo by Haley Kirksey.

The 2015 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes was produced in partnership between the Memphis Area Women's Council and the Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Task Force. Dr. Owen Phillips, who brought the idea to the Council six years ago, tended to registration and permits for holding the Walk as she has for four prior Walks organized by the Council. 

Doug McGowen, left, Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Task Force, and others participated in the 2015 Walk A Mile in Her Shoes. Photo by Haley Kirksey.

Board member Erma Elzy shopped for dozens of large new shoes. Women's Council board members and volunteers arranged stacks of large shoes for men to select and signs to carry. Volunteers from the Delta Kappa Gamma educators' organization helped Dr. Cathy Meredith with on-site Walk registration. Volunteers from Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority helped SAK Task Force member Sgt. Quita Knowlton at a water/cooling station near Court Square. Women's Council board chair Dr. Carol Danehower and treasurer Jill Stem managed collection of shoes at the FedEx Forum Plaza where the 2015 Walk terminated.

Our thanks to all who participated, who helped spread news of the Walk and urged men to join in!