Blackburn Center's 'Walk a Mile' event gets new name, goes virtual

The Blackburn Center’s annual walk against gender-based violence is returning after a hiatus with a new name and format.

Formerly called Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, the event has been rebranded as Walk a Mile in Their His Her Our Shoes to reflect the universality of intimate partner violence.

“We certainly want the event to be inclusive of everyone’s experience, said Ann Emmerling, Blackburn Center executive director. “We’re aware of the limits of using only the female designation.

“We’re learning a lot more about everyone’s experience, and that violence affects everyone,” she said. “Society is evolving in its understanding of gender violence.”

The walk, canceled last year because of pandemic restrictions, will be virtual this year.

Instead of gathering in Greensburg’s St. Clair Park, participants are invited to do their own mile-long walks between April 7 and 10 and to invite others to join in, taking the walk beyond Westmoreland County and across the country — and even around the world, Emmerling said.

For local walkers, the Blackburn Center will offer a list of Westmoreland County trails.

The center also will provide a variety of online activities for all ages designed to raise awareness of the issues involved, including a quiz, crossword puzzle and word search. Participants will be invited to share music, artwork and other creative pursuits that illustrate the issue.

“Every year the walk has a focus, and this year, we’re focusing on the concept of empathy,” Emmerling said. “We hope people will pledge to do something to work against gender-based violence.”

Emmerling said that, in recent years, about 1,100 people have participated annually in the walk, which takes its inspiration from the saying, “You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

“I’m predicting that more people will get involved this year,” she said. “We’re using the power of the internet for good.”

Registration is available at 724-837-9540, ext. 144, or blackburncenter.org.

This year, there is no registration fee, although a donation of $5 or more is suggested. Walkers also can request a yard sign and a walk T-shirt.

The Blackburn Center offers free services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, incest and other crimes.

Services include a 24-hour hotline, counseling and therapy, legal services, support through court proceedings and emergency room visits, shelter for victims of intimate partner violence and their children, community and student education programs, in-service training for professionals and primary prevention programs on college campuses and with other groups.