MTC’s Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico, California, recently participated in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes men’s march against violence. Staff joined others in the community and gathered at the nearby El Centro Courthouse to walk a mile in red, high-heeled shoes—a symbolic gesture of men striving to understand the unique challenges of female victims, the most common targets of sexual violence.

Margaret Souza, executive director of Sure HelpLine Crisis Center, welcomed all to the event.  “Walk a mile in their shoes,” she said before the march began, “Because nobody knows what it is unless you’ve gone through it.”

Imperial facility Warden John Rathman followed Ms. Souza and read the endorsement of the Imperial County leaders.

“The proclamation of the board of supervisors of the county of Imperial declaring the month of April 2017 as sexual assault awareness month.”

The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event was organized by the Sure HelpLine Crisis Center, a local sexual assault prevention and awareness resource.  The center has been a longtime partner with the Imperial facility, providing on-site mental health and crisis management classes for detainees.