A SusanvilleStuff Photofeature
by Jeremy Couso
Lassen Family Service’s 6th annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event was held Saturday, with participants meeting at Roop’s Fort and walking a one-mile course that headed from Weatherlow Street down Main Street, before turning at Grand Avenue and returning to Memorial Park. April is both Child Abuse Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Walk A Mile gathering is meant to start a conversation in the community about both issues.
A short ceremony was held on the lawn at Roop’s Fort where associate Pastor Jennifer Kirklin from Valley Christian Center gave the Invocation.
Susanville City Councilman Kevin Stafford read a proclamation and Lassen County District Attorney Susan M. Rios gave an impassioned speech about the support available for victims of sexual assault and child abuse. Rios’ new Mikailia Child Advocacy Center provides a collaborative multidisciplinary team, in partnership with various community agencies, who support and assist children, and developmentally disabled adults, by reducing trauma to victims and families, while supporting effective investigations and prosecutions throughout the criminal justice system.
Shayla Ashmore and Peggy Vaquera from the Child Abuse Treatment Therapy Program presented the annual Empathy in Education award to Nancy Singh from Lassen High School. Singh is a special education paraprofessional at Lassen and she was nominated by her students for the long hours she puts in while helping them.
“Mrs. Nancy is always asking how people’s days are going,” said one nomination, “She also always offers help if someone needs it.”
In Memorial Park, at the conclusion of the walk, participants wandered around to find free food, face painting, activities and nearly 20 ‘resource booths’ where local agencies and organizations had a chance to connect with the community.
We have more photos in our SusanvilleSnapshots.com gallery. Click here to see them all.
We have more photos in our SusanvilleSnapshots.com gallery. Click here to see them all.
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