PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Hope and Justice Project is encouraging people in Presque Isle to “walk it up” in support of domestic violence awareness.
The organization will hold its sixth annual Walk It Up Presque Isle event on Friday, Oct. 11, beginning at noon at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library. After the walk, attendees will return to the library for a presentation about domestic violence and the services that Hope and Justice Project offers to the community.
“Our goal is to engage the community and address the root cause of violence,” said Tammy Albert, director of prevention, education and training for the Hope and Justice Project. “We hope that our communities will recognize, respond and repair the harm done to individuals who have been targeted for violence, abuse and oppression.”
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Hope and Justice Project annually holds many events in October, including Walk It Up Presque Isle and Light It Up Houlton, which will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at the recreation center. They also hosted Rock It Up in Madawaska on Sept. 5 to commemorate its 40th anniversary and Chalk It Up Fort Kent on Sept. 20.
Albert noted that Walk It Up Presque Isle has become an important event for community members, with as many as 75 to 100 people attending in past years.
“Community support has become so prevalent for us, as society has finally begun to view abuse and violence as a problem,” Albert said. “Awareness events encourage people to take action to end abuse and alert victims and survivors about the options and resources available to them.”
The Hope and Justice Project provided 4,000 overnight stays for more than 100 individuals in emergency shelters in central, northern and southern Aroostook County, in addition to more than 3,000 hours of advocacy to shelter residents, in 2018. Their services include trainings for businesses and law enforcement, legal advocacy, support groups and school-based education.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.
