FAIRFAX, Va. — Dozens came to Fairfax County’s fourth-annual Walk to End Sexual Violence to raise awareness about the issue on Saturday.
The event was just one of many Fairfax County has been holding throughout April in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
Saturday’s event at the county’s government center had cornhole, a DJ, a Zumba workout and raffles to create a welcoming space for members of the community to learn about sexual violence.
The walking course was lined with posters with statistics about sexual violence. The finish line was cradled by table displays outlining options available to those in a crisis, both inside and outside of the county government.
“We’re here to bring awareness to sexual violence and try to prevent it from occurring in the future,” said Angela Acosta, Sexual Violence Outreach Specialist in the Office of Woman and Domestic Violence Services for Fairfax County.
Some of the groups on display, like the Commission for Women, are part of the Fairfax County government. Others are programs outside of government control, like Artemis House, a domestic violence shelter. Even programs from neighboring communities, like Doorways, from Arlington County, were there to help those who may need it.
There were also trained counselors on hand, in case anyone at the walk was triggered by the content. The event has matured since it started four years ago.
“The first time we did it, it was on a weekday and it was just county employees,” said Acosta. “So it’s come a long way.”
Bolstering the event this year is the rise and prevalence of the “Me Too” movement, which encourages sexual violence victims to speak up and be more open about their stories. Acosta said the movement has helped her department reach more people.
“A lot more people are open to talk about this topic,” Acosta said. “It has been, and kind of still is, a taboo subject. People just don’t want to talk about it. They hear ‘domestic violence’ or ‘sexual violence’ and they walk away from it, because they don’t believe that it happens in their homes, in their neighborhoods, in their communities. So the movement has made it a lot easier to start discussing the issue.”
Fairfax County has a number of free programs available to those in a crisis. Both individual counseling and support groups are available, and trained staff can help direct victims to help with groups outside the government if that better suits their needs.
Anyone facing sexual or domestic violence can also call the 24-hour hotline at 703-360-7273. From there, staff members and trained volunteers can intervene in a crisis and help sort out a plan for callers to get the services they need.
However, for those in a crisis, making the call can be the hardest part. Acosta said there are ways to help get loved ones the assistance they need.
“Please start by believing them, that’s very important,” Acosta said. “Thank them for telling you and opening up to you, because it is not an easy thing to talk about. And just provide support for them in whatever way is possible.”
