On Sunday, October 4th, our community will gather at Waterfront Park for the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center’s 35th Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence. This event has become both a beacon of hope and a call to action. Each year, I am moved by the sight of hundreds of people walking side by side: survivors, families, advocates, neighbors, and local businesses all showing up to say: We believe in safety. We believe in healing. We believe in what this community can do together.
Domestic violence is not an issue that exists somewhere else. It affects individuals and families right here in Newburyport and across the 16 local communities we serve. The truth is stark. In the United States, more than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 6 men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. These numbers are not abstract. They represent our friends, coworkers, neighbors, and sometimes our own family members.
While the Walk is a cherished community event with music, activities for kids, and even a few enthusiastic dogs, its purpose is profoundly serious. The funds raised support our free and confidential services: a 24-hour crisis hotline, legal support, safety planning, counseling for children, teens, and adults, and housing assistance. These services are lifelines. They save lives.
Supporting the Walk also strengthens our work to end domestic violence through prevention programs in area schools, intervention with people who use violence, and coordinated community responses for the most dangerous cases.
Every year, I hear from survivors about how powerful it is to walk alongside one another and feel lifted and seen by their community. Some come to honor a loved one whose life was taken by violence. Others walk to celebrate their own resilience, the courage it took to leave, rebuild, and begin again. Their stories remind us that domestic violence is not just a statistic. It is a human experience that demands our collective compassion and commitment.
This year’s Walk comes at a time when the need for our services continues to grow. Economic pressures, housing instability, and social isolation all increase the risk for intimate partner abuse. Our community’s support ensures that when someone reaches out for help, whether at two in the afternoon or two in the morning, we are here to answer.
We often say that healing happens in community, and this event proves it. The Walk brings together people who may not know each other, but who share a belief in a kinder, safer world. That unity is powerful. It is how change begins.
I also think about who that message reaches. Somewhere along the route, or in a car passing by, or scrolling past a photo online, there is likely someone living with abuse who wonders whether anyone would believe them. Seeing their neighbors show up can be the first sign that help exists and that they are not alone.
I invite you, your family, your friends, and your colleagues to join us on October 4th. Whether you walk, donate, sponsor, or simply show up to cheer others on, your presence matters. Every step taken along the three-mile route is a step toward safety, dignity, and hope for someone who needs it. Together, we can build a community where domestic violence is not tolerated, where survivors are supported, and where every person can thrive.
You can register and find every way to get involved at jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org/events/annual-walk-against-domestic-violence.
If you or someone you know needs support, the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center’s 24-hour confidential hotline is always available at (978) 388-1888.