Public Invited: Community Against Domestic Violence Walk

DANBURY — An educator, a state’s attorney, and a former state representative have joined forces as honorary chairs for the Community United Against Domestic Violence 4K Walk on October 7 at the westside campus of Western Connecticut State University. The walk will begin at 9 am.

Jessie Ballenger, assistant principal of Danbury High School; Stephen Sedensky III, state’s attorney; and Lew Wallace, former state representative, will lead the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury and its supporters as they observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month and raise needed revenue for the free services provided by the Women’s Center.

Individuals and teams can register for the Community United Against Domestic Violence 4K Walk by going to the center’s website, WomensCenterOfGreaterDanbury.org, calling the Women’s Center at 731-5200, or registering the day of the event between 7:30 and 8:30 am.

Mrs Ballenger, an educator for more than 30 years, was selected as Danbury’s Teacher of the Year in 1990. She and her husband Joe reside in Naugatuck and are proud parents of Alicia, Michelle, and Elizabeth. She is chair of the Waterbury chapter of The National Congress of Black Women, Inc, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and member of Links, Inc.

She has been involved with the Women Center’s “Adopt-A-Child” program for six years, collecting toys and gifts during the holidays from the students and staff at Danbury High School. She is “proud of the growing support that is given each year to this worthwhile and much needed effort to help make the holidays brighter for Women’s Center families.”

Mr Sedensky is the state’s attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury, which includes the City of Danbury and the towns of Bethel, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, and Sherman. Since coming to Danbury several years ago, Mr Sedensky has prosecuted a variety of serious cases, including adult and child sexual and physical assaults, as well as being an active member of the region’s Multidisciplinary Investigation Team, of which the Women’s Center is an integral member.

The Community United Against Domestic Violence Walk’s third honorary chair is Lewis J. Wallace, Jr, who served five terms as a State Representative in Connecticut’s 109 State Assembly District. He wrote key legislation to protect victims of domestic abuse by making out-of-state protective orders stand without a new hearing (PA-99-186), as well as legislation benefiting college students, strengthening connections between schools and businesses, and reducing property taxes.

Mr Wallace has also been as active member and supporter for the Women’s Center for more than a decade, as well as serving on the center’s Advisory Council.

The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury provides free and confidential services to prevent or lessen the trauma associated with domestic violence, sexual assault, and other major life transitions to thousands of women, children, and men annually. The programs of the Women’s Center are supported by state and local government, area United Way agencies, and the people and businesses in the communities it serves: Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Warren, and Washington.