Women’s Center Hosts October Walk, Support Groups

DANBURY — October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Women’s Center is hosting its Annual 4k Walk Against Domestic Violence on Sunday, October 2, at the Westside Campus of Western Connecticut State University.

This year, the Women’s Center is proud to honor three dedicated community supporters: Pastor Cindy Maddox and the members of the King Street United Church of Christ; Charlie Manos, director of special services for the Brookfield School District; and Zumba instructor Lynda Muir.

Nationally recognized comedian Christine O’Leary will reprise her enthusiastic role as the walk’s special guest emcee.

Clean, couture, comedy multitasker and funny to the bone, Ms O’Leary intuitively and constantly is interviewing and assessing her audience. Her off-the-cuff interactions and improvisation are the forte and storytelling is her crafted skill.

Participants will enjoy vocal performances and music, African dancing demonstrations, a Zumba warm up, games for the kids, treats, and much more. Rain or shine, registration begins at 8:30 am, followed by the opening ceremony at 9:30 and walking at 10.

In the event of inclement weather, all walk activities will be held in the O’Neill Center at WCSU.

Preregistration is $50 per team, $25 per individual; Walk day registration is $60 for a team, $30 for individuals.

In related news, the Women’s Center is offering “Endings,” a support group for those considering or in the process of ending a marriage or relationship. This closed, facilitated evening group meets weekly for eight-week sessions in the fall and spring. Topics include the mourning process of divorce, self-esteem, coping strategies for stress, anger and loneliness, and moving beyond the divorce. The fall session begins Thursday, October 6.

The center’s I Am OK! Reclaiming Your Self-Esteem is a seven-week group program to identify and develop skills to counter the negative factors impacting self-esteem. The next evening session begins Tuesday, October 4.

Registration is required for participation in this free and confidential support group.

Other ongoing weekly drop-in support groups include:

Breaking the Silence for adult survivors of any form of sexual assault meets weekly.

SOAR (Survivors Overcoming Abusive Relationships) meets weekly.

The Women’s Center 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 we serve including Newtown.

For more information or to register for any of the support groups or sessions above, call 203-731-5200 or click on www.wcogd.org .