Ypsilanti City Council unanimously voted Sept. 14 to waive the park rental fees for the Fifth Annual Domestic Violence Walk, hosted by Women & Men Working for Change.
Cherisa Allen, president and founder of the nonprofit organization, Women & Men Working for Change, requested that the city grant a financial hardship waiver to the amount of $735 for park rental fees, according to the resolution. This year’s Domestic Violence Walk will be held Oct. 2 at Parkridge Park from 9 a.m. to noon.
“Because this is our main fundraiser, we asked the city to waive the fee,“ Allen said. "The money that we raise, a portion of it, will go to a family or individual who has experienced or is in the depths of domestic violence. So, we wanted to get the fees waived so that the money can go to better use.”
After the presentation of the resolution, the council members offered their support for the organization and all they do to support victims of domestic violence.
“I just think that it is extremely important for people to support a cause such as this,“ Ypsilanti Councilmember Anthony Morgan said. "With COVID, this is one of the highest increases in crime in our city and across this state. I think that some of these families need some reprieve, so I am in support of this."
The Domestic Violence Walk is an annual 5K walk or run event that seeks to educate and fundraise to support victims of domestic violence in the community, according to the organizers. The hope is to bring more awareness to the issue of domestic violence because the subject is not brought up enough.
“The Domestic Violence Walk was born out of my need to bring awareness to this serious issue,” Allen said. “I recognized that there was nothing in Ypsilanti regarding resources. So, I put a team together in 2017 to form this annual walk. I just want to bring awareness.”
Those interested in joining Women & Men Working for Change at the Annual Domestic Violence Walk, can find the registration link on their Facebook event page.
