Be the Light march for domestic violence awareness and advocacy

Be the Light march for domestic violence awareness will go through Main Street and a memorial for Leisa Mukai will follow on October 9. Photo: Peace House.

PARK CITY, Utah – Peace House’s 2022 Be the Light march on Main Street will start and end at the Town Lift Plaza Sunday, October 9, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Luminaries will line Main Street, illuminating the need for awareness and advocacy for interpersonal violence survivors. Community members are invited to join the march, beginning outside of Rich Haines Galleries and All Sports Eyewear, to the top of Main. Luminaries placed along the route will light the way for those marching and bystanders, signifying the need for domestic violence awareness. Signs will be handed out at the start of the march, and participants are encouraged to make or bring their own.

“Be the Light is an opportunity to come together as a community in support and solidarity of survivors of domestic violence and abuse,” said  Director of Marketing and Communications Erika Carlson. “Many of us know survivors, and many of us are survivors. It is important that we come together to not only bring awareness to this global issue but also to combat the stigma of reaching out for help.”

Peace House’s Prevention and Education Director Emma Zevallos gathered feature speakers County Attorney Margaret Olsen, Park City Councilperson Tana Toly, Chair of Wasatch Latino Coalition Yuri Jensen, and Peace House Executive Director Kendra Wyckoff, along with music by Ryan Walsh.

“Our hope is that this event highlights the importance of supporting survivors of domestic violence, that services are available, and the programs at Peace House are centered around safety, empowerment, and social justice,” said Zevallos. “We want our community members to feel inspired by the mission and become advocates in their own way. We can all create changes in the social norms that perpetuate abuse if we unite as a community.”

All event information, registration, and sponsorship information are available on the Peace House website. Carlson recommends participants register for the event.

Sponsorships are available, as well as donations to support the luminaries. For sponsorship questions, contact Sally Tauber, director of development, at sally@peacehouse.org.

A memorial for Leisa Mukai, the former director of prevention and education awareness, will be held after the march at Kimball Terrace from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. to celebrate her memory and the fantastic work she did for our community. In April, Mukai passed away due to injuries from a car accident.

“We hope to perpetuate a message of unity and acceptance – one that is echoed through our actions,” Carlson said. “Consider joining us on October 9 so that you, too, can become more educated on this topic and be an advocate for those who may need one.”

If you or someone you know is affected by interpersonal violence, please contact the Peace House HELPLINE (800) 647-9161 or the statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 897-LINK (5465) for confidential, anonymous help. For more information, call (435) 658-4739 or visit www.peacehouse.org.