Men and women in sparkling, bedazzled stilettos and fluffy boots — and even a few dogs sporting tiny shoes — strutted down Concord’s Main Street on Wednesday.
The crowd was there not for fashion but to stand in solidarity with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Hosted by the Thrive Survivor Support Center, the 11th annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event drew more than 160 walkers sporting all sorts of footwear: six-inch heels, rainbow platforms, sneakers, you name it.
While the atmosphere was lively, the heart of the event was deeply sobering.
Every year, several people in New Hampshire lose their lives to domestic violence, usually women. In 2024, the New Hampshire Department of Justice recorded nine domestic violence homicides, down from 14 in 2023.
The impact of domestic and sexual violence reaches far beyond these deaths. Survivors are forced to rebuild their lives from scratch, leaving their homes, seeking shelter in group facilities and learning to navigate the legal system.
For some, it can take months before their cases are resolved, with nothing more than a restraining order standing between them and their abuser.
Theodore Schneible, a student at St. Paul’s School, joined his football team for the downtown walk.
Schneible may not have been in heels, but his purpose was clear: to bring visibility to domestic and sexual violence, a reality that too often stays hidden in silence.
“It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “As we bring awareness and more publicity to it, I think it’s going to keep progressing, keep making it better. We’re not going to completely eliminate it. We all wish we could, but I think any stride towards a better society is going to be better.”
Despite blisters and wobbly footsteps, participants smiled their way through the mile-long walk, which stretched from the State House to Pleasant Street and back.
Jessica Vaughn-Martin, executive director of the Thrive Survivor Support Center, said the goal of the walk is to encourage people to understand survivors’ experiences and to face some discomfort. The high heels symbolize struggle and empathy.
“It’s sort of representative of the walks that survivors do,” she said. “We love how many men come out and publicly support. I think that’s really important for the community to see allies of all stripes.”
All of the money raised by the walk goes toward Thrive, which operates a 24-hour support hotline, provides legal help to survivors navigating the court system, offers secure housing for victims fleeing abusive situations and invests in education and outreach around domestic and sexual violence prevention.
“With so many unknowns in the world right now, walking together, building community is critically important,” said Vaughn-Martin.