Walk Urges Men to Join Violence Prevention
The 12th annual Heels 2 Heal Walk in Salt Lake City broadened its focus to community violence and invited men to take part.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources held the 12th Annual Heels 2 Heal Walk for Violence Prevention and Community Peace on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake City. This year the walk expanded its focus to include community violence and encouraged men to participate as active partners in domestic violence prevention.
Why it matters
The walk lets more men stand in solidarity with domestic violence victims and survivors, widening participation beyond those who have traditionally led prevention efforts. Its expanded focus signals a broader local push to address violence across the Salt Lake City community.
Survey figures cited at the walk show women in the United States experience violence at considerably higher rates than men, with one in five women reporting contact sexual violence and nearly one in four reporting physical violence. Attendance numbers and program outcomes from the event were not reported.
The players
Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources
A community organization that hosted the Heels 2 Heal Walk and works on violence prevention and community peace among Pacific Islander residents.
The details
Men were invited to wear high heels during the walk as a symbol of solidarity, and the event was held at the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake City. Organizers from Pacific Island Knowledge to Action Resources framed the walk around both domestic violence prevention and broader community peace.
Timeline
Saturday, October 31, 2026: 12th Annual Heels 2 Heal Walk held at the International Peace Gardens.
2023/2024: Survey period for the Intimate Partner Violence Data Brief cited in the event's statistics.
Culture Shift
The walk's invitation for men to take part in domestic violence prevention reflects a shift documented in the Intimate Partner Violence Data Brief, which found large gaps between women's and men's rates of sexual and physical violence. Framing prevention as a shared responsibility marks a departure from efforts centered almost entirely on women.
Residents interested in violence prevention can look for future Heels 2 Heal Walk events and community programs that encourage men to participate as active partners. Anyone affected by domestic or sexual violence can seek support through local victim services and advocacy organizations.
The takeaway
Violence prevention is strengthened when men and women share responsibility for it, as the Heels 2 Heal Walk's expanded focus illustrates. Readers can support these efforts by backing local organizations that work on both domestic and community violence.
Further reading
Explore more in Women’s Issues coverage from Salt Lake City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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Should men play a more active role in preventing domestic violence in your community?
