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	Walker’s Goal: End Domestic Violence By Chris Collins Baker City Herald August 2, 2010 http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Walkers-goal-End-domestic-violence A Portland woman who wants to raise awareness to help end domestic violence, including physical and emotional abuse of children, will visit Baker City with her own children and a Umatilla County court mediator Tuesday. Virginia Jones has been walking across Oregon to the theme of “Stop Abuse, Heal the Wounds” since 2008. This is her first visit to Baker City and the trip will coincide with National Night Out, which is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Geiser-Pollman Park. The 51-year-old Jones said she prefers to drive to communities and then walk around the town to allow time to talk with residents rather than setting an athletic pace to cover the state. “When my children were with us (on past walks) they taught us a valuable lesson,” she said in an e-mail announcing her Baker City visit. “We couldn’t set an athletic pace with kids. We had to feed them and make sure they were happy. “Slowing down and having fun gives people the time to approach us,” she said. The Baker City visit will begin with a walk down Broadway to Resort Street and then to the Baker City Cafe on Main Street where the group plans to arrive for breakfast at 10 a.m. Afterward they will walk back to Broadway and then to First Street to visit shops and historic buildings along the way. At 11:30 a.m. they plan to be at First Street and Auburn Avenue and then will head back to Resort Street and travel down Main Street. They will stop at Bella Main Street Market between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to buy lunch items and then will continue down Main Street to the 1800 block where they will visit the MayDay staff and tour the office at 1:45 p.m. Michele Woods, MayDay director, said that although a broken foot will prevent her from joining the walk, other staff members might participate if their schedules allow. “We’re hoping to join her and to support all of her efforts,” Woods said. “We’re very proud to be a part of it.” Mary Collard of the Baker County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program also is supportive of Jones’ project, but she will be busy setting up displays for National Night Out and the Baker County Fair on Tuesday. Collard said she sent the walkers an e-mail this morning inviting them to participate in National Night Out if it fits into their schedule. “I’m excited to see what it is that she’s all about,” Collard said. “It sounds like it’s great what she’s doing. She’s very passionate about it and I look forward to meeting her.” Jones and her 14-year-old son, Colin, and 11-year-old daughter, Sidney, will be joined on the trip by Joan Howard of Umatilla County. Jones said the walkers will be wearing T-shirts identifying them and their cause. “We raise awareness about abuse in all of its forms — child sex abuse, rape, domestic violence, clergy abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse — by wearing T-shirts proclaiming the issue and engaging in conversation with anyone who is interested,” she stated in a brochure about the Baker City visit. “Abuse happens when we are silent.” Jones encourages community residents to join the group as they travel through Baker City. “We support survivors coming forward for help and connect them to resources for healing,” she said. For more information, visit this Web site: www.compassionategathering.com.
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