SafeWalk is one of CEE’s three major fundraising events that helps the organization keep its doors open.

Our mission is to break the cycle of interpersonal violence through empowerment, education and support services utilizing inclusive, trauma-informed, and client-centered practices for all individuals in the community. We accomplish that through our confidential, no-cost services for victims and survivors of interpersonal violence (IPV) in the form of counseling and advocacy, crisis intervention, and emergency shelter, in addition to prevention education, outreach, and training in our 11-town catchment area, which includes Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, and Sherman. Through all our services, we serve over 20,000 individuals annually.

CEE is a client-focused organization that empowers individuals and families to make their own decisions, especially decisions affecting their autonomy, well-being, and safety. We strive to ensure that our clients find safety and are empowered to gain or regain their voice so that they may become their own best advocate.

IPV includes domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. IPV affects people of all identities and backgrounds and can have lasting impacts on those who experience it. All communities are affected by interpersonal violence, and CEE is here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

SafeWalk is our premier event, uniting the community in our vision to create safer communities free from interpersonal violence for all individuals in Northern Fairfield and Southern Litchfield counties, as well as to raise much-needed funding to support our no-cost programs and services. 

Individuals and teams are encouraged to walk, run, and fundraise from the comfort of their own home/communities. Choose a time during the fundraising weekend that works with your schedule, hop on a treadmill, walk around your neighborhood, or meet up with a group of friends and don your SafeWalk t-shirt (included with the registration fee). Hashtag your photos to #safewalk2024. People of all ages are encouraged to participate and create their own personal peer-to-peer fundraising page to encourage family and friends to sponsor them with a donation. You can visit www.thecenterct.org to get started!

As always, we want to remind our community that we are here. If you or someone you know needs support, our no-cost confidential hotlines are available 24/7.

24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline (203)731-5206

24/7 Sexual Assault Hotline (203)731-5204

The Center for Empowerment & Education Chief Program Officer Cara During wrote this article.