Crime Victim Advocate
Kim Keeley
By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
The Clare County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Sunday will be a special day for the victims of crime. It will be the day of the second annual Walk/Vigil to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week for 2023.
The Walk/Vigil will take place on April 23rd at the Brookwood Athletic Track in Clare. Participants can register at 12:45 pm (not required) and the opening ceremony will be held at 1 pm, followed by the beginning of the walk.
The ceremony will include the presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to local agencies who serve the victims of crime in the area and a reading of the Resolution approved Wednesday morning at the Clare County Commission meeting.
Crime Victim Advocate Kim Keeley said the theme for the week this year is “Survivor Voices: Elevate, Engage, Effect Change. The purpose of this family friendly event is to organize our community’s resources and showcase how we work together to raise awareness for victims of crime in our area.”
Keeley said, “The theme calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported.”
She added, “We would like to invite the community to join us for a three mile walk at the Brookwood Athletic Complex located on Ann Arbor Trail, Clare MI. Each mile will have a dedication focusing on three major themes in victim awareness. Mile one’s theme is ‘Pertinent Facts.’ Mile two’s theme is ‘Heroes for Victims,’ and Mile three’s theme is ‘Why We Fight’.”
That isn’t the only special event planned for the day. Keeley said, “We also will be doing a pop-up drive for RISE Advocacy.” RISE stands for Recovery, Independence, Safety and Empowerment. RISE is an advocacy agency based in Mt. Pleasant providing services, education and training for domestic violence, sexual assault, legal advocacy and prevention education.
If participants would like to support RISE and their efforts to support the victims of domestic violence, please bring personal care products or toys for children.
Donations from the community for the walk are welcome. Funds will be used for supplies and services ensuring that victims can participate in the court process.
The community is welcome to donate to the walk. Financial support will be directly used to provide supplies and services needed to ensure that victims can participate in the court process. Our walk event last year raised nine hundred dollars for our direct victim needs. We were able to provide resources to victims in our community such as gas, food, and hotel accommodations for court events, ensuring that their voices were heard.
Sign Sponsors (there are still a few left) can sponsor a sign for 50.00. Checks should be made out to Clare County. These signs will be placed along the track for the walk. After the walk the sponsorship signs will be placed on the courthouse lawn for the remainder of NCVRW. Call
Sponsors of the NCVR Week Walk include: Norm’s Heavy Equipment Restoration; the Red Door Thrift Store; Joshua’s House; Mann Construction; SSD Automotive Services; Bouchey Excavating; Harrison Lumber; Trading Post of Farwell’ KC’s Lake Thirteen Party Store; Huskey Metal Roofs; Snowbird Lanes; the Clare County Cleaver; Commissioner Gabe Ambrozaitis; Prosecutor Michelle William Ambrozaitis; Woods’ Household Appliances; and My Extra Cards.
For more information or to learn how to help survivor voices be heard, call or message Victim Advocate, Kim Keeley at 989-539-9831 ext. 8.