The Zonta Club of Frankfort, USA, hosted the 10th annual Area 4 Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Event and Walk on 15 November, bringing together Zonta members, youth clubs and community partners to launch the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Held at the Skanta Theatre in the Frankfort Community Public Library, the event included members of the Lebanon and Indianapolis Zonta Clubs, Z Club members from Lebanon High School and future members of the upcoming Golden Z Club at Purdue University. Participants also included women from WeCare Recovery Home and local supporters.

Area 4 began hosting annual Zonta Says NO walks in 2015, when more than 100 participants gathered on Monument Circle in Indianapolis to raise awareness about domestic violence. That inaugural event became the catalyst for a decade of area-wide walks focused on advocacy, visibility and community action.

This year’s speakers included Jenny Gardner, Director of Operations at WeCare Recovery Home, who shared an overview of their work; Donnell Wright, a current WeCare resident who offered part of her personal story; and Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker, who presented local domestic violence statistics and delivered a proclamation from Mayor Judy Sheets recognizing Zonta’s 16 Days of Activism campaign.

The morning concluded with a screening of “Finding Nicole,” a film based on the true story of Nicole Beverly, a survivor of more than a decade of domestic abuse who now advocates for those affected by violence. Attendees then carried “Zonta Says NO” signs through downtown Frankfort and around the courthouse square, calling for an end to domestic violence and honoring the resilience of survivors.