Survivors of violence come together for annual Take Back the Night March in Cincinnati
On Thursday night, dozens gathered in Washington Park to march in solidarity with survivors of violence.
Local organizations are partnering for this year's Take Back the Night event, raising awareness about sexual and domestic violence.
"When someone becomes a survivor, what's happening is that somebody is taking their power away from them, right. And so, Take Back the Night is about giving it back," said Sammi Murrell, an educator with the .
Advocates from across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky say creating a network of support for survivors of violence makes a big difference.
Organizers are making sure people impacted by any form of violence are able to find support.
"What we are doing is allowing individuals to have a space to get some hope and some healing and also navigate their voices and utilize some services that are available in our city," said Sheila Nared, the director of the Trauma Recovery Center.
Nared works with families impacted by gun violence.
Stephanie Brown, who was at the event, says that support has been life-changing.
"I had a grandfather that was killed by gun violence. My father was killed by gun violence," Brown said.
Now, she hopes others will seek help if they're struggling.
"They're there for me, speaking with me and talking to me and lifting my spirits and making me be someone better, stronger," Brown said.
With summer fast approaching, Nared hopes to start having these conversations now.
In Cincinnati, data shows that summertime is often the deadliest for shootings.
"We don't want to wait until someone gets shot to come together. We want to already be planting those seeds in place," Nared said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual or domestic violence, there are resources available, you can find out more by visiting the .
For anyone who has been impacted by gun violence, the is there to help, you can find out more by visiting their website.