The Barton County Courthouse Square was a place of celebration on Saturday, even though the purpose of the gathering was to raise awareness about a sobering fact. Domestic violence affects everyone, and Saturday’s family-oriented event promoted healing by breaking the silence. The Family Crisis Center organized the “Break the Silence Festival.”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so the purpose of the festival was to bring awareness, education and prevention to the community.

Starting in the afternoon, there were free bounce houses and activities, including face painting by the Great Bend High School cheerleaders. There were also food trucks and booths featuring community sponsors, such as the booth by the Barton Community College nursing students, where children could pretend to give medicine to tiny teddy bears, which they could then take home, as they learned not to fear health-care providers.

After the games wrapped up, sponsors gave away several raffle prizes. The GBHS Dance Team and two members of the BCC Dance Company danced for the audience. Barton dance instructor Danika Bielek choreographed a dance to Lady Gaga’s song, “Til it Happens to You.”

Then survivors and family members joined in a Power Walk around the square to show solidarity and empowerment for survivors of all kinds of abuse. They followed a path lined with hundreds of white paper bags decorated with messages of hope and resilience. There were also silhouettes placed around the square that bore messages, such as the fact that one domestic violence incident is reported every 23 minutes and 16 seconds.

Kylee Graves, Family Crisis Center executive director, and Aimee Norris, Domestic and Sexual Violence Center program director at the Family Crisis Center, greeted the crowd before the Power Walk and read a message written by Central Kansas Dream Center founder Kim Becker, who has since gone on to found Move Your Mountain Coaching & Consulting. Becker was unable to attend, but her message reminded the participants: “Your past does not define you. ... As you start taking steps as we start the Power Walk, leave behind the victim mentality ... take back your power.”

Members of the community were also invited to pin a ribbon on a wreath in honor of someone they love or for their own strength in surviving an abusive situation. The Triple Play Band provided live music into the evening.

The Family Crisis Center (familycrisiskansas.com), based in Great Bend, has a 24/7 helpline. Call 866-792-1885.