October 24, 2026
Registration 8:30 AM | Walk begins 9:00 AM
Cadwalader Park, Trenton
This Year, We Walk in Honor of Monica Wilson (Morris)
This year, Stepping Out of Darkness will honor the life and legacy of Monica Wilson (Morris), a beloved culinary arts teacher at Trenton Central High School, talented baker, mentor, and friend.
For more than 20 years, Monica brought warmth, encouragement, and care to her classroom. Students and colleagues remember the way her presence could make an entire room smile. Her influence reached far beyond the kitchen and continued in the lives of the young people she taught and supported.
Monica was killed in an act of domestic violence in April 2026 after reportedly taking steps to end her marriage. Her death reminds us why we must continue helping our community understand that preparing to leave an abusive relationship can be an especially dangerous time. Leaving is not simple, and responsibility for abuse always belongs to the person who chooses to cause harm.
As we walk in Monica’s memory, we will remember not only how she died, but how she lived. We will carry forward her light, her devotion to her students, and the care she shared so freely with others.
About the Walk
Stepping Out of Darkness is Younity’s annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk. It brings together survivors, families, advocates, and community members to honor Monica, stand with survivors, remember those whose lives have been lost to domestic violence, and shine a light on the realities of abuse.
By walking together, we challenge silence and victim-blaming, raise awareness of the dangers survivors face, and let every survivor know they are not alone.
Held each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the walk is one of Younity’s two signature community events, alongside Communities of Light. Together, these events invite our community to honor those impacted by domestic violence and reaffirm our shared commitment to supporting victim-survivors.
As Younity celebrates 50 years of standing with survivors, this year’s walk reflects five decades of advocacy, support, prevention, education, and community action. Each step honors our past while strengthening our commitment to a future free from violence.
Continue the Journey
Stepping Out of Darkness begins Younity’s community observances for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We invite you to continue the journey a few days later at Communities of Light, our annual candlelight vigil, where neighbors, community leaders, advocates, survivors, and supporters gather to remember those we’ve lost, celebrate the strength and resilience of survivors, and let every survivor know they are seen, supported, and never alone.
Who Should Come
Everyone is welcome. Survivors, families, friends, neighbors, and allies are invited to participate. Whether you walk in honor of a loved one, in solidarity with victim-survivors, or because you believe everyone deserves to live free from violence, your presence matters.
Register today and walk with us!
Together, we are stronger than abuse.