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A new non-profit has come to Suffolk and is preparing a walk for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Hey Sister I See You, or Hey S.I.S.Y. is hosting a walk on Oct. 24 at Rising St. James Pentecostal Holiness Church, 201 N. Sixth St.

A panel of survivors will speak from 9 to 10 a.m. before the walk to educate those in attendance about how to support victims, strategies to use, and signs to look for. The walk will start afterward and will go from the church to Hall Avenue and back.

Hey S.I.S.Y. was started by survivor Christie Griffin on June 23. With a slow start due to the pandemic, this walk will serve to be a kick-off to the non-profit organization.

“This walk is to shed some light on domestic violence since we are in a pandemic, and numbers are steadily rising,” said Griffin.

Hey S.I.S.Y. is an organization with the anticipation of outreach, empowering and motivating through coaching and personal development. Eventually, Griffin plans on having training seminars for women to help them after they leave the relationship. As of now, the non-profit is still brainstorming ideas to serve Suffolk best.

According to Griffin, the name could refer to someone coming out of an abusive relationship or achieving her goal. It stands for encouragement across cultures to let women know they are being seen and heard.

“So far, I have gotten quite a few people who have reached out,” said Griffin. “That is huge since domestic violence can be such a secretive topic. It’s great that women are willing to reach out.”

The walk is open to the public and will follow CDC guidelines. Participants are asked to pledge $10 to walk through CashApp with code $CMG9143. Event T-shirts are available for pre-order only on the Hey S.I.S.Y. Facebook page.

“I anticipate that this will become an annual event,” said Griffin.