Penelope House Domestic Violence Awareness Walk Brings Purple and Tutus to Mobile’s Medal of Honor Park

MOBILE, Ala. — Supporters were asked to come dressed in purple, tutus or both on Saturday morning, Oct. 24, as Penelope House held its Domestic Violence Awareness Walk at Medal of Honor Park, one of the signature events of the Mobile shelter’s monthlong observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The walk began at 9 a.m., and participants made one lap around the west Mobile park, a show of support for survivors that organizers framed around a playful theme with a serious message: “Domestic Violence Awareness is TUTU Important.”

Penelope House shared information and photos from the morning on its social media pages after the event.

A community problem that needs a community response

Organizers said the walk was meant to acknowledge that domestic violence is a community problem, and that responding to it takes the whole community: supporting survivors and holding abusers accountable.

That idea runs through much of Penelope House’s work. The nonprofit says the prevention of domestic violence through education and public awareness is one of its central goals, alongside the shelter and direct services it provides to victims of intimate partner violence and their children.

Purple has long been the color associated with domestic violence awareness, and the purple ribbon is a common symbol of support for survivors each October. The tutus, a lighthearted twist that Penelope House has used throughout its awareness campaign, are meant to draw attention and start conversations.

Part of a month of awareness events

Saturday’s walk was one of more than a dozen events Penelope House scheduled for October 2026. According to the organization’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month calendar, the month has included:

• A traveling domestic violence awareness display at Government Plaza, B&B Pet Store and the West Regional Library
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamations from the Mobile City Council on Oct. 6 and the Mobile County Commission on Oct. 8
• A “Shatter the Silence” event at Spring Hill College on Oct. 15
• National Purple Day on Oct. 22, when the RSA buildings were lit purple
• A workplace purple shirt or tutu day on Oct. 23 to raise money for Penelope House
• Fundraisers and partner events with local businesses, student groups and community organizations

The awareness campaign continues through the end of the month. Penelope House’s calendar lists a domestic violence awareness display at Mobile Regional Airport from Oct. 26 through Oct. 31, and “An Evening at Chancery on the Hill” to benefit Penelope House on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., sponsored in part by the Home Builders Association of Metro Mobile.

Throughout October, Penelope’s Closet, the organization’s thrift store at 2907 Old Shell Road, has been taking $1 off any clothing item with purple on Fridays. Purple tutus and Domestic Violence Awareness shirts are sold at the store, which is open Tuesday through Saturday, and through Penelope House’s website.

What Penelope House does

Penelope House is the certified domestic violence program serving Mobile, Washington, Clarke and Choctaw counties, part of the statewide network of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The organization says its mission is to help victims of intimate partner violence gain social and economic independence through shelter, counseling, advocacy and referrals to community resources.

Its services include:

• 24-hour crisis line: Answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offering counseling, information and referrals for families in abusive situations.
• Emergency shelter: Available around the clock for victims and their children whose lives are in danger. Shelter residents receive food, clothing, case management, advocacy, vocational counseling, child care and support groups, and an on-site clinic provides limited medical services. Shelter locations are kept confidential for residents’ safety.
• Court advocacy: Advocates explain victims’ rights and options in the legal system, help with warrants and protection from abuse orders, and accompany victims to criminal and civil court hearings.
• Children’s program: Support groups, tutoring and recreational activities for children in shelter and in outreach services.
• Support groups: Weekly groups for victims in several locations in Mobile and Washington counties.
• Outreach services: Counseling, legal referrals, court advocacy, housing referrals and help with victim compensation for people who do not need shelter.
• Transitional housing: The Alma Taylor Project, a transitional living community, offers temporary housing and support for up to 24 months for survivors left homeless because of domestic violence.

Penelope House also trains medical, social services and law enforcement professionals on the dynamics of domestic violence and its effects on children, and it runs a prevention education program for students from pre-K through 12th grade. That program teaches younger children how to stay safe and whom to turn to for help, and it teaches teenagers to recognize the warning signs of an abusive dating relationship.

The organization says it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, disability or age, and both women and men can seek help.

Why awareness matters locally

Domestic violence remains a significant public safety concern in the Mobile area. Earlier this month, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said domestic violence calls make up the largest share of the calls deputies answer in Prichard, where the Sheriff’s Office has provided law enforcement since June, and that most of those calls involved strangulation. Burch said the county’s new law enforcement agreement with Prichard will allow his office to add an investigator dedicated to domestic violence cases.

Advocates note that many victims never call police or seek help, which is one reason public awareness events focus on making sure people know where to turn. Abuse can include physical violence as well as threats, intimidation, controlling behavior and isolating a partner from family and friends.

About Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month has been observed nationally each October since 1987. It grew out of a “Day of Unity” organized in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to connect advocates working to end violence against women and children. Over the years, the observance has expanded into a month of events across the country that honor survivors, remember those who have died and raise awareness of resources available to victims.

In Mobile, the month’s events have reached from City Hall and the County Commission chambers to college campuses, libraries, restaurants and, on Saturday, a city park.

About Medal of Honor Park

Medal of Honor Park, also known as Cottage Hill Park, is a large city of Mobile park at 1711 Hillcrest Road in west Mobile. It includes a paved walking trail, playgrounds, a splash pad, pavilions, baseball, softball and multi-use fields, the Cottage Hill Tennis Center, a dog park and a disc golf course, making it a frequent site for community walks and fundraising events.

Where to get help

Anyone who is in immediate danger should call 911 if it is safe to do so. Confidential help is available 24 hours a day:

• Penelope House 24-hour crisis line: 251-342-8994 (serving Mobile, Washington, Clarke and Choctaw counties)
• Penelope House office: 251-342-2809
• The Lighthouse of Baldwin County: 251-947-6008 (serving Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh and Monroe counties)
• Alabama Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-650-6522
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Residents who want to support Penelope House can donate, volunteer or shop at Penelope’s Closet. More information is available at penelopehouse.org.