Benton Harbor Survivor Breaks Silence at Purple Ribbon Walk

Benton Harbor Survivor Breaks Silence at Purple Ribbon Walk

The fall air was cool, but the energy was full of warmth and purpose at “Hope in Every Step: The Purple Ribbon Walk,” hosted by Caring Connection in partnership with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Benton Harbor St. Joseph Alumnae Chapter.

Held Saturday, October 25, in the Michigan Works parking lot in downtown Benton Harbor, the walk brought the community together to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and honor those who’ve survived abuse.

Among the voices that stood out was Corlis Nichols, a guest speaker whose story moved everyone listening.

Nichols grew up watching her father abuse her mother. In her home, religion was central and that often meant keeping quiet about what was happening. “You didn’t talk about it. You prayed and you kept going,” she said. “Even now, my mom has never really talked to me about it.”

As she got older, those patterns followed her into her own relationships. Nichols said she experienced abuse in high school and again in college. It took years before she found the courage to speak out. “I didn’t want to feel stuck anymore,” she said. “I wanted to heal, to grow, to move forward.”

It wasn’t until she turned forty that she decided to try therapy for the first time, something she admits felt awkward at first. “You walk in and realize you’re the one who has to start the conversation,” she said with a small laugh. “I didn’t expect that. But once I started, I realized how much I’d been carrying.”

Nichols said one of the hardest parts was overcoming the stigma around mental health in the Black community. “We’re not always encouraged to talk about therapy or trauma,” she said. “But healing doesn’t happen in silence.”

Now, Nichols uses her voice to encourage others to do the same. “I just want survivors to know there’s a way out and there’s hope,” she said. “You don’t have to stay silent. You don’t have to stay stuck.”

For Caring Connection her message captured what the walk was all about, hope, awareness, and community. “When people share their stories, it opens the door for others to do the same,” said Robin McGinnis, CEO of Caring Connection. “It reminds survivors that they’re not alone, and that our community is here to listen, believe, and support them.”

Caring Connection, a division of The Avenue Family Network, Inc., has served Southwest Michigan since 1891. Through programs like Adult Day Services, the Empowerment Center, Guardianship, and Safe & Secure, the organization helps build strong families, safe homes, and empowered lives.

For more information about Caring Connection or its programs, visit www.caringconnectionmi.org.