Learn how local advocates are working together to prevent domestic violence on Wednesday, February 19, at the St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Brevard. Doors open at 11:30 am and the event begins at 12:00 pm.
This is a free event. A suggested donation of $10 to cover the cost of lunch is appreciated but not required. However, advance registration is required. Please visit www.pisgahlegal.org/seekingsafety to register your attendance.
Pisgah Legal Services’ Managing Attorney Julia Horrocks will lead a presentation followed by a panel discussion with local community advocates Salley Stepp, Executive Director of S.A.F.E; Chief Phil Harris; Chief of Police, Brevard Police Dept; Susan Huter, Family Advocate from the Southmountain Children’s Advocacy Center and Det. Mark Ellenberger, from the Transylvania Country Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Prevention Team.
Salley Stepp has been working in the field of domestic violence since 1985 as the first executive director of the Henderson County domestic violence agency. In 1996 she started her own private practice providing counseling to victims of domestic violence and facilitating groups with perpetrators of domestic violence. She joined SAFE of Transylvania County December 2001 as executive director.
Phil Harris has been the Chief of Police for the City of Brevard for the past ten years. Chief Harris has had a law enforcement career that spans 40 years. Chief Harris has the philosophy of prevention rather than response to crime. Solving domestic violence will improve our overall community wellbeing. Chief Harris wants to be part of that legacy.
Susan Huter spent four years at SAFE, Inc. developing youth programs and outreach to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. In May of 2018 she began working with Southmountain to open a Children’s Advocacy Center in Transylvania County. In her current role, she partners with community agencies to provide trauma sensitive services to victims of abuse. She is excited to be working on a county wide child abuse prevention plan for Transylvania County.
Mark Ellenberger is a native of Transylvania county. Graduating in 1994 from UNC Charlotte with a degree in Criminal Justice, Mark has served Transylvania County in a variety of positions within the justice and law enforcement fields. Currently Mark is the Domestic Violence Investigator at the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
Since 1978, Pisgah Legal Services has helped low-income people meet their basic needs, such as protection from domestic violence, avoiding homelessness, finding safe housing, accessing health care and increasing income. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eleven counties in WNC, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Spruce Pine and Rutherfordton.
This is the first in a series of community Lunch and Learn events planned for Transylvania County this year. Pisgah Legal Services seeks to elevate the conversation about pressing local and national issues. This event focuses on the challenges faced by those experiencing domestic violence and how local agencies are working to respond to and prevent future occurrences.
For more information about the event, call Deborah Holt at Pisgah Legal Services at 828-210-3449 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.