Our 40^th year as an organization brought challenges, rebuilding, new milestones and tremendous work from our dedicated staff and volunteers. This past year was pivotal in many ways, not only as an anniversary but as the first year of our new strategic plan, and a time when we brought to fruition initiatives that have long been in the making.

As we set out to implement our five-year strategic plan, Elevating Equity and Community, we wanted to start our work from the inside. Since last December, our entire staff has worked with A Call to Men in trainings on diversity, equity and inclusion. Our Committee on Equity and Change focused deeply on issues of culture, training, policies, and power dynamics. And as we hire and rebuild teams where we have a shortage in staff, we are working to increase our diversity.

We are cultivating meaningful partnerships with local organizations, particularly those whose primary missions are to serve BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities. Through a comprehensive approach, we are more deeply engaging with our communities: spending more time listening to community members, survivors, youth, and partners, focusing on building and nurturing relationships, and learning how to improve our services and better support others.

I also want to recognize a major milestone for our organization – the launch of the Geiger Institute. Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is, at its heart, an agency serving survivors in our local communities and implementing prevention programs in area schools. The Geiger Institute will operate as a division of the Center, and this launch will enable us to continue and grow our domestic violence homicide prevention work nationally. We are actively expanding the Geiger Institute team, building our partnerships, raising critical funding, and evolving our work to increase pathways to safety for those who are most marginalized.

As any domestic violence advocate will tell you right now, there is much work to be done. The wake of the pandemic continues to increase the complexity and severity of abusive relationships. At a time when the responsibility to meet the needs of survivors in today’s world could feel immense, I instead choose to feel lightened by the continued generosity and dedication of our community – the donors and supporters who keep our life-saving programs running, the tireless work of our staff and volunteers, who are beacons of light to those who need them, and the wisdom and guidance of our partners and board members. Thank you, thank you, for these last 40 years. I hope this report captures my gratitude and the immensity of your impact.

On behalf of all of us at the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center,

Suzanne Dubus
Chief Executive Officer