SAFE 25th Anniversary.

By Karen Carpenter. Photos by Tricia Ward.

It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. This is an undisputable truth, the same truth applies to support and
nurture of organizations such as SAFE. For 25 years SAFE has officially had it's doors open to victims of violence and their
families in the Bristol Bay area. SAFE started in what is now the Alano Club building with two staff, today we have 23 full time
and 13 part-time staff, including 2 village advocates in Togiak and Ekwok. On Saturday, November 10th, SAFE hosted a gala
event to honor our community supporters and volunteers, our way to say "Thank you".

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault even today is not something that is easy to talk about, however 25 years ago, it was unheard of and yet it was a fact for many women and children. There were women in Dillingham who stepped up to the plate to address this issue and they did not back down when people said this is a "family matter and "none of our business", it took courage to speak aloud about the abuse they knew was occurring. These are women we call the "Mothers of the Movement" these women were specifically recognized at this celebration banquet: Barbara McCauley, Janie Hill (posthumously), Carolyn Hoseth, Ena Crow, Linda Rabideau, Marilyn Rosene, Jeanne Timmerman and Johanna Bouker.

There are also people who have dedicated their lives to community wellness, safety and dignity for all residents of the Bristol Bay area and were awarded lifetime achievement awards for their "Courage & Commitment" in their daily work to create a community where violence is unheard of, honored were: Tom Tilden, DeeDee Bennis and Linda Rabideau.

We are also lucky to have people who in their capacity as employers of businesses and agencies that have without fail offered assistance, their time and pocketbooks whenever we've asked: Blanche Kallstrom, Janice Shilanski, Bill Miller and his crew at N&N, A.C., Bristol Express, Kathy McLinn, Dorothy Larsen, Ocalina Micolie, Rachel Muir, Dan Pasquerello and Joanne Armstrong.

And last but certainly not least, as we all know, much of what we do could not be done without the support of our partners and families, special recognitions went to what we refer to as our Two for One; couples who both have given so much to this organization over the years: Gordan and Susan Isaacs, Jim and Eva Wallman, Myron and Becky Porter, EJ Essics and Sarah Lu Bradley and Joanna Ruby (posthumously) and Alice Ruby.

SAFE would like to pay special recognition to our "Front Line" Advocates, who day in and day out, 365 days of the year keep the door to the shelter and Anana's house open with their commitment to providing a caring, loving and safe environment with both their hearts and souls: Dinah Backford, Ariel Johnson, Crystal Nixon-Luckhurst, Mary Jane Kasayulie, Alberta Hoseth, Ocolena Micolie, Gail Johnson, Michelle Scholtz, Shanna Schroeder, Sarah Tunguing, Courtney Carty & Hailey, Ena Crow, Natasha Nielsen, Jane Gottschalk, Alisha Folsom, Ricky Lind, Norman Hiratsuka, Stacy Bai, village advocates: Carrie Burks and Anna Akelkok.

We are fortunate to have an Administrative staff that work hard and who've been through thick and thin together, you will often find them burning the midnite oil in their offices working on deadlines and smoothing out glitches: Lisa Haggblom, Summar Olson, Sonny Leveque, Shari Simpson, Tina Garner, Kristine Norbert, Melissa Brothers, Deanna Hardin, Tricia Ward, Holly Wysocki, Rebekah Fonkert, Karen McCambly, Karen Carpenter and Ginger Baim.

We can tell you that this event could not possibly have been the success that it was without: N&N Market, Matt Killpack and the Junior Class of DHS, Rod Rau, Principal of the SDA school, Patty Luckhurst, Hank Boggs, Phillip Baumgartner Duane Olson and his band.

Dillingham is one of the greatest communities in Alaska, we are all working together for the common good of all of our residents, it is apparent that this belief is at the forefront of all our actions and thoughts. Bristol Bay can become a model for wellness, hope, safety and justice for all of Alaska to follow, just watch us!