A Safe Place invites you to An Evening With Katie Koestner on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at Great Harbor Yacht Club.
Katie Koestner was on the cover of Time Magazine at age eighteen as the first woman in history to speak out nationally and publicly as the victim of “date” rape.
Katie has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News, CNBC Talk Live, CNN, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, Later Today, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight and other national television programs. She is the subject of an HBO movie and has lectured at over 5000 schools and universities around the world.
Additionally, Katie is the founder of Take Back The Night Foundation, an international organization working to end sexual violence, support survivors and raise awareness.
This past month, A Safe Place collaborated with the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office for a human trafficking training presented to the Nantucket community. This training and educational event was inclusive of first responders, hospital staff, and the public.
Among presenters from off island, A Safe Place’s Suzanne Fronzuto (Senior Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate) presented on our services within the community.
Learn more about the initiative here.
This past June, Jane Doe Inc. (Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence), hosted their JDI Jamboree in Amherst, MA. Program members from around Massachusetts came together for two days of community, connection, and activities.
A Safe Place was represented by advocates Suzanne Fronzuto (Senior Advocate), Adaluz Paz (Bilingual Advocate), and Tania Pereira (Bilingual Advocate).
A Safe Place’s Tania Pereira (Bilingual Advocate) and Frejae Burrows (Program Manager) joined The Massachusetts Women of Color Network (MAWOCN) for their 7th Annual Conference last month in Hyannis, MA.
The conference hosted Self-Identified Women of Color working or volunteering in the sexual and domestic violence field. The two day event theme was titled “The Power of Our Capacity,” and held a focus on building and maintaining capacity in all areas of life while implementing boundaries for sustainment. The topics covered included mental wellness, time management, and finances.
Suzanne Fronzuto, A Safe Place’s Senior Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate, recently finished a mixed grade level education class at Nantucket High School. Students received education on healthy relationships, social boundaries, and personal boundaries relative to their bodies.
A Safe Place held its Annual Meeting on Monday, June 10 at Great Harbor Yacht Club.
Jane Carlin, having served over a decade on A Safe Place’s Board of Directors (Board President 2018), was recognized for her personal commitment and impact within A Safe Place’s growth. Jane was honored as Chair Emerita at this year’s meeting.
The late Linda Hoey, former Board President from 2019 to 2023, was honored as In Memoriam Chair Emerita. Linda’s husband, Peter, accepted on her behalf.
A Safe Place staff enjoyed some down time off island fostering relationships and team cohesiveness during Staff Team Building Day 2024.
The Massachusetts Legislature recently passed An Act to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation. On June 20, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the Bill into law.
H.4241 allows the definition of abuse to include coercive control (isolating a survivor, monitoring activities, controlling money, and certain patterns of behavior that act to control of another person). Coercive control is now included as a basis for obtaining restraining orders.
H.4241 also allows survivors in Massachusetts further protections from image-based sexual assault (commonly referred to as “revenge porn”). Prior to this new legislation, Massachusetts was one of only two states without protections from imaged-based assault. South Carolina now stands as the only state to not have a law that criminalizes the act of sharing intimate images without consent.
This is a LARGE milestone brought forth by the dedication and support of many. Much gratitude to the original sponsors of the legislation: Representative Tram Nguyen, Representative Natalie Higgins, and Senator Michael Moore, as well as all legislators who supported H.4241 AND the many voices (inclusive of Massachusetts survivors who continue to help pave the way for change) for their support in seeing this through.
April Hernandez Castillo speaks on CNN’s Amanpour interview program regarding the assault of Cassie Ventura by Sean “Diddy” Combs. (This past February, A Safe Place presented April Hernandez Castillo as a keynote speaker for grades 9-12 at Nantucket High School.)
“Since it (the video of Cassie Ventura being assaulted by Sean Combs) surfaced, we’ve been scouring the reactions to the assault and we found very little bit focused on the women. Instead, it’s been on Combs — his stardom, his business, his career. In a statement, Cassie Ventura said “I offer my hand to those still living in fear.” -Christiane Amanpour
The segment related to this discussion piece can be heard from timestamps 2:53 to 11:30 above.
Congratulations to A Safe Place staff members Kathy Butterworth (Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Advocate), Suzanne Fronzuto (Senior Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Advocate), and Michelle Meckler (Trauma Therapist & Clinical Supervisor), on their five year employment anniversaries!
Thank you for your passion and dedication to the community of Nantucket. We are grateful for you!
