Sojourner Center marks 40 years of working to create a world free from domestic violence

Sojourner Center, the Phoenix-based nonprofit organization that is one of the largest and longest-running domestic violence centers in the United States, is ringing in its 40^th anniversary this year and celebrating its impact on the community.
The organization has helped thousands of women, men, children and pets impacted by domestic violence discover hope and find the path to futures free from violence. What started as a 16-bed domestic violence shelter has grown to serve more than 27,000 people over the past four decades — and its impact stretches beyond the individuals in its care.
“We have worked not only to aid those survivors of domestic violence who come into our shelters, but also to serve as a voice for eliminating domestic violence beyond our walls and outside our community,” said Dave Franke, President of the Sojourner Center Board of Directors. “Our goal has been to both serve those in our care and to share the practices and knowledge we’ve gained over the years so that we can maximize our impact in ending the cycle of domestic violence on a broader scale.”
Sojourner Center currently operates a crisis shelter and a transitional housing program in Phoenix, with a total of 250 beds that allow victims an opportunity to find safe harbor while connecting with the resources they need to resume healthy, violence-free lives. This includes ensuring survivors find the support services, training, counseling, health care and referral services needed to get back on their feet.
Additionally, Sojourner Center has taken a lead role in creating innovative programs to address the broader causes of domestic violence and to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Sojourner Center’s core mission has always been direct service to victims of violence. But over time, its impact has expanded to include studies of health implications of domestic violence, services for children and pets who have been caught up in domestic violence situations, and partnerships in research and advocacy to eradicate domestic violence in the future.
Franke, who started as a volunteer with the organization 25 years ago and has served three terms as president of its Board of Directors, has seen the growth first hand.
“It’s been remarkable to see the work that has been done over the years and the positive effect it has had on the people Sojourner Center serves,” he said. “We’ve seen first-hand people who have come in our doors after some of the most traumatic experiences you can imagine, work with our team to turn their lives around, and find success and happiness in the next phase of their lives.”
An example is Cindi Stevick, who first came to Sojourner Center in 1982 after fleeing an abusive situation. Sojourner Center helped her find the support and resources she needed to start a new path in life.
“Sojourner Center provided safety to me, and most importantly, my children. I was so relieved and comforted to know I wasn’t the only one going through this,” Stevick said. “Thanks in large part to the care and support I received from Sojourner Center, I eventually found the strength to leave my abuser and begin a new violence-free life with my children.”
Like any nonprofit organization, Sojourner Center has faced its challenges over time. It’s currently in the process of selecting a new leadership team to help guide the organization into the future. But Interim Executive Director Carrie Borgen said the work the organization does is continuing with the same focus and dedication provided by the Sojourner Center team since it first opened its doors 40 years ago.
“The staff members who work with the survivors we help each day do a remarkable job in changing people’s lives and helping create a brighter future,” Borgen said. “Sojourner Center has an exciting future and is an invaluable resource for our community.”
The 40^th anniversary activities will include retelling many of the stories of people aided by Sojourner Center in their time of need. The 40^th Anniversary campaign will continue all the way to the organization’s signature event, the 16^th Annual Hope Event scheduled for October 29, 2017 at the Omni Montelucia Resort in Scottsdale.
“Sojourner Center will continue its critical work in this community and beyond our walls for many years to come,” Franke said. “The 40^th anniversary is an opportunity for us to reflect on where we started and how we’ve grown, and also plan for a future that will not only help survivors of domestic violence, but to actually change the way we approach domestic violence with the goal of helping make it a thing of the past.”