Women's Center of Rhode Island
Summer 2006 Newsletter

NEW EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Community Education and Court Programs Welcome Two New Members

We recently welcomed two new staff members to our team. Kate Gallo came on board in February as the Community Outreach Coordinator and Odete Gomes has been on staff as the Assistant Court Advocate since the beginning of May.

Kate Gallo

Gallo has a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Boston University School of Public Health and is one of the founding members of Youth in Action, a non-profit organization for youth advocacy. She also has extensive experience dealing with homeless victims of violence through her work at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. As our Community Outreach Coordinator, Gallo’s role is to raise awareness about domestic violence in the Providence and East Providence communities through presentations and other forms of outreach. She will be providing various audiences within these communities with presentations regarding the affects of domestic violence, as well as means of prevention and intervention. She is also responsible for coordinating and training of anyone interested in volunteering for the Women’s Center in any capacity.

In her first major project with the Women’s Center Gallo is developing a conflict resolution program in the Providence public schools. The program will offer policy counsultation and professional development as well as student workshops. For more on this project you can visit our website at www.womenscenterri.org/community.htm.

Odete Gomes

Gomes has an Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from Providence College as well as extensive experience as an administrative assistant for organizations such as AT&T and the New Life Worship Center. As the Assistant Court Advocate and Elder Advocate, Gomes will provide support and advocacy to victims of domestic violence both at the Women’s Center of Rhode Island and in the court system by updating them on the status of their case and assisting them with safety planning as necessary. As the Elder Advocate, Gomes will work with Attorney Roger Demers, Chief Prosecutor for the Elder Justice Prosecution Unit of the Attorney General’s Office. In addition to direct service and support to victims, Gomes will be responsible for tracking court-related statistics as well as periodically assisting Gallo with presentations in the community.

For more information on the services providided by our Court Advocacy Program, please visit www.womenscenterri.org/courtadvocacy.htm.

 

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