Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence


			FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2001 COLUMBUS COALITION AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE EXPANDS STAFF AND PROMOTES ASSISTANT TO FULFILL MISSION The Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence today announces the recent appointments of Coordinator Joy Barney, Account Executive Joel Dixon and Administrative Assistant Christina Wilson to its organization. In addition, current staff member Lori Barton is promoted to Special Projects Coordinator. “The capabilities and knowledge of these staff members are one of the key assets that will further our efforts to stop the cycle of family violence. Last year in our community, more than 6,000 domestic violence cases were reported, an increase of about 180 percent since 1994,” explained Executive Director Karen Days. Barney oversees the Coalition’s funded initiatives created by its five task forces and coordinates the work of the Legal Services and Victims Services Task Forces. Dixon’s newly-created position responds to the heightened need to respond to family violence in the business community. “Employers lose 175,000 days each year because of domestic violence, given the fact that 75 percent of employed victims are harassed on the job by their abusive partners,” added Days. Dixon will work with Columbus-area businesses to help them develop programs, awareness and human resource policies that address and build a greater sensitivity towards family violence and its impact in the workplace. To date, the Coalition has educated more than 200 businesses on ways to help employees victimized by family violence. Wilson will support three of the five Coalition task forces. She also will do minor research projects. In her new role, Barton will serve as a liaison with the organization’s five task forces, which foster collaboration with healthcare, the legal system, business community, faith community and victim services agencies, in order to develop large-scale initiatives for intervention and prevention. Barton has served on the coalition staff since July 2000. A graduate of Otterbein College, Barney previously was with First Community Church where she was director of its Heart to Heart and Volunteer Ministries programs. She also has worked at Community First Coalition and First Community Village. Dixon joins the Coalition from The Ohio State University, where he managed web site content for online courses. A graduate of The American Graduate School of International Management, with specialization in marketing and finance, Dixon also has six years of combined sales and marketing experience with Chase Manhattan Mortgage, the computer firm MicroAge & Pinacor, as well as with Cellnet/ConQuest Telecommunications. Wilson, a graduate of Denison University, has specialized in religion and black studies, with international studies in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her prior administrative employment includes positions with Children’s Practicing Pediatricians, Women’s Resource Center and Children’s Hospital. Established in 1998, the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence is a private, non-profit organization founded with the mission to create a community culture that does not tolerate family violence. It is comprised of leaders from business and organizations in Central Ohio committed to reforming our systems to stop the cycle of violence in homes, schools, neighborhoods and workplaces throughout the community. The Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence is located at 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205. For information, please contact 614-722-5985. Current Press Releases 2000 Press Releases 1999 Press Releases