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Domestic violence group to get new name

Fundraiser, events planned for ‘Promise Place’ to help victims

The Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence is about to adopt a new name and several new initiatives to help victims of family violence.

On Sept. 21, the organization will be renamed “Promise Place.” The new name will help “re-establish our identity as a nonprofit organization supported by local citizens, and not a part of county government,” said Sgt. Jennifer Michel, president of the board and a detective in criminal investigations with the Peachtree City Police Department.

“I believe the name change is just a beginning to a fresh start for our organization,” Michel said. “We provide a greatly needed service to our community and many have benefitted from our organization.”

Michel noted that over 80 percent of the group’s budget is from private funding. The organization began in 1989 and now has five paid staff members and over 50 active volunteers.

Sonja Strickland, who joined the council as executive director in April, wants to have a new transitional home for victims and their families consisting of eight to 10 apartments so they can gather personal and emotional resources while getting past a “toxic” relationship. Some victims are on a waiting list for this service, Strickland noted.

Strickland also wants to had a full-time legal advocate and a new computer system for the organization, which has seen its case load increase by 40 percent since the early 90s.

Promise Place will kick off a fundraising campaign in coming weeks chaired by Joyce Beverly, publisher of Fayette Woman magazine.

Special events planned include a self-defense class Saturday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m. at Vitali Karate Studio in Fayetteville. Another event, called “Shine a Light on Domestic Violence” will be Saturday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church’s south campus.

Also, the Peachtree City Police Department will collect unused cellular phones to help victims of domestic violence all October long.

For more information, contact the council at 770-460-1604 or on the web at www.promiseplace.org.