PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release - 2/9/06
Contacts:
Judy Davis, (Manhattan), 785-539-7935
Laurie Harrison, KCSDV (Topeka) 785-232-9784
Award Honors Junction City Advocate
Coalition awards its Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award
Topeka, Kan. - A Junction City woman has received the Juliene Maska Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV).
Gina Cooper was awarded the honor during KCSDV's 3rd Annual Safe Homes, Safe Streets Awareness Day and Reception in Topeka in February.
"Gina continues to bring her wisdom and skill to bear in her daily work in both personal and systems advocacy," said Judy Davis, executive director at The Crisis Center, Inc., an agency serving domestic violence and sexual assault victims in Manhattan, Junction City and the surrounding area. The Crisis Center, Inc. nominated Cooper for the award.
In 1995 KCSDV began recognizing Kansans for their outstanding advocacy in working to end sexual and domestic violence. The award is named after its first recipient and long-time advocate, Juliene Maska, who now is an administrator in the Office of the Kansas Governor. Past recipients include former Kansas legislators Rocky Nichols and David Adkins; former Kansas Secretary of Social and Rehabilitation Services Janet Schalansky; Dorthy Stucky-Halley, Delma Rourk, Sandy Barnett, Katie Evans, Kathy Williams, and Jack Cooley.
Cooper has been in the violence against women movement for more than a decade. She has worked one-on-one with victims as a personal advocate as well as the shelter manager in Junction City. Recently she was the Domestic Violence Task Force Coordinator for Geary and Riley counties.
"Gina brought to that role the same talent and passionate devotion to victims' rights that made her an outstanding personal advocate," Davis said, adding that Cooper's efforts have resulted in increased communication between agencies responsible for domestic violence victims' well-being.
"Gina is an inspiration to others, especially her co-workers," Davis said. "She leads by example, and her example is splendid."
The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence is the only statewide network of domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy programs in Kansas. The Crisis Center, Inc. is a member of KCSDV and provides services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Clay, Geary, Marshall, Riley and Pottawatomie counties.
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