The Work of Safe Futures – A Virtual Panel Discussion – Sponsored by the SECT Women's Network – Free
March 18, 2021… The Southeastern CT (SECT) Women’s Network and Safe Futures are both celebrating their 45th Anniversaries this year. In honor of the anniversaries, the SECT Women’s Network is sponsoring a virtual panel discussion on the work of Safe Futures - a free Zoom event on Thursday, March 18th, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. Melissa Porter Zaitchik, Director of Development & Communications at Safe Futures will moderate the panel. Members of the panel include: Katherine Verano, Chief Executive Officer; Christine Foster, Director of Crisis Counseling & Camp HOPE; and Nazmie Ojeda, Director of Education & Community Engagement.
Safe Future’s mission is to save lives, restore hope, and change the future for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking in Southeastern Connecticut. Please join us for an informative evening as we shine a light on Safe Futures and see how they help our community.
This panel is the first in a series of quarterly panels focusing on Safe Futures. Free event. Open to the public. To join the panel discussion, please pre-register at the Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83365019987?pwd=eWRWUVlxSHZFTm1Zc21nMnhyeVZhdz09
Katherine Verano is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Futures, formerly The Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut. Katherine left her career in corporate banking and came to Safe Futures 26 years ago after a close friend and peer was brutally murdered by her husband. Katherine’s dedication to working in this field started with working the crisis hotline in 1994 at She continued her work at the agency over the years managing the emergency shelter, counseling program, criminal court advocacy in the justice system. Katherine was appointed as the Director of Client Services, prior to her role as Executive Director, and now CEO. Over a 20-year period in the criminal justice system, Katherine interviewed thousands of victims and offenders of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking at court arraignments and throughout the court process. Katherine has been exemplary in bringing court and community partners together in forums and roundtables; in a collaborative effort to enhance services to victims of crime, while educating partners. Katherine has served on multiple task forces and committees to include the Veteran’s Diversionary Council and Domestic Violence, Connecticut State Police Lethality Assessment Program Committee, Statewide Model Policy “Police Response to Crimes of Domestic Violence” Task Force Committee, and multiple local college community response teams. Since 2012, Katherine has been the Connecticut expert “Train the Trainer” on the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence educating police and advocates around Connecticut. She is also a re-certification instructor for the Law Enforcement Council (LEC) Officer & Supervisor and for CT POST Academy “Strangulation prevention/ investigation” instructing multiple statewide seminars. In 2017, Katherine traveled to Beijing, China, on behalf of the “Yale University-Paul Tsai Law Center” speaking and training on matters of lethality assessment programing – Domestic violence intervention strategies to government officials as well as speaking on “Development of Domestic Violence Laws” at the Beijing Public Safety University. Katherine is the Legislative Liaison for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the agency since 2010, successfully testifying on numerous House bills.
Nazmie Ojeda, Director of Education and Community Engagement for Safe Futures is passionate about community work. Nazmie has served on the advisory board of the Immigration Advocacy and Support Center (IASC) of New London and as a member of the Hispanic Alliance Mental Health Network. She has served in several capacities at Safe Futures including counseling, advocacy, and residential life. In her current role Nazmie aspires to connect schools, providers, victims/survivors to Safe Futures and its mission and vision to save lives, restore hope, and change the future.
Christine Foster is the Director of Crisis Counseling and Camp HOPE for Safe Futures. Over the past 5 years, she has held various roles in the organization such as employment specialist, child advocate, and supervisor of our emergency domestic violence shelter, Genesis House. Christine received her bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences from University of Connecticut. Christine is a certified domestic violence counselor and is certified in restorative practices by the International Institute of Restorative Practices.
The Network strives to create a dynamic and diverse membership, which promotes powerful, personal, and professional relationships through the advancement and education of its members.
