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Panel Discussion - Virtual Series - October 28, 2021

When
10/28/2021
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
Virtual Zoom Event

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“Building Bridges – Resolving Unconscious Bias” – Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness – A Panel Discussion Virtual Series – Sponsored by the SECT Women's Network – Free

Oct. 28, 2021… The Southeastern CT Women’s Network is sponsoring a virtual panel discussion on the topic of “Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness, 45 Years of Saving Lives” as part of the Building Bridges-Resolving Unconscious Bias series, which was formerly the Unconscious Bias – Unveiling Racism” series. This is a free Zoom event on Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Panelists: Millie Devine, Founder, The SECT Women’s Network, Co-Founder, Safe Futures and Katherine Verano, Executive Director, Safe Futures

The MODERATOR will be Kathryn Greene, SECT Women’s Network Board Member

Ms. Mildred Devine received a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Business Administration from Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa. She is a graduate of the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She was a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®). She worked for the Trust & Investment Group of Shawmut Bank (now Bank of America) in various capacities for 32 years, retiring as Vice President in January, 1997. During her career she administered four private foundations for about twenty years. Ms. Devine had her own business, Devine Planning 1997-2012; During that time, she also worked as a trust officer for Dime Bank, 2007-17. Ms. Devine has always been involved in civic and professional organizations, having served as President of the Estate and Tax Planning Council of Eastern Connecticut and numerous other professional and social services boards. She is a Paul Harris Fellow with sapphire awards, and a past president of the New London Rotary Club. She is also the founder, past president, and still a member of the Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Network. Ms. Devine currently volunteers with Safe Futures, Inc., at the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and at her church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Her autobiography is entitled: Sunrise Sunset: Millie's Divine Journey.

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.

Please pre-register through this event. Your Zoom link will be included in your registration confirmation email.

Southeastern Connecticut Women's Network, PO Box 921, Groton, CT 06340-0921
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