Safe Connections held its annual Together! Engaging Women, Empowering Girls Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, Saturday, April 25th, 2015. Together! offered a morning of camaraderie for women, mothers and daughters. It celebrated the strength of women culminating with the first-hand stories of successful women who are living exceptional lives. Guests could help themselves to coffee before perusing a fabulous silent auction as well as a raffle featuring fabulous prizes. Guests could bid from their cellphones which made the bidding even more exciting and competitive! A fun photo booth with all kinds of kooky props allowed guests to show their comic side!
During a delightful brunch, Bella & Lily provided a lovely, heartfelt musical performance. Event chair Dr. Jill Powell gave a warm welcome before introducing Haley Holman, a Youth Ambassador of Safe Connections who shared her own story and the way she has grown from her experiences.
Executive director Susan Kidder cited all the successes of Safe Connections but indicated many more women and men need to be reached so that they may find a safe place free from abuse. Cari Hill followed with an incredibly moving and empowering speech in which she shared her story, and the way she has become the strong and beautiful woman that the audience views today.
Leading SLUCare surgeon Dr. Theresa Schwartz and former Judge Susan Block conveyed their struggles in the workplace along with their experience and interactions with victims of abuse.
FOX2 News reporter and print journalist Kim Hudson began the conversation with the Together! Panel that featured:
Cari Hill: Former client and junior at William Jewell College
Theresa Schwartz, MD: Leading SLUCare surgeon, breast cancer specialist.
Susan Block, JD: Former judge and international advocate for domestic violence victims
Safe Connections proud represents one of the St. Louis region’s oldest and largest organizations working to prevent and end domestic and sexual violence while helping survivors reclaim their lives. Its services in prevention education, crisis intervention and counseling make a big difference in the health of our community.
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- Catherine Witgen, Brooke Crawford, Jennifer Hawasli
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- Erin Gaertner, Emily Iles, Brooke Foster
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- Madison Balice, Morgan Balice
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- Maggie Morris, board member Rhae Yancey, Janice Morris
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- Judy Rosen, Jean Sokora, Natalie Benjamin, Anita Shanks Cross
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- Emily Newton, Catherine Witgen, Brooke Crawford, Jennifer Hawasli
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- Victoria Sansone, Sydney Tischler, Pheobe Skoansky
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- Karen Scheve, Sarah Scheve, Denise Sanford, Dot Sanford
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- Carrie Lessel, Maggie Lessel
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- Executive director Susan Kidder, Dr. Theresa Schwartz, Cari Hill, Judge Susan Block
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- Sierra Teuscher, Youth Ambassador Haley Holman
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- Madison Gudmestad, Mia Redington, Maddy Ackerburg, Barrett Bentzinger, Annelise Laakko, Lauren Praiss
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- Jennifer Pridemore, Christa Vanwie, Jennifer Brinker, Ally Tessler
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- Deedee Meyer, Donna Meyer, Maddie Meyer
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- Senator Jill Schupp, 24th District, event speaker Judge Susan Block, Frieda Smith, Susan Kidder, executive director
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- Carole Weddington Hunt, Christi Moore, Val Joyner
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- Board member Michelle Griffin, Isabelle Bassett, Christine Larcom
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- Faith, Alina Baietti
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- Barbara, Mariah, Regan, Shkayla, Destiny, Annie Oliverio, Alina Baietti, Faith
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- Angie Fletcher, Kristelle D’Souza, Shannon Wildrick
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- Dr. Theresa Schwartz, Cari Hill, Judge Susan Block, Emcee Kim Hudson
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- Karen Spellmeyer, Debbie Snipes, Denise Ellis, Nancy Petersen
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- Faith, Nikeea Payne, Regan, Annie Oliverio, Shkayla, Destiny, Mariah, Alina Baietti, Barbara
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- Madison Balice, Beth Balice, Kelly Minifie, Elizabeth Minifie, Morgan Balice
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- Mary Lemmon, Marianna Nothern
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- State representative Margo McNeil, 69th district, state representative Stacey Newman, 87th district, state representative Jeanne Kirkton, 91st district, state representative Gina Mitten, 83rd district, state representative Tracey McCreey, 88th district, state senator Jill Schupp, 24th district, staff member extraordinaire Emily O’Laughlin
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- Bella
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- Lily
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- Lily and Bella
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- Lilly and Bella
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- Event chair Dr. Jill Powell
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- Youth Ambassador Haley Holman
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- Executive director Susan Kidder
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- Emcee and FOX2 News reporter and print journalist Kim Hudson
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- Cari Hill
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- Dr. Theresa Schwartz
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- Together! Panel
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- Former judge and international advocate for domestic violence victims Susan Block
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- Former judge and international advocate for domestic violence victims Susan Block
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- Together! Panel
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- Together! Panel
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- Together! Panel
