For some people, growing older isn’t celebrated with much excitement and energy.
At the Southwest Crisis Center, however, we are excited to say that this year, we turn 40!
Our agency has been providing victim-centered services for 40 years in southwest Minnesota.
As we look back over the last 40 years, we see all that has changed both within our organization and in how we as a society and community respond and understand abuse and violence.
The Southwest Crisis Center began as a volunteer-led organization in 1984 and provided services to battered women and their children.
Today we provide services to those experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and child abuse across 11 counties.
Our mission remains the same even though we have had many names throughout the last 40 years. We have been known as The Peace Agency, New W.A.V. (Women Against Violence), and now the Southwest Crisis Center.
Today we have 16 dedicated individuals who serve as staff and advocates, numerous volunteers who assist at events and on our 24-hour safe line, eight members who serve on our board of directors, and countless community agency partners whom we work alongside to serve victims and their loved ones.
As we remember where we came from, we want to take a moment to acknowledge all the women and men who came before us — including some of our founders (paid and unpaid staff), former board members, former staff, and, of course, all the individuals from our community who trusted us with their stories as survivors.
Many of our founders are individuals from the Luverne community, and their time, energy, and passion is a reminder that each of us has a role to play in helping those impacted by violence and abuse.
We plan to celebrate our 40th anniversary with an event in October of this year. We hope you can join us in reflecting on where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we are going. Look for more information soon.
If you want to learn more about what we do, get involved, or request a presentation, please feel free to email us at hope@mnswcc.org or call us 507-283-9917 in our Luverne office.
