Conversations and Connections

The Family Crisis Center's Prevention Program has a very good relationship with Angelina College, and a lot of that has to do with Jordan LaCaille.  Jordan helps us with coordinating on-campus projects and always welcomes the Prevention Team to many of her activities on campus.  We talk with her about the importance of spreading relationship violence prevention messaging on campus, and the challenges of doing that on a smaller campus. 

June is Pride Month, and in recognition of the month Stuart travels to Stephen F. Austin State University to have a talk with Megan Morton, the Director of Communication and Danial Gillis, Director of Membership with the SFA LGBTQ Plus Equality Caucus.  What is it like to be a member of the LBBTQ Plus community in Deep East Texas?  What unique challenges to members of the community face here?  We'll talk about these topics and more.

For many of our clients, Melissa Youngblood is the very first person they will come into contact with at the Family Crisis Center.  In today's episode, Melissa talks to Stuart about her job as Intake Specialist for the agency, and also the role she plays at Mantooth House in Lufkin. 

Many times the survivors that stay in the safe house have no reliable way to get around, and that's where Transportation Specialist Paula Campbell comes in.  It's Paula's job to make sure our safe house residents get to doctors appointments, job interviews, and other important destinations.  

What do blueberries and the Family Crisis Center have in common?  It's the annual Blueberry Cupcake Battle of course!  In the episode, Stuart talks with Family Crisis Center Community Outreach Coordinator Greta Rich about this year's Cupcake Battle at the Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches!

Attorney Charlie Lewis provides an invaluable service for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.  As the Family Crisis Center's Staff Attorney, Charlie has seen his share of family court cases.  In this episode of Conversations and Connections, Charlie talks with Stuart about the various services he provides the clients and the challenges associated with the family court system.

What's it like cooking for what can be up to 30 people or more every day?  In this episode of Conversations and Connections, Stuart talks with Kitchen Manager Veronica Sessions about just that.  From planning meals, to grocery shopping that can run as high as $700 a week, Veronica does it all!

In this episode of Conversations and Connections, we talk with outgoing Executive Director Heather Kartye and the person who will soon take over the reigns of leading the Family Crisis Center, Whitney Burran.  Heather will talk to us about what she will take away from her experience as Executive Director, and Whitney will share with us what she's looking forward to the most.  No guarantees that tears won't be shed!

In this episode of Conversations and Connections, Stuart talks with counselor Mary Curtis about working not only adults, but children who are affected by domestic violence in their home environment.  Stuart and Mary also talk some about how faith can play a role in the counseling process.  

Probably one of the first things someone thinks of when they hear about the Family Crisis Center of East Texas is the shelter or "safe house" that the agency operates.  In this episode of Conversations and Connections, Stuart talks with the man who see to the day-to-day operations of the shelter, Greg Sims.  They talk about Greg's duties, as well as what it's like to be a man in charge of the shelter.