Published on January 29, 2018

Mayor Janice S. Mironov issued a Mayoral Proclamation recognizing the 40th Anniversary of Womanspace and presented the organization with a ceremonial check of $17,000 representing private funds raised for Womanspace from businesses and individuals on behalf of the East Windsor community.

Mayor Mironov stated, “We honor Womanspace and all of its staff, volunteers and supporters on this milestone 40th Anniversary, for four decades of meaningful and effective support and advocacy for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.  Womanspace, launched in 1977 with the mission to prevent abuse, protect families and change lives through empowerment and  a safety net of supportive services for victims of abuse, has over these years greatly expanded its operations and services.”  She further noted, “Womanspace has provided 40 years of extraordinary dedicated advocacy and service support on behalf of countless victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, turning around the lives of innumerable people and effectively promoting public support, education and awareness about those in these unacceptable situations.”

In presenting $17,000 in local private contributions to Womanspace Executive Director Patricia Hart and Board of Directors members, Mayor Mironov stated, “East Windsor is proud of our longstanding partnership with Womanspace, including that East Windsor in 1998 launched the first Domestic Violence Victim Response Team in Mercer County serving as the model for other teams. On this 40th anniversary milestone, it is a notable remarkable achievement that for forty years Womanspace has and continues to serve as a brightly shining beacon of hope and opportunity making a real diference in the lives of so many individuals and families throughout the communities of Mercer County.”

The Mayoral Proclamation notes that, “Since its founding in 1977, Womanspace has helped over 67,778 women, 13,007 children and 4,639 men, educated 133,826 professionals and community members, and responded to over 271,401 crisis hotline telephone calls.

Patricia Hart, Executive Director of Womanspace, thanked East Windsor and Mayor Mironov for the generous contributions and their continued support of Womanspace.  She noted her appreciation to the Township for its support of the organization and inviting her out regularly throughout the year to focus on their various programs and awareness activities.  Executive Director Hart also presented the Township with a plaque to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the East Windsor Domestic Violence Victim Response Team, the first team in Mercer County, and spoke of the tremendous efforts of East Windsor officials and police in launching this initiative.  Patricia Hart said, “20 years ago we jointly developed the model that was used statewide. The amazing thing is at the time, everyone told us we couldn’t do it and obtain the support and volunteers.”

Womanspace Board Member and retired East Windsor Chief of Police William Spain said, “We started out 20 years ago when partnerships between social service agencies and police departments were unheard of.”  He credited the unique and caring nature of the East Windsor community in helping the program succeed and spread statewide.

Womanspace was founded in 1977 pursuant to the vison of then Mercer County Freeholder Barbara Boggs Sigmund who worked with 50 local organizations to create the organization.  Womanspace is the lead non-profit organization in Mercer County that provides crisis intervention and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Its first woman’s shelter opened in 1978, accommodating up to eight families in an undisclosed location to provide a safe haven and provide crisis intervention, advocacy and counseling services.  In 1998, Womanspace launched the first Domestic Violence Victim Response Team in East Windsor, later expending to all 13 municipalities in Mercer County and then throughout New Jersey.  In 2002 the Sexual Assault Support Services Program began to provide aid, comfort and information to victims and survivors while also accompanying them to hospitals, police interviews and court responses.  In 2011a new facility in Lawrence Township opened allowing Womanspace to offer expanded counseling and a therapeutic children’s program to assist the youngest victims to overcome the trauma they have experienced.

PHOTOGRAPH #1

Mayor Janice S. Mironov issues and presents a Mayoral Proclamation in honor of the 40th anniversary of Womanspace, to Womanspace Executive Director and Board of Directors.  Pictured (from left to right) are:   William Spain, Womanspace Board Member and Retired East Windsor Police Chief;  Jigna Rao, Womanspace Board Member;  Mayor Janice S. Mironov;  Patricia Hart, Womanspace Executive Director;  Danielle Coppola, Womanspace Board Member;  Michelle Bajwa, Womanspace Board Member;  Linda Cooper, Womanspace Board Member, and Salim Manzar, Womanspace Board Member.

PHOTOGRAPH #2
Mayor Janice S. Mironov presents a ceremonial check of $17,000 representing private funds raised for Womanspace from businesses and individuals on behalf of the East Windsor community, to Patricia Hart, Executive Director of Womanspace (center) and William Spain, Womanspace Board Member and Retired East Windsor Chief of Police.

PHOTOGRAPH #3
Womanspace presents plaque to East Windsor Township in recognition of the 20th Anniversary of East Windsor Township's Domestic Violence Victim Response Team, the first team in Mercer County.  Pictured (from left to right) are:   Womanspace Board Member Jigna Rao;  Mayor Janice S. Mironov;  Womanspace Executive Director Patricia Hart, and Womanspace Board Member Danielle Coppola.