TO THE EDITOR:

For almost 20 years, our community was fortunate to have a dedicated, caring woman working to help victims of domestic violence. Her mission for all those years, and a cause that is still of primary importance to her today, is to help battered women and their children to be safe.

Back in 1985, some residents of Isanti County, because of their concern for the victims of domestic violence, formed a task force to address the problem and to try to find solutions. One of the most important decisions they made was to hire Lona Lussier as the executive director. She started in February of 1986 and, with the help of the task force, developed a program, trained volunteers, found office space and opened the doors of The Refuge ñ a place of refuge for people in abusive relationships.

During that first year, 153 people were helped, 18 were safe housed, 6 were referred to battered womenís shelters, and the program grew enough that more staff was needed.

The program was developed for Isanti County residents, but soon was serving victims in Chisago and Kanabec counties also.

Because of the need in those areas, offices were eventually opened and staffed in both Chisago and Kanabec counties. The program became The Refuge Network.
Under Lonaís leadership, the program grew from one employee to four full-time employees and one half-time employee, from providing services to 153 individuals in 1986 to providing services to 1,387 in 2004.

Through her networking with statewide and national domestic violence agencies, systems people (such as law enforcement, courts, family services, attorneys), and other involved with victims of domestic violence. Lona had made great strides in helping victims to be safe.

Her goal was always to make places like The Refuge Network obsolete, to reach the point where people were not being abused and would not need services.
Lona has left The Refuge Network, leaving behind her many, many grateful survivors of domestic violence. She is missed by all of those who have been helped by her and all of those who have worked with her to help end domestic violence in our community. Thank you, Lona, for all you have done.

The Refuge Network

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