Kat Grieder named new director of A Safe Place
SERVICES
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
Kat Robinson Grieder, who has been with A Safe Place for eight years, was recently named the agency's Executive Director.

Grieder was hired by A Safe Place in May 2000 as its administrative assistant, and in the fall of 2005 became bookkeeper. After former Executive Director Meg Hunter stepped down, Grieder was given the position of interim director in July 2007.

"I'm really excited to have this opportunity to take the agency in a new direction," said Grieder, a 1991 graduate of Nantucket High School and 1996 graduate of Amherst College with a degree in women's and gender studies.

A Safe Place, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, provides community education on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse issues, extends court advocacy for women seeking protective orders, provides

safe homes on and off-island for victims and children, hosts supervised

family visitations, assists victims at the hospital after traumatic events and lists many other services.

Grieder said the agency adopted a new mission statement in November: "To work to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault and to empower every woman, man and child in the Nantucket community to live a life free from violence."

As she begins her new role, Grieder said she wants to continue what the agency already provides but add more legal services for clients. She would also like to initiate an increase in prevention education, include more men in discussions on how to prevent domestic violence and expand the agency's mentoring program with young children and teens.

A Safe Place is currently partnering with the Nantucket Atheneum and The Nantucket Independent to present the fourth annual island women's event on Friday, March 28, called "Our Body of Knowledge." There is also a project centered against child abuse with Big Brothers/Big Sisters that is headed by A Safe Place's Kristen Brock. A similar event was held last year with the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club as a pilot program, but Grieder said this year the Boys and Girls Club will join with the "Bigs" in

the theme, "Build a Safe Home." I