Jacqueline Smith-Francis, Corporate and Organizational Development Officer at SAFE is responsible for cultivating and strengthening partnerships between SAFE and local and Central Texas businesses and community organizations.
SAFE is a well-known non-profit organization in Austin whose mission is to stop Abuse for Everyone. SAFE envisions a world where everyone is safe from violence and abuse and thrive together in a free, safe community.
To her colleagues, friends, and family, Jacqueline prefers to go by Jacque. She stated to us that she is a creative introvert who is deeply committed to my faith, my family, and my community. I value and appreciate the work I do at SAFE because it speaks deeply to my commitment to social justice, survivors who have experienced varying forms of trauma and violence, and my belief that with mutual respect, love, and a belief in everyone’s individual dignity and humanity, violence and abuse can end.
One of the most amazing parts of her job is that everyday is different she says! Yes, she has the typical responsibilities of answering emails, returning voice messages, and performing other tasks; however, aside from all this, she gets the opportunity to meet with local individuals and groups to talk about SAFE and their mission of supporting survivors of violence and abuse.
A day in Jacque’s shoes can range from providing a tour of SAFE’s Children’s Shelter campus, meeting with corporate sponsors, or coordinating a corporate-sponsored activity for the youth they serve.
She also has the privilege of educating new and existing donors about SAFE’s programs and resources by conducting presentations in the community. Her job is to promote safety, healing, and education to individuals and groups impacted by SAFE’s four main issue areas: child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
Jacque contributes to several diversity and inclusion-equity committees to contribute to SAFE’s commitment to culturally–inclusive and equitable programs and initiatives for staff and clients.
She stated, “I appreciate SAFE and really enjoy sharing about the organization’s resources, in part, because of the diversity of avenues SAFE offers for individual and community/organizational engagement.”
SAFE provides meaningful ways for a person or group to contribute to the vision of a safe and violent free community. Individuals and companies can give via the traditional pathways which include unrestricted monetary donations and via workplace giving campaigns/payroll deductions.
A big draw for many of SAFE’s corporate partners is providing monetary support in the form of an event sponsorship for one of SAFE’s events such as the Texas-sized family event at Camp Mabry, Touch-A-Truck, The Storybook Gala, or The Fore the Children Golf Tournament.
SAFE also has an amazing Volunteer Services program, which coordinates a 40-hour Core-Advocate Volunteer training program, four-times a year, for individuals and groups who would like to learn more about SAFE’s programs, direct-service volunteer opportunities, or increase their understanding about trauma-informed care and patterns or cycles of violence and abuse.
However, enrolling in the Core Advocate program is not a requirement to volunteer, someone can contribute to SAFE’s work by volunteering to help sort donations in the Warehouse, purchase a meal for the Life Skills Program, which helps survivors, develop important skills of resilience, and financial and personal management. Volunteers can also host an In-Kind drive with their fellow employees to donate baby items or hygiene products. In essence, from providing clerical assistance to donating a gift for the holiday program in December, SAFE offers various avenues for individual and community participation.
When you invest in SAFE, through your time, money, resources, or raising awareness about the organization, you importantly acknowledge the widespread pervasiveness of violence and abuse and you become part of the solution, the community-wide movement, committed to creating a just and safe community in which everyone can feel safe, loved, and valued.