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Ellen S. Steinberg graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She received her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law in 1983. Ms. Steinberg was admitted to the Texas Bar in November 1983 and the South Carolina Bar in November 1984.
Ms. Steinberg started her career as an Assistant Solicitor in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. After four years, she left the Solicitors Office and worked as a staff attorney for the Department of Social Services in the Child Support Services Division before entering private practice. Wanting to spend more time with her family, Ms. Steinberg left the practice of law until she was approached about a Pro-Bono Project in the Charleston County Family Court. This project was her first introduction to the world of Domestic Violence. She returned to prosecuting, this time as the Criminal Domestic Violence prosecutor in the Magistrate Courts of the First Judicial Circuit.
Delighted to return to the Ninth Judicial Circuit as an Assistant Solicitor in 2006, Ms. Steinberg was instrumental in implementing a centralized Criminal Domestic Violence Court in Charleston County. For the last five years, she has prosecuted the CDV cases for the Ninth Judicial Circuit for the Charleston County Magistrate Courts and the North Charleston Municipal Court.
Outside of practicing law, Ms. Steinberg is a member of the National Board of Hadassah, where she has held several national chairmanships and served three terms as a National Vice President. She has led numerous workshops on leadership and board management throughout the country and chaired three missions to Poland and Israel. Ms. Steinberg is also actively involved with Synagogue Emanu-El and is half-way through her first year as Synagogue President.
Ms. Steinberg is married to Robert Steinberg. They have a son, Matthew and a daughter, Sarah.
After reading in 2006 that South Carolina ranked number two in the nation for women killed by their intimate partners, Sarah Finkelstein convinced the Charleston Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) to take on a project against domestic violence. From this point, the poster campaign, Can You Spot an Abuser? and How Men Can Help was researched and endorsed by counselors and professionals in the field and designed. Finally on July 16, 2007, the poster was revealed at a press conference that brought together area mayors, legislators, coaches and religious leaders. They all enthusiastically supported NCJW’s bringing awareness, education and prevention to the community and asked that this project be continued.To keep the great momentum going, Ms. Finkelstein formed a diverse group of nonprofit community agencies, including law enforcements, school leaders, religious and medical leaders and community volunteers to meet monthly. The newly formed group was titled the Community Alliance Against Interpersonal Violence – a collaborative force committed to improving the quality of life for women, children and families by promoting awareness, education and prevention of interpersonal violence.
To date, over 45,000 posters and rack cards have been distributed throughout the state. Ms. Finkelstein has traveled to conferences in Myrtle Beach, Orangeburg, Columbia and Greenville to distribute them and attend monthly meetings, logging more than 6,700 miles and over 2,500 hours working on this project in three and a half years. In 2011, the Charleston Section of the National Council of Jewish Women was recognized for its local community service poster project against domestic violence and received a national award at the 45th National Convention in Dallas, Texas.
To raise awareness of domestic violence and the poster project, Ms. Finkelstein has given talks to middle and high school counselors, Brith Shalom Beth Israel Sisterhood, Advanced Practical Nurses Group, Victims Resource Fair at Trident Technical College, National Network to End Domestic Violence and TV programs. Five years ago, she initiated the NCJW 5K Run/Walk; and in 2010, she forged ahead an awareness event with the South Carolina Stingrays Hockey Team.
Originally from Alabama, Ms. Finkelstein attended the University of Alabama and after marrying a Charlestonian who decided to take a position with the Panama Canal, she finished her degree at the Canal Zone College. Upon returning to the United States, she began a career at the Medical University of South Carolina and retired in 1999. Now, she spends her time volunteering in the community. She served as President of the Charleston Section of the National Council Jewish Women from 2009 to 2011 and on the Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence Task Force from 2010 to 2011.
Elmire Raven graduated from the Georgia State University in Atlanta with a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science (Criminal Justice) degrees. She continued her education at the Webster University and received her Masters in Counseling.Ms. Raven currently serves as the Executive Director of My Sister’s House. She has held this position since February 1991 after years of experience working for My Sister’s House, Trident United Way and Georgia State University.
Ms. Raven has been a domestic violence victims’ advocate for more than twenty years, nurturing and fostering My Sister’s House into a local organization that provides services, programs and resources to empower victims of domestic violence and their children to be free from abuse. Alongside the Board of Directors, Ms. Raven has worked tirelessly to build My Sister’s House into a respected organization in the Charleston community that benefits and serves the local community. Thanks to her leadership and commitment, even in the tough economy, My Sister’s House has maintained its status in grant funding and exceeded its fundraising goals. A survivor of domestic violence, she is known for her unparallel determination in the effort to end the cycle of domestic violence in the tri-county area.
Despite her busy work schedule, she finds time to give back to the community, currently serving as the President of the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club. In the past, Ms. Raven held numerous leadership positions on various boards and has received many honors/awards, including Board Member and Treasurer for the S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, President of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, President of the Center For Women Services Advisory Board, Trustee Board Chairperson for the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
1991 and 1988, Ms. Raven was named the Woman of the Year by the American Business Women Association. In 2006, she was awarded the Community Service Award by Kappa Alpha Phi Fraternity, and in 2004-2005, she received the President’s Award by the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary. The list of honors and awards goes on, but her motto: “Without God I can do nothing and let my living not be in vain,” keeps her focused on her mission to play a role in the fight to end domestic violence in our city.
Easter LaRoche serves as a Certified Victim Assistance Specialist and the Coordinator of Victim Services at the Charleston County Sheriff’s Department, devoting countless hours and energy to helping victims and survivors in need. Ms. LaRoche has worked in law enforcement for over thirty three years, including eight years with the Drug Enforcement Administration on the multi-jurisdiction task force to eradicate illegal drugs. She attended Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is a graduate of the National Victim Assistance Academy, the South Carolina Victim Assistance Institute and National Grief Recovery Institute with a designation of a National Grief Recovery Specialist.Eleven years ago, Easter LaRoche wrote a grant that allowed her to start up a support group for survivors of homicide – not because her job required her to do so, but because she saw the need in the community. Through these services, Ms. LaRoche has been instrumental in making Charleston’s outreach efforts for Survivors of Homicide gain national recognition which led to receiving three additional federal grants.Ms. LaRoche always goes the extra mile in her work with victims. She not only helps ensure women have all the information they need to keep themselves safe, but she also takes a holistic approach to making sure all their needs are tended to. She demonstrates love and compassion for those victims she works with, and is extraordinarily knowledgeable of local resources.
Her tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2007 and 2010, due to her key role, her office received the Charleston County Sheriff’s Unit of the Year Award. In addition, she received the Criminal Justice Award for Outstanding Service to Victims of Crime from the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network in 2008; the Silver Scales of Justice Award from the SC Victim Assistance Network and the Woman of Distinction Award from the South Carolina Chapter of the National Girl Scouts of America.
In addition to her work with domestic violence victims through her day job, Ms. LaRoche has served victims of domestic violence in numerous ways after hours. She is a founding Board Member of Liza’s Lifeline of South Carolina. She also serves on the Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence Task Force, and volunteers for My Sister’s House. Over the years, she has supported efforts of various non-profit organizations in the community, including People Against Rape, My Sister’s House and the Charleston Section of the National Council of Jewish Women’s domestic violence awareness efforts. She is an esteemed speaker, and is asked regularly to speak at local churches, schools and community events about the impact of domestic violence. Ms. LaRoche is also politically and socially involved in the community of John’s Island where she has served as Chair of the Sea Islands Cultural Arts Festival.
The Zonta Club of Charleston is very excited to introduce our keynote speaker, Laura Slade Hudson!
 Laura Hudson Laura Hudson graduated from the Georgia State University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1970.
In 2007, Ms. Hudson, a longtime victim advocate, was named the Executive Director of the South Carolina Crime Victims’ Council. The South Carolina Crime Victims’ Council (SCCVC) serves as the chief nonprofit organization in South Carolina advocating the development of crime victims’ rights and services.
Prior to her position with SCCVC, Ms. Hudson served as Public Policy Coordinator for the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN) for seven years from 2000 to 2007. She served as Executive Director of SCVAN from 1994 to 2000 (having previously served on the board for 2 years). She served as State Chair and Public Policy person of Mothers Against Drunk Driving South Carolina (MADD) for 13 years and the Executive Director of the Citizens Advocating Decency and a Revival of Ethics for 10 years. She is also a founding member and Chairwoman of the South Carolina Victim Constitutional Amendment Network.
She has either originated or shepherded more than 150 pieces of DUI legislation, 25 pieces of Child Protection laws, 10 pieces of CDV legislation, and more than 85 pieces of legislation concerning crime victims in general. She has been a leader in public policy concerning crime victims, creating funding for compensation and services. She is a well-known public speaker, author, guest professor at the University of South Carolina and the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy, and TV personality locally, statewide, and nationally. She is most fond of “leveling the playing field” and “balancing the scales” for crime victims. She is most proud of the South Carolina Constitutional Amendment for Victims’ of Crime that was supported by 89% of the voters in 1996 and her work on the enabling legislation and funding for crime victim services throughout our state.
For her invaluable contributions, Ms. Hudson was awarded the state’s highest civilian award, The Order of the Palmetto, on June 22, 2006. The South Carolina Victim Assistance Network presented her with the Distinguished Humanitarian Award in 1990, and in 1989, she received the President’s Award for Legislative Efforts from MADD National. The same year, she was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award by the March of Dimes.
 Mayor Keith Summey A mayor’s business is making his city a better place to live, and Mayor R. Keith Summey has become widely known as a consensus builder among local government leaders. His family moved to North Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1960s where he graduated from Chicora High School and Baptist College. With the Mayor’s roots in his local community, it was no surprise that he ran and was elected as the 3rd Mayor of North Charleston in October of 1994 to fill an unexpired term of office and has been reelected in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007. During his tenure he has led North Charleston to achieve a new sense of pride never seen in his City. Becoming the retail sales leader in the State, improving municipal services and defining a vision for the City have hallmarked his tenure. Upgrading the quality of life of the citizens of North Charleston continues to be the top goal of Mayor Summey.
Mayor Summey received recognition from Charleston Southern University with the reception of an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service on Saturday, December 16, 2006 during the University’s fall graduation ceremony.
Today, Mayor Summey is recognized for his work to prevent and end domestic violence in our city. The Mayor has been a supporter of local organizations that work with domestic violence victims. He has met with members of Liza’s Lifeline on several occasions; always interested in the development and new activities and willing to help. This willingness to help led to a sponsorship of the fundraising efforts during the annual golf tournaments held by Liza’s Lifeline. The mayor and his staff came through when Liza’s Lifeline was in need of a permanent meeting place and offered a meeting room at the new North Charleston City Hall free of charge. The Mayor and his staff accommodate any organization that deals with children and/or women by providing a meeting room at no charge. When approached by the Survivors of Homicide Support Group to provide a meeting place in North Charleston so they could be more accessible to members of the community (including domestic violence victims), Mayor Summey immediately arranged to provide a meeting place at the Park Circle Community Center and meetings are held there every month.
The City of North Charleston supports My Sister’s House, thereby helping women and children escape from dangerous abusive environments. In addition, the City of North Charleston has plans to build a shelter to provide temporary housing for individuals in need, including domestic violence victims.
Verizon Wireless’ corporate commitment to ending domestic violence is expressed nationwide. Their HopeLine® program has raised $7.9 million for domestic violence organizations and distributed more than 90,000 phones with the equivalent of more than 300 million minutes of free wireless service. Here in Charleston, Verizon Wireless works tirelessly in numerous ways. The company has invested tens of thousands of dollars in the community in a concerted effort to help end the epidemic of violence, helping organizations including Crisis Ministries, MUSC’s COPE Program, Trident Technical College, Ronald McDonald House, My Sister’s House, College of Charleston and Zonta.
Through HopeLine® collections in the community, the company has donated hundreds of phones loaded with minutes to My Sister’s House and other organizations. They have sponsored awareness events, including one in honor of an employee whose life was cut short in a domestic violence incident. At this event, a $10,000 scholarship was established for the victim’s children and a $10,000 donation was made in her name to the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Verizon has sponsored events on college campuses to help educate young people in an effort to stop the cycle before it begins. The organization was the first sponsor of the College of Charleston’s annual NV Day—No Victims, No Violence. Finally, the company employs an internal training and advocacy program designed to ensure that employees feel free to seek help from violence within the workplace.
Verizon Wireless’ employees truly care. Call Center employees’ volunteerism is evident in organizing frequent drives, collecting used phones, books, school supplies and food to donate to local missions and shelters. In the past years, they donated 133 pounds of aluminum “pop tops” to the local Ronald McDonald House. They collected and filled 50 backpacks of school supplies for various groups. They helped build a Habitat House, ran the Relay for Life, ran the Cooper River Bridge Run, donated a ton (literally) of food to Lowcountry Food Bank, and more.
 Ms. Kristen Hankla Kristen Hankla has been a reporter at The Post and Courier since 2006. In 2008 she and a team of women in the newsroom launched a features section called Moxie, aimed at educating, entertaining and inspiring women. She is currently the lead writer of the section. Ms. Hankla attended Furman University where she received a BA in English with a concentration in women’s studies.
Ms. Hankla has written personal and touching stories on victims of domestic violence that are inspiring others. She has brought light to organizations that are making a difference in our community by working to prevent domestic violence. Her features highlight organizations, and recognize and honor individuals that are devoted to bettering lives of victims. She makes sure that the community is aware and informed on this problem and knows about different types of violence, the ramifications and the help available. Her respectful and caring approach when interviewing victims are what makes her stand out among reporters. Her reporting is shining more light on the serious issue of domestic violence that is, in general, not the high profile cause covered by the media.
 Dr. Jennifer Pullano Dr. Jennifer Pullano was a Board Member for My Sister’s House for 7 year (2003-2007). She served as President from 2007-2009 and was President Elect from 2005-2007. She has served on the fundraising committee for 5 of her 7 years on the Board. She was instrumental in assisting the Board to become a “fundraising board.”
As a speaker for My Sister’s House, Dr. Pullano has been inspiring others to work towards prevention of domestic violence. As a volunteer, her hands on approach, whether it was cleaning the kitchen or answering medical questions on emergency cases relating to domestic violence victims and their children, has motivated other board members and volunteers to step up and do more.
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Dr. Pullano came to Charleston by way of the US Navy in 1990 and completed her residency in Family Medicine at MUSC in 1995. In the capacity of Chief Resident in her third year there, she was given the honorable task of overseeing Dr. Albenberg, an intern with the department. Ten years later, seasoned by the rigorous post-graduate training through a high-paced traditional practice, Dr. Pullano reunites with Dr. Albenberg in Access Healthcare located in Mt. Pleasant, SC, to spread the concept of retail medicine East of the Cooper.
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