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. ]]> http://www.zontaofcharleston.com/2012/01/2012-breaking-the-silence-award-winner-lizas-lifeline-person-of-the-year-ellen-steinberg/feed/ 0 http://www.zontaofcharleston.com/2012/01/2012-breaking-the-silence-award-winner-best-volunteer-sarah-finkelstein/ http://www.zontaofcharleston.com/2012/01/2012-breaking-the-silence-award-winner-best-volunteer-sarah-finkelstein/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:37:07 +0000 vladimira1 http://www.zontaofcharleston.com/?p=683 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.

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.

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.

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.

Zontian Debra Turner

Our long time club member, Debra A. Turner, will take over as the top executive for Florence-based WebsterRogers LLP on January. 1. Turner will succeed V. Carroll Webster, who has served as managing partner for more than 27 years.

Turner was elected to WebsterRogers’ executive committee in 2008 and has served since 2000 as the partner-in-charge of the Lowcountry Economic Unit that includes offices in Charleston and Summerville. Those offices provide tax planning and consulting primarily to clients in the health care industry. Today, the company has more than 125 employees, including 21 partners.

Congratulations, Debra!

Winners will be announced and awarded at the 2nd Annual Breaking the Silence Awards Gala. The keynote speaker will be Laura Hudson, SC Crime Victims’ Council.

Congratulations to Ellen Steinberg, Liza’s  Lifeline Person of the Year for 2011.  Well deserved.

Nominate online at http://www.zontaofcharleston.com/awardsgala

Buy tickets at www.harbour-charleston.com

A group of community members have joined together in a new initiative to collectively address children who have been exposed to and affected by domestic violence.

Nyquist

Last month, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson and Dr. Elizabeth Ralston from the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center, announced the initiative, which unveiled 30 community recommendations for action to be addressed by a newly established multi-disciplinary committee.

Research shows that as many as 15 million children witness domestic violence each year. Not only do these children experience significant physical, mental, and emotional harm, they also are more likely to become involved with the criminal justice system in the future.

Wilson

“Violence breeds violence. We must take action to protect our youth and help them grow to be healthier, responsible adults,” Wilson said.

Domestic abuse tears apart the family unit through violence, power and control and children often are innocent pawns in the dynamics of these relationships. We as a community must recognize the criminal nature of these acts when children are involved and we must work to identify solutions that will address the needs of these families.

Ralston

The newly formed committee, ranging from health care providers to social service case workers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim advocates and service providers, will develop guiding principles and plans of action to improve the response by agencies when children are involved in, witnesses to, or exposed to incidents of domestic violence.

“This is an issue that deserves our community’s full attention and we plan to facilitate successful change through this focused committee of professionals,” Ralston, executive director of the Lowcountry Children’s Center, said.

We hope this initiative will help stop the vicious cycle of domestic abuse, and together we plan to take a stand against this invasive community problem.