CATHERINE MILLER
The world knows her as Cat but we at GCADV, for an unknown reason, like to call her Catness. Maybe it’s her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, expertise in reality competition shows, or her title of Miss Congeniality. All we know is that she’s got that special combination of talent and know-how to oversee our budgets and grants. With a strong desire to help others find hope when it seems like there isn’t much in the world, she is a perfect fit at GCADV.
CHRISTY SHOWALTER
Growing up in a tiny town of less than 300 people in Indiana it’s no wonder that Christy is a change seeker. As Associate Director she has experienced a patchwork of powerful moments of collective power in action within the movement to end intimate partner violence. She is driven by her vision for a world of love and thriving for future generations. When she isn’t contemplating how to make lasting change, you might find her winding down with a charcuterie board and craft cocktail in hand.
DEBORAH MONLEY
Deborah is busy, either she’s expertly handling all the details behind GCADV’s everyday operations or she’s planning for the next task ahead. She is affectionately known as “The Glue”. She is the person in the room who doesn’t talk a lot but listens to what everyone has to say. In her spare time Deborah enjoys reading, gardening, and adventuring with her beloved dog Sirgay. They say, “if you want something done, ask a busy person.” Clearly, Deborah gets things done.
ELLEN WILLIAMS
Ellie is known as Elle Belle or sometimes just "Mom" because she's always looking out for everyone. When she's not baking or knitting cozy blankets, you can catch her blasting punk rock music or hunting for vinyl records. Ellie passionate about social justice, especially fighting against violence towards women and advocating for criminal justice reform. Oh, and fun fact: she is bilingual and has a serious case of wanderlust—she's explored 15 countries outside the US!
JAN CHRISTIANSEN
Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director by day, and Chef, singer, and party host by night.
Regardless of the arena, Jan relies on her compassion, her ability to see people in their wholeness, and genuine care for the well-being of her colleagues and all those around her. As a survivor, she has poured her life into this work, seeking to end violence for all.
JANEE FARMER
Janee's motto is simple: "Treat others how you want to be treated." When she's not making killer playlists, travelling, or going to concerts with friends, you can find her indulging in guilty pleasures like trashy reality TV and spicy foods. Janee is passionate about serving others and tackling social justice issues like incarceration in BIPOC communities and domestic violence. Oh, and her go-to jam? "Saturn" by Nao ft. Kwabs.
JENNIFER LYON
Jen is an optimistic problem solver who's always ready to tackle any challenge, but might need GPS to find her way! When she's not cheering on her softball player or Special Olympian, you'll find her whipping up culinary delights or adding to her impressive collection of glasses. She's a proud plant parent to 19 leafy friends. Jen is dedicated to empowering others to support survivors of domestic violence, driven by her belief in everyone's right to a life free from violence.
KARIMAH DILLARD
The name Karimah means “generous” from Arabic origins. No matter the situation, Karimah finds herself ringing true to her namesake, but more than tough enough to handle the crazy world of Policy and Legislation. She is known for her amazing interior designing skills, as she is in a completely newly renovated room for every Zoom Meeting. Background filter? Who’s to say! The constant need for flexibility in the role as Policy Director allows practice for deep breathing, patience building, and even yoga.
KARLA RUSSELL
Known affectionately by her friends as “the Equalizer” Karla is the person you call when you’re in a bind. You can also find her coming to the rescue at the office, picking up any task she can to support her colleagues. When she’s not balancing multiple random tasks, you can find her with a book in hand. She has a love for the written word, whether its reading or writing her own scripts and novels. You might even get a taste of her creative writing skills via email!
LEO WILLIAMS
With 30 years of grassroots community organizing and organizational program development and implementation, Leo brings an incredible wealth of knowledge to GCADV’s Community RISE program. Leo is driven by a passion to help people who have been counted out. Behind a straightforward demeanor, you will find a teddy bear that loves watching romantic movies. It’s this dichotomy of care and “telling it how it is” that makes Leo an amazing advocate for historically marginalized communities.
MELISA DENNIS
"Do the best you can until you know better."
-Maya Angelou
A Georgia Peach born and raised in Atlanta. MeLisa is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate with a Mental Heath Master's Degree from Gallaudet University. This night owl brings jokes and laughter to GCADV while advocating for equality and accessibility for all. She is well known for her presentations and public speaking in within the Deaf Community. MeLisa enjoys empowering survivors and being inspired by her deaf/hard of hearing son!
SARAH BROWN
Cat lover, Content Creator, and "Convener," and K-Pop Enthusiast, Sarah makes an effort to bring a bit of fun and creativity to every conversation. As a Lakota Woman, Sarah has made an effort to speak up against the marginalization of populations and social injustices. Sarah takes these issues very seriously but makes sure to never take herself too seriously. With lots of tattoos, piercings, and ever-changing hair color, she does whatever she can to make everyone feel welcome!
SELENA FAITH
Selena – she/her, studied sociology-anthropology and studio art while in college. It was through this experience that Selena found love in long titles, which suits her for her work with Justice for Incarcerated Survivors. Selena is known around the virtual office for her “controversial” snack choices… If she’s not baking, you can find Selena creating art in one form or another. While currently living it up in New York City, she is able to follow her passions in art, transformational spirituality, and activism.
TRISH HARDY
Trish can be described in one word- complicated. Trish is a plant lady who is always ready with leafy advice or recipes! A well-rounded team player, Trish is both very passionate about her work while also being very laid back. “Every day is golden” are the words Trish reminds herself of as she starts her early bird mornings. The golden fire in her soul for this line of work is based and grounded in social justice and antiracism work. This allows Trish to see media through a different lens, including her guilty pleasure, Hallmark Movies and TV Character trivia.
Gabrielle Green
Gabrielle passed away in July 2022 after enduring her battle with cancer. Gabrielle was incredibly passionate about her work and about preventing violence and trauma for current and future generations of children. She was a dedicated and hard-working member of GCADV's team and has cultivated relationships with many of our member programs. We are heartbroken in this loss.
Gabrielle was such a kind, yet strong force in a world where so many voices go unheard. Her passions lied with caring for others, playing cozy video games with friends, and providing holistic assistance in emotional, socioeconomic, education, physical, financial, and other barriers to wellbeing for clients. You could always count on Gabrielle to bring light and laughter to stressful situations.
A life so wonderfully lived deserves to be so wonderfully remembered.