Crisis Center North has come a long way in four decades

In its early days, Anna Belle Few ran the forerunner of the Crisis Center North out of her home while her sons were at school.

The center, which helps domestic abuse victims in northern and western Allegheny County, has come a long way in 40 years.

Past and present board members will gather to discuss that, as well as the present and future, at the annual meeting Nov. 14.

Grace Coleman, the executive director since 1999, said the meeting will provide supporters with an opportunity to meet Few and Alicia Dallago, a past board president who has run many fundraising campaigns.

“As the executive (director) for half of this organization’s history, I feel one of my roles has evolved into a gatekeeper,” Coleman said. “It has become increasingly
important to me to ensure that the thoughts of the founders and early pioneers in our organization’s history are kept in the living, breathing fabric of the organization’s tapestry moving forward.”

Few, of Sewickley, said she was one of three women who spearheaded the opening of the North Hills Women’s Center in 1978.

The center was incorporated as Crisis Center North in November 1982.

Few is amazed by the progress.

“They’re doing some wonderful things,” she said.

Dallago said getting Coleman was the turning point.

“Grace started reaching out to the community,” she said.

Among the programs Coleman started was Paws for Empowerment, in which dogs accompany victims to court proceedings to calm them. Penny, 10, has
been joined by new canine
advocate, Ari, 2.

The program, which has been lauded by the state, is working with veterinary clinics to spot abuse patterns.

The center also does prevention education, which is shifting to bullying on social media, research partner and Penn State Beaver communications professor Dr. John Chapin said.

In the year ahead, Coleman said the center plans to launch a program in which apartments will be provided to victims through federal funding.

Current board President Deidre Tunney and Vice President Kelly Stefano Cole applauded Coleman’s efforts to bring everyone together.

“The annual meeting is a great opportunity to connect with all of our supporters,” Tunney said.

“We’ll celebrate our work to date and, more importantly, share our progress on our innovative programs, including our canine-assisted advocacy program (Paws for Empowerment), as well as our mobile advocacy program.”

To reach the center hotline, call 412-364-5556 or toll free, 1-866-782-0911.

Karen Kadilak is a
Tribune-Review contributor.