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Interim Executive Director Associate Director Tracey L. Provident Tracey Provident has dedicated 20 years to the crime victim assistance field. She is currently serving as The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime's Interim Executive Director. Prior to this role, Tracey was the Associate Director of CVVC and as such was responsible for the overall direction of the administration and daily operations of the agency, including program planning and implementation, development for specific program funding, and quality assurance. Tracey provides leadership and oversight for CVVC’s crime victim and witness services and has served on numerous county and state committees and boards benefiting crime victims. |
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Associate Director Mary Jo Harwood, MSW, LSW Mary Jo Harwood is a licensed Social Worker in Pennsylvania. She is currently an Associate Director with the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime in Pittsburgh. Mary Jo directs the Dialogue and Resolution Center, a division of CVVC which provides conflict resolution, training and mediation services. She is a certified trainer and crisis responder for the National Organization of Victim Assistance with experience in local, state, and national crisis response. A significant part of her 24 years as a social worker has been spent working as a therapist with individual youth, adults and families impacted by trauma and crisis. Mary Jo’s clinical and crisis response experience contributes greatly to her expertise in developing and delivering trainings specific to the impacts of trauma on individuals, families and communities as well as the prevention and recognition of vicarious trauma on professionals. She has extensive clinical and supervisory experience in the treatment of trauma, sexual violence, grief, loss and abuse. Other practical experience also includes positions as a special education teacher, school social worker and adjunct professor. Mary Jo obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Special Education, and continued on to complete a master's degree in Social Work. Mary Jo has served on numerous committees across the Commonwealth including the Homeland Security Crime Victims Response Committee and the Crisis Response Organizational Subcommittee for the Keystone Crisis Intervention Team. Mary Jo is a certified trainer and crisis responder for the National Organization of Victim Assistance. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Keystone Crisis Intervention Team and Mediators Beyond Borders. |
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Director of Community Arts and Education LaVerne Baker Hotep As Director of Community Arts and Education, LaVerne Baker Hotep oversees school and community-based violence prevention programs. LaVerne and her staff have developed community training and education programs unique to the violence prevention landscape, and has employed electronic media and the arts to enhance learning, teaching and understanding of the root causes of violence, crime and conflict. She has served as co-creator, supervising producer and principal host of CVVC’s radio outreach programs, “Peace-It-Together Pittsburgh,” and “Well Woman Radio Retreat” TM and conceived and directs the EVE (Enlightened Voices for the Environment) Project, a Heinz Endowments’ funded education awareness initiative that examines the impact of diet, household and personal care products on health, trauma recovery and violence prevention. |
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Director of Crime Victim and Witness Services Patrice El-Wagaa
Patrice El-Wagaa began her career at The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime in 1996 as a Victim/Witness Caseworker, assisting victims through the post-trial phase of the legal system. Early in her career at CVVC, she assisted in the development of the Allegheny County Offender Release Notification Program – a program offered by CVVC and the Allegheny County Jail that provides notification, safety planning, and crisis intervention to victims after the release of their offenders from the Allegheny County Jail. She currently serves as the administrator of Allegheny County’s PA SAVIN Program, the statewide automated program that functions as a supplement to CVVC’s release notification program. Patrice is a Pennsylvania Certified Victim Advocate and throughout her years at CVVC she has helped victims and witnesses in crisis navigate the criminal, juvenile, and medical systems. As Director of Crime Victim and Witness Services, she is involved in the planning, oversight and management of CVVC’s direct service programs. She serves on numerous local and state committees that benefit crime victims and conducts education and training programs related to Victim’s Rights and the impact of victimization across the county and state. Patrice obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master’s of Science degree in Professional Leadership/Non-Profit Management, and has taught middle and high school students overseas in both Libya and Malta. She is a trained crisis responder for the National Organization for Victim Assistance and a volunteer facilitator for the OVA Victim/Offender Dialoguing Program. |
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Director of Finance Kent Bloom
Kent Bloom is a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh. With over 25 years accounting experience, Kent has worked in a variety of both for-profit and not-for-profit settings. Throughout his career, Kent has functioned in a wide variety of capacities; from Staff Accountant, to Business Manager, to Controller, and to Director of Finance. His exposure has encompassed a variety of positions and responsibilities including a position as Controller with a 38 store, multi-state, retail shoe chain with revenues in excess of $10 million and over 18 years experience in the not-for-profit community. Kent joined The Center of Victim’s of Violence and Crime as Director of Finance in June, 2009. |
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CVVC Staff Susan Brassart, CVA Contracts and/or Shared Positions
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