STAND STRONG, formerly The Women’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County, is pleased to offer sincere congratulations to Dr. Kirsten Rambo as she departs the organization. Dr. Rambo has accepted a position as Executive Director of ASISTA, a national organization that advocates for the rights of immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Stand Strong’s Board of Directors announced recently that Jennifer Adams will serve as Interim Executive Director of Stand Strong while the national executive search takes place. Ms. Adams brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this interim position. Most recently, she served for 15 years as the Executive Director at RISE, serving survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence in this county until June 2019.
Michael Boyer, President of the Board of Directors at Stand Strong, is leading the organization’s transition task force. “We are grateful to Kirsten for her outstanding leadership, and we wish her the very best in her new endeavor on the national level. It has been a pleasure to be part of Stand Strong’s tremendous growth with her at the helm over the past few years,” said Mr. Boyer. “The Board is committed to ensuring that we continue to advance our mission to support survivors and end domestic violence in SLO County, so we are delighted that Jenny Adams will be bringing her skills and experience to Stand Strong to serve in the interim role.”
Dr. Rambo arrived at Stand Strong in December 2016 with twenty years of experience in the field, having most recently led the national domestic violence prevention program at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Under her leadership, Stand Strong has more than doubled the size of its Legal and Housing departments, increased access to services for LGBTQ+ and survivors with limited English proficiency, begun observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month with special events each October, begun its annual “Stand Strong & Celebrate” fundraiser, and is now working to stop the violence before it starts, by undertaking two new prevention initiatives with local student athletes and community members.
What an honor it has been to work with the incredible staff, board, and volunteers of Stand Strong,” said Dr. Rambo. “Their dedication and expertise are apparent every day. I am proud of all that we have accomplished together for survivors and their children in this community, and I look forward to seeing Stand Strong continue to thrive. I anticipate being a supporter of its important work well into the future.”
Kirsten will serve as Executive Director through the end of August 2020. She and Jenny will begin working together mid-August, to assure a seamless transition.
Stand Strong has been serving survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking for over 40 years. In 2017, Stand Strong rebranded from its previous name, “Women’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County,” to represent its mission to support all survivors of domestic violence, regardless of gender identity, and the multitude of services that it provides in addition to shelter.