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Award Winner Personal Story
Letter of recommendation for
Laura Horsley
Winner of Soroptimist International Valley of the Sun
Laura Horsley has spent her career, working to improve the lives of women and children; I am honored to be nominating her for the Making a Difference for Women Award.
While working for Catholic Community Services in Southeastern Arizona, Laura opened a 15-bed shelter in Nogales, Arizona, which was the last county in Arizona to have a shelter for victims of domestic violence. In the Colonias area of Agua Prieta, Mexico, she conducted trainings for Catholic Church members on recognizing signs and addressing the needs of victims of domestic violence. Laura has provided women’s groups and children’s activities to victims of Domestic Violence; has worked in conjunction with government officials, social service agencies and church groups to provide basic needs to women and children; and assisted battered Immigrant women through programs and outreach to become documented aliens.
Laura also provided training to local agencies regarding battered immigrant women’s rights throughout Cochise County, Arizona. As the Chairperson for the Coordinated Community Response Team for Cochise County, she worked to provide victim safety and offender accountability in domestic violence situations. Laura has also conducted teen dating violence education classes in Douglas, Arizona, for junior high and high school students.
Laura participated in the creation of the Governor’s State Plan on Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence and presented a report on battered immigrants rights and gaps in services at Arizona-Mexico Commission to Arizona Governor Napolitano of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, Governor Eduardo Bours Castelo.
As the first Executive Director of Eve’s Place, she has been successful in increasing stays from 14 days to 120 days, increased the number of beds from 12 to 38, began the process for accepting teen boys and girls into the shelter, and created/implemented Empowerment-based services to women and children in the Safe House.
Laura was appointed to the Committee on the Impact of Domestic Violence on the Courts by the Arizona Supreme Court to represent the Northwest Valley of Maricopa County, prepared and negotiated the first state contract with the Department of Economic Security to provide services and bed nights to women and children fleeing domestic violence, and created community-based groups for female survivors of domestic violence.
As a tireless advocate for domestic violence victims, she participated in Lobby Days in Washington, D.C. to educate lawmakers about services to women and children who are victims of domestic violence and the need for continued funding for services and have worked with local groups to create back-to-work groups/services for the women in the Safe House to increase their independence.
It is my pleasure to nominate Laura Horsley for SI Valley of the Sun’s Making A Difference for Women Award.
Leatha Martin
President
SI Valley of the Sun
