Each February, through its Victim Advocacy Volunteer Training, The Phoenix Center gives community members a meaningful way to be part of its mission. This program is designed to prepare everyday people to stand beside survivors of sexual violence. While the training provides practical skills, it also helps to bring clarity to the deeper mission of an organization that has stood beside survivors in Cumberland County for nearly five decades.
The organization was founded in 1976 and operated by Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County. The Phoenix Center, located at 519 Ramsey St., was developed from a shared realization among local healthcare providers, law enforcement, and mental health professionals that survivors needed stronger, more compassionate support.
“There has been a gap in services between initial services by law enforcement and medical professionals and available services in the community,” said Deanne Gerdes, executive director of the Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County…