Lisa Tonna, the longtime manager of the Center on Halsted’s Anti-Violence Project (AVP), has announced that she is leaving the agency. Her last day will be July 8.
In an e-mail to co-workers, Tonna expressed her desire to move on. She stated that she will be running the ‘Bitch to Quit’ smoking cessation groups for LBT women at Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC), 4025 N. Sheridan. In addition, she will go into private practice to help others with their consulting and therapeutic needs. Tonna also discussed how sad she sad she was to ‘leave the Center, where over the past six years, I have grown and built skills to create change in this world and I have had the pleasure of working with a huge amount of wonderful activists, volunteers, colleagues, mentors and survivors of violence both locally and nationally.’
Since its start in 1988, the AVP has assisted thousands of victims of anti-LGBT hate crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, discrimination, and police misconduct. The 24-Hour crisis hotline, (773) 871-CARE, operates 365 days a year. The program is also involved in advocacy, incident documentation, and community education.
After July 8, people can contact Laura Velazquez; she can be reached at (773) 472-6469 or lvelazquez@centeronhalsted.org. Tonna’s e-mail address and phone number at HBHC will be lisat@howardbrown.org and (773) 388-8682.