AUGUSTA — Kathleen Morgan, New Hope for Women’s executive director, was recently honored as a Champion of Change by the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence at its annual Blaine House Tea in Augusta.

Morgan, executive director of New Hope for Women since 1993, was celebrated for her years of steady leadership at the agency and for providing vision, resources, and the support staff necessary to make a difference in the Midcoast.

New Hope for Women offers support to people in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties affected by domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. It also provides important educational resources to assist communities in creating a safer and healthier future.

Morgan’s accomplishments include leadership in creating a groundbreaking dating abuse guide for teens in relationships; initiating outreach at Two Bridges Regional Jail for incarcerated women; offering legal representation and assistance for domestic violence victims; managing the Midcoast certified batterer intervention program; and prioritizing outreach to youth, elders and LGBTQ survivors.

Francine Garland Stark, executive director of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, detailed Morgan’s long history of service in the state, beginning in 1983 at Spruce Run (now Partners for Peace), the domestic violence resource center in Bangor.

Stark spoke of Morgan’s many contributions to the work to end domestic abuse, including her incredible ability to connect with callers on the 24-hour hotline: “Kathleen taught me the importance of making callers feel heard — to centralize the extraordinary gift of listening as the primary purpose of hotline work,” Stark said in a news release.

Morgan’s passion for the political nature of the work of the coalition and for the importance of social change was also cited by Stark: “It’s not just about helping individuals be supported and safe. Kathleen has the ability to hear the message behind the message; she recognizes impact and informs strategy.”

Morgan was one of five individuals and businesses honored as a 2018 Champion of Change. She will be retiring at the end of 2018 and looks forward to welcoming a new executive director to carry on the important work of the agency as it envisions an end to domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

“We’ve been extraordinarily fortunate to have Kathleen’s calm, consistent leadership of New Hope for Women for 25 years,” said NHFW Board President Anne Conners, in the release. “She balances a passion for serving people in need with the ability to see both the big picture and the small details to get the work done. While we will miss her, we know that the foundation she has laid will hold NHFW in good stead for the next 25 years.”

Learn more about New Hope for Women at www.newhopeforwomen.org or call 800-522-3304.