Featuring Kari Clark Executive Director, Alternatives to Violence
September 2022
“Domestic violence thrives in silence. To be able to support and help victims and survivors and to prevent domestic violence in the future, we all, everybody in the community, needs to talk about it.”
Kari Clark has served as the Executive Director of Alternatives to Violence since 2018. In this roles, she has advocated on behalf of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking throughout Northern Colorado.
Alternatives to Violence provides services to survivors of violent crime including domestic violence and sexual assault. As an organization, they provide emergency shelter, 24-hour victim advocates, court advocates, case management and housing referral services, referrals and resource information, as well as community education programs.
As Executive Director, Kari Clark witnessed first hand the additional danger created for the vulnerable due to COVID-19 policies such as stay at home orders, remote learning for children, loss of jobs, economic uncertainty, and fear of becoming ill. Domestic violence and other violent crimes increased due to such policies and Kari Clark with the staff of Alternatives to Violence worked tirelessly to meet this increased need for help. Not only did the number of crimes increase, but the severity of the abuse increased as well.
Kari Clark and the Alternatives to Violence staff found new ways to address the needs of the vulnerable they served. Advocates, case managers, and therapists held virtual client sessions rather than face to face sessions. Shelters had to implement social distancing and also re-evaluate cleaning policies. The vulnerable continued to be served despite the circumstances.
In addition to directly serving and advocating for victims of abuse, Kari Clark and the Alternatives to Violence staff work to educate the community regarding violence and how it can be prevented. This education has extended to Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, where there has been a rise in domestic abuse taking place on campus. Teen dating violence is another arena where Kari Clark and the Alternatives to Violence staff works to prevent through education and advocacy.
The work of Kari Clark and Alternatives to Violence is vital to address abuse in Northern Colorado. Their work makes a significant impact in our community as the issue of violence and abuse touches one in four women and one in seven men throughout the country. We are grateful for Kari Clark’s tireless work to help victims and prevent future victims of violence in our community.