Journey of Hope Award

Each year during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Standpoint recognizes the passion and dedication of those who work to bring safety and justice to domestic and sexual violence victims/survivors. The work we do as change makers often goes overlooked. This award recognizes the courage and strength of these individuals and honors their on-going efforts to; provide advocacy and justice to domestic and sexual violence survivors; help build communities intolerant of domestic and sexual violence; and work to change people's lives for the better.  

This is a chance for coworkers to celebrate each other and an opportunity for Standpoint to honor passion and dedication within the field. We seek candidates in three categories: Advocacy, Legal Services, and Outstanding Community Service.

The 2023 Journey of Hope Awards will be presented at
our annual Stand with Standpoint event on Thursday, October 12, 2023
at the Day Block Event Center.


selection criteria

Standpoint accepts community nominations, which can be made by anyone with knowledge of the nominee’s accomplishments. Self-nominations will not be accepted. If you wish to nominate more than one person, a separate submission should be made for each nominee. Nominations must include the following:

  • Completed nomination form

  • Letter of Nomination providing as many facts possible about the nominee and their hard work and passion

Nominees will be evaluated on the basis of their:

  • demonstrated ability to instill the desire to end sexual and domestic violence in individuals, systems, or the community;

  • understanding the needs of domestic and sexual violence victim survivors;

  • unique contribution to the anti-violence movement

Those selected to receive the award will have:

  • strong leadership skills;

  • proven record of significant contributions to work on behalf of domestic and sexual violence victim survivors;

  • demonstrated commitment to the personal and professional development of survivors;

  • worked in the domestic and sexual violence field for a minimum of one year


Previous Journey of Hope Award Winners

2022
Advocacy: Rachel Daniels, Victim/Witness Liaison – Legal Assistant, City of Minnetonka
Legal Services: Robin Dietz-Mayfield, Attorney, St. Paul & Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Intervention Project
Community Member: Jennifer Baumann, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), PAVSA & OBGYN Registered Nurse and Community Coordinator, Essentia

2021
Advocacy: Irene Ochoa, Senior Advocate, Esperanza United
Community Member: John Parenteau, Victim/Witness Coordinator, Carlton County Attorney’s Office

2020
Advocacy: Carmen Anderson, Advocate and Diversity Coordinator, Cornerstone
Legal Services: Jonathan Holets, Assistant St. Louis County Attorney

2019
Advocacy: Katie Eichele, Director, Aurora Center
Legal Services: Katie Barrett Wiik. Attorney, Best & Flanagan
Community Member: Commander Jesse Mollner, Saint Paul PD Family Violence Unit

Special 2019 Award- Team Collaboration Award: Jody Mowry (Rivers of Hope), Stacy Doyle (Wright County Sheriff’s Office), and Jenny Paripovich (Wright County Attorney’s Office) – Rivers of Hope CCR- CCR Team

2018
Advocacy: Doreen L’Allier, Community Resource Worker, 360 Communities
Legal Services: Referee Mary Madden, 4th Judicial District, Family Court
Community Member: Chief Jim Hughes, Sartell Police Department

2017
Advocacy: Paula Morton, Mending the Sacred Hoop
Legal Services: Zachary Marsh, Attorney, Marsh PLLC
Community Member: Elisa Umpierre, former Rochester Police Department lieutenant

2016
Advocacy: Chris Swenson, Family Safety Network, Vosiney Wiley Smith, Breaking Free
Legal Services: Pat Sauter, Bassford Remele

2015
Advocacy: Becky Redetzke Field, The Aurora Center for Advocacy & Education
Legal Services: Virginia W. Merritt, Legal Assistance of Olmsted County
Community Member: CW2 Jennifer Diaz, Minnesota National Guard

2014
Advocacy: Vernona Boswell, Advocate, Domestic Abuse Service Center
Legal Services: Christy Snow-Kaster, Attorney, Central MN Legal Services

2013
Advocacy: Judy Miller Thomas
Legal Services: Cooper & Reid Law Firm

2012
Advocacy: Stephanie Pry, Advocate, Polk County Attorney Victim Services
Legal Services: Thomas Gilligan, Attorney, Murane Brandt
Community Member: Dave Schultz, Officer, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Division
Special Award: Marna Anderson, Former Executive Director of WATCH

2011
Advocacy: Sheila Korby, Advocate, Someplace Safe
Legal Services: Shane Baker, Assistant County Attorney, Kandiyohi County
Community Member: Sgt. Sharon Carpenter, Minneapolis Police Officer, Domestic Abuse Service Center, Chris Moseman, Probation Officer, Hennepin County

2010
Advocacy: Sue Fite, advocate in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Domestic Abuse Service Center
Legal Services: Lisa Lamm Bachman, Attorney
Community Member: Melanie J. Terwey, Probation, Hennepin County

2009
Advocacy: Sharon Brice, Advocate, Domestic Abuse Project
Legal Services: Mary Ellison, Attorney, Polaris Project
Community Member: Sgt. Bill Blake (posthumous ward)

2007
Advocacy: Kathi Oxenreider, Safe Avenues
Legal Services: Lenore Millibergity, Immigrant Law Center
Community Member: Candy Bakion