MOUNT VERNON – Lori Jones-Perkins, executive director of New Directions, a nonprofit that provides crucial support for victims of domestic abuse, recently accepted the Knox County Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life Award on behalf of her organization.
Jones-Perkins is a lifelong resident of Knox County and attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She has worked for local nonprofits since 1999 and became executive director of New Directions in 2016.
"Our agency has worked really hard over the past few years to build — and in some cases repair — relationships with our community partners," Jones-Perkins told the Mount Vernon News. "We have increased our outreach capacity and are now in all school districts in the county offering prevention education (pre-COVID). Additionally, we have increased our direct service work significantly.
"Our staff is committed to providing trauma-informed services to survivors and to being part of their healing journey. Our approach is gentle, it is intentional and it is focused on meeting survivors where they are and helping connect them to community resources. This award is a testament to the work we do on a daily basis and that we always make survivors our priority."
New Directions has grown significantly over the last few years and currently employs 10 full-time staff as well as three part-time staff. The organization works closely with Kenyon College and local law enforcement to provide refuge for victims of domestic abuse.
The nonprofit was started in 1982 by a task force of concerned residents seeking to provide shelter to domestic abuse victims and has since expanded to provide additional services and accommodations to victims.
Although COVID-19 has adversely impacted local businesses and organizations across Mount Vernon, cases of domestic abuse have increased.
"COVID has also had an impact on our work," Jones-Perkins told the News. "From March to December 2020 (compared to the same months in 2019), our hotline saw an 80% increase, our individual advocacy services increased by 30% and our shelter nights also increased by 42%."
Jones-Perkins currently lives in Knox county with her family. When asked what she loves most about living in the area, she said it was the collaborative and supportive spirit of the community.
"We do a lot of work within Ohio and hear input state-wide," she said. "The work done together in Knox County is unique and it is important for those living, working and gathering here to know what a special place it truly is!"
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