The Incredible Work of First Step

<div class= "et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"> <p>Jon talks with Lori Kitchen-Buschel, Executive Director at First Step – along with Amy Whipple and Kat Nelson about the incredible work First Step does to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. They also discuss the power of giving!</p> <p><strong>Lori Kitchen-Buschel, Executive Director, First Step</strong><br /> Born and raised in Metro Detroit, Lori’s career and family is a testament to her passions of social justice through philanthropy, women’s leadership, human safety and security, and nonprofit management. She earned her BA from American University in politics and woman-focused public policy and worked for the U.S. Agency on International Development (USAID). After 7 years in Washington, Lori returned to Michigan to work with United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM), the Michigan Women’s Foundation (MWF), Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW), and Wayne County SAFE. In these roles, she led education and advocacy campaigns on basic needs, 2-1-1, food access, human trafficking, and diverse fundraising initiatives.</p> <p>While at NEW, she coached and trained nonprofits and their boards on practical and tangible fundraising goals, demystified the fundraising process, and taught the strategies of fundraising priorities and tactics. She simultaneously championed the wider community to be more inclusive of marginalized groups and areas: Teaching donors and fundraisers that donations send a message about community priorities.</p> <p>At First Step, Lori is able to merge her passions together of providing service leadership, and building philanthropic partnerships to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. In her time at First Step, the agency has expanded services in Detroit, Michigan, and across Wayne County. The agency has also increased revenue and staffing to meet the needs of survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.</p> <p>Personall