SPAN’s Executive Director, Anne Tapp talks with KGNU about the evolution of domestic violence in the last 40 years. Tapp has been with SPAN for 28 years, starting as a Shelter Program Director and transitioning into Executive Director, a position she still holds today. Tapp has been instrumental in the foundation and growth of SPAN. Thank you for your unwavering dedication, Anne!
Interview Excerpts:
“I would say that some of the things have changed that have changed is that one, we have laws related to domestic violence. So we’ve really, in 40 years, done a lot of work to hold the criminal legal system accountable to responding to survivors. At the same time, we haven’t done that, the same level of work with other institutions and as many folks know, the criminal legal solution to domestic violence, doesn’t work for everyone. So I think in the late 1970s, there was some backlash against the progress made through the women’s movement, the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, you know I think today we’re seeing some backlash against the Me Too movement, and so I’m really excited to hear, especially from Josie (Heath) and Leslie (Durgan) who sort of lived through that time.”
Tapp says that looking ahead to the next forty years of SPAN, she’d like to see more discussions happen in the root causes of violence.