Our History

• Kate begins teaching a class on dating violence at a local high school during their health class. • Wynona receives Lifetime Television's Acheivement Award. She received the Champion Award, the most prestigious honor. She was given a monetary honarium and was featured in taped segments during the television special and in profiles on lifetimetv.com. • Jessica Loeffler, a local Vermont Student receives a stipend from Connecticut College and volunteers as a summer intern. She designs and produces the first HJWT newsletter. • The HJWT website is updated by Jessica Loeffler and James Donnelly, a volunteer from Dartmouth College with extensive knowledge of website and computer systems.
• The HJWT Southern office is established, an attorney, Amy Phillippo, Esq. becomes director of this office and begins providing services for clients. • Administrative Assistant, Johnnie Covey, a survivor of domestic violence is hired, to provide assistance for all HJWT staff and attorneys. • The circle is complete, Harold Ward, Wynona's husband joins HJWT. Harold is responsible business administration and client social services. To make room for new staff, the first floor of the Ward home is now HJWT office space. • Paralegal, Robin Goodrum, from Champlain College completes an internship. • VLS student Catherine Donelley receives Schweitzer, Rubin, and EJF Fellow-ships to work with HJWT during Summer 2002 and for 2002-2003 school year. • VLS student Jessica Durkis volunteers two days a week with HJWT. Jessica works Women in Transition Group and on direct service for clients. • HJWT receives a grant from the Alces Foundation of South Hamilton, MA to continue operating the Women in Transition Group for another year. • Kathyrn A.C. Kennedy, 2002 graduate of Vermont Law School, joins HJWT as an attorney to represent women and children in North Central VT. Funding for two years made possible by the Ann L. Bronfman Foundation of Washington, D.C. • Robin Goodrum, 2002 graduate of Champlain College joins HJWT as a part-time para-legal. Funding made possible by the Vermont Bar Foundation. • Anne N. Sosin, 2002 Dartmouth College graduate joins HJWT as an Americor/ Vista volunteer. Funding shared with Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College. • Funding is received from the Grace River Foundation of Boston, MA for which $5,000.00 is designated to be used for counseling services for clients. • Cellular One donates five bag phones for HJWT clients who do not have phones so in an emergency they can dial 911 and the VT domestic violence hot line. • Wynona is the keynote speaker at the 6th Annual VT Women's Economic Conf. sponsored by Vermont Senator, Patrick J. Leahy. • Wynona is chosen as one of four Women of the Year by Women's Day Magazine. • A story on HJWT appears in People Magazine, "Help On Wheels".
• HJWT receives notice of a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Act Office to expand services in Bennington and Windham County in Southern Vermont. • Dartmouth College student, Anne Sosin volunteers as a summer intern. Wynona speaks locally and nationally about HJWT and family violence.
• Wynona receives an award from the Lyndhurst Foundation of Chattanooga, TN and a Fellowship from Ashoka: Innovators for Public of Washington, D.C. • Wynona updates four wheel drive vehicle with a 1996 Ford Explorer and hires two part-time secretary/paralegals. HJWT website is designed and on-line.
• Connie Button, a HJWT client, and Wynona see the need for follow-up and supportive services for women to help them achieve independence. Nancy Harter, a volunteer Development Consultant, Connie and Wynona plan • and implement the HJWT Women in Transition Life Skills and Mentoring • Support Group that in the first year is funded by the VT Women's Fund. • The print, radio, and television media picks up on Wynona's story of childhood abuse, being a truck driver, and becoming a public interst lawyer. Stories appear in the Boston Globe, ABA Journal, Ms., Vermont, marie claire, Good Housekeeping, Hope, Burlington Free Press, Valley News, and other local newspapers.
• HJWT is formerly established with funding from a NAPIL Fellowship (now Equal Justice Works) and a grant from the Vermont Women's Fund. Wynona begins providing free legal services, in-home consultations, and transportation in a 15-year old Dodge equipped with cell phone, laptop, printer, and CB radio. • Wynona works under the mentorship of the South Royalton Legal Clinic, the teaching and practicing clinic at VLS, with Alexander W. Banks, Esq., Mary Ann Zavez, Esq., James C. May, Esq., and Arthur Edersheim, Esq.
As an Albert Schweitzer Fellow and a Vermont Law School student, Wynona chairs a national conference, Doctors, Lawyers and Domestic Violence at VLS featuring Sarah Buel. While working as a Zander Rubin Fellow at the VT Attorney General's Office, Wynona's vision that HJWT would serve both women and children is born.
• Wynona I. Ward, the Founder of Have Justice--Will Travel, who grew up in poverty on a rural back road in Vermont where family violence was a common occurence, begins to realize the need for Have Justice--Will Travel (HJWT).