About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote the safety, security, and well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals through security training and education, engagement with community partners, partner organizations, and service providers, and comprehensive security solutions, resources and consultation. We strive to create a world where every person, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity (or perception of), has the opportunity to live free from discrimination, harassment, and violence.
Our Services
National Program
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Liaison and advocacy to provide professional (peer-to-peer) representation with national emergency response agencies for collaboration and partnership in advocacy of the community.
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Updated national standards and best practices for security.
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A national intel center for data collection, incident reporting, and intelligence.
Local Field Programs
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Training in personal safety, situational awareness, active threat, and stop the bleed.
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Liaison and advocacy to provide professional representation with area emergency response agencies for collaboration and partnership.
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Threat, vulnerability, and risk assessments to evaluate physical site locations and make recommendations about strengthening security.
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Emergency management and crisis support.
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Event consultation and security program design.
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Policy, procedure, and protocol consultation and assistance.
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Vendor vetting and procurement, including contracting with local security companies to supply guard services.
Our Board
Jennifer Morris (she/her) is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in developing programs and building organizations from the ground up. As the co-founder of Mid-South Gifted Academy, Jennifer demonstrated her ability to identify unmet needs, design comprehensive programs, and implement effective organizational structures. Her work in instructional design, program implementation, and management has equipped her with the skills to create impactful and sustainable programs. Jennifer’s background includes 11 years of service with the Oklahoma City Police Department, where she held various roles, including public information officer, field training officer, and in-service coordinator. Her responsibilities involved developing and coordinating training programs, managing communications, and ensuring the safety and security of the community. At SAFER, Jennifer leverages her expertise in program development and organizational management to enhance the safety and security of LGBTQIA+ organizations and communities. Her dedication to building effective programs and her strategic vision contribute to SAFER’s mission of creating inclusive and secure spaces for all.
Brian Van Brunt, EdD (he/him), is the Institutional Equity and Title VI Coordinator within the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action/Title IX and the Director of Behavior and Threat Management for DPrep Safety. He is the author of over twenty books and dozens of research articles and an international speaker on behavioral intervention, threat assessment, Title IX/VI, crisis preparedness, mental illness, and law enforcement policy. Brian has spent time as a child and family therapist, university professor, assistant deputy director of training at Secure Community Network, partner at TNG, and president of the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA). He has reached well over 150,000 individual staff and faculty at colleges and workplaces nationwide through on-site and virtual trainings, as well as remote, asynchronous training modules on violence, mental health, and suicide prevention. Brian is past-president of the American College Counseling Association (ACCA) and former president of the School and College Organization for Prevention Educators (SCOPE). He has been interviewed by the New York Times, National Public Radio, LA Times, and USA Today, and has appeared on Headline News and Anderson Cooper 360. He has a doctoral degree in counseling supervision and education from the University of Sarasota/Argosy and a master’s degree in counseling and psychological services from Salem State University.
Knowledge Partners
Dr. Adam Bronstone (he/him) is a self-employed management consultant. Adam works primarily in nonprofit security grants, be they local, state, regional, or federal in nature. Adam has 20 years of experience with respect to submitting and receiving funds for security enhancements for nonprofits, with a success rate that is higher than the national average. Adam has worked with clients across the nonprofit field and served as a senior manager at several nonprofits, so he understands this world from all perspectives. Adam is based in Florida and has clients across the United States.
Stephanie Hill (she/her) serves as the Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police for the Central State University Police Department. With nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Stephanie has expertise in building, organizing, and motivating teams that succeed in serving communities. Her skills include developing and implementing emergency response plans, crisis media response, and community policing. Her “Be Seen Be Heard” initiative at Chattanooga State Community College fostered relationships with the community and resulted in a 68% reduction in crime.
Vanessa Pomarico, Ed.D, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP (she/her), is a senior lecturer for Fitzgerald Health Education Associates (FHEA) and is employed by Northeast Medical Group (NEMG) in Hamden, CT. An author, educator, volunteer, and nursing leader, she is the diversity and inclusion committee's lead clinician and the system-wide trainer for NEMG on LGBTQIA+ healthcare. She is a co-author and contributing author of several nursing textbooks and has published several articles in the FHEA newsletters. She has served on the advisory board for The Jim Collins Foundation, a non-profit community-based initiative promoting the self-determination and empowerment of all transgender people. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Health Equity, Diversion, and Inclusion Specialty Interest Group that offers unique networking opportunities with NP colleagues with shared interests to help create an inclusive culture, education about racial biases, advocacy for changes that reduce health disparities and promote equity. Additionally, she serves on the FAANP Mentorship Committee and the FANNP Selection Committee.
Phillis Lewis (she/her) is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Love Doesn’t Hurt, the first Tennessee-based nonprofit dedicated to providing crisis intervention and case management services for victims of crime in the LGBTQ+ community. Under her leadership, Love Doesn’t Hurt has reached over 27,000 individuals through educational sessions addressing healthy relationships, grief, trauma, self-care, and tenant/eviction rights. Born in Chicago and raised in Memphis, with roots in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Phillis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice & Criminology from the University of Memphis. She began her professional journey as a victim/witness coordinator at the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, where she served for almost nine years, followed by a four-year tenure within Shelby County Government. In total, she has more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, trauma-informed care, and housing monitoring. Phillis is deeply engaged in civic and coalition work across the region. She currently serves as: • Board Member, Tennessee Equality Project • Committee Member, Focus Community Advisory Group • Vice-Chair, Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence Inclusivity Committee • Current Advisor, Former President, Memphis/Shelby County Domestic & Sexual Violence Council • Former Vice-Chair & LGBTQ+ Representative, Governing Council for the Memphis/Shelby County Homeless Consortium • Former Vice-President, Mid-South Pride In recognition of her leadership and advocacy, Phillis was honored as the 2024 Women of Achievement “Determination” awardee by the Memphis Area Women’s Council. Her approach is grounded in cultural humility, and she provides consulting and professional development to organizations seeking to create more affirming, inclusive spaces for all identities. Through her work, Phillis continues to build bridges between social services, advocacy networks, and the people they serve, ensuring that survivors have the resources and support necessary to reclaim their safety and agency.
Mary-Jeanne (MJ) Raleigh, PhD (she/her), works as a school psychologist in Danville, Vermont. This position involves working with students from preschool to high school (ages 3 to 18 years) and collaboratively with fellow educators to create the best possible learning environment for each student. MJ brings 30 years of experience in college mental health and several other areas of student affairs. Twenty-five of those years having been spent at four institutions of higher education as either a director of counseling services, director of health services, or a director of a wellness center.
Chris Usher (he/him) has over twenty years of experience in law enforcement, government, and nonprofit security management. Chris’ work and responsibilities with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, in coordination with Secure Community Network, several large corporations, the Department of Labor, and US Job Corps, included facilitating security concerns through consultation, education, training, and physical security assessments; maintaining and creating effective partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement and emergency management agencies; implementing a nation-wide emergency communications system; monitoring intelligence related to terrorism and public safety; and assisting with the coordination of security for major events.