Olliette Murry-Drobot
tapped to lead FSC staff

She succeeds interim Linda K. Miller

Olliette Murry-Drobot

Olliette Murry-Drobot, who has extensive experience working to help victims of domestic violence, has been hired to lead the staff of the  Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County as the Center prepares to open its doors for full-time operation.

Ms. Murry-Drobot begins work as executive director on June 20, taking the reins from interim executive director Linda K. Miller.

"Olliette comes to this position with great experience, practical know-how and the energy required to launch our operations and get the organization running smoothly and effectively," said Chip Dudley, chair of the FSC board of directors. "We are creating an important center for family justice in this community, and she is the person we need to move into that future."

He added, "We really appreciate the hard work Linda has done to prepare the way. She has moved our organization well through the many stages that have led to the start-up of a key community nonprofit."

Olliette Murry-Drobot has served since 2009 as executive director of the Southeast Memphis Community Development Corporation and is a consultant to The University of Memphis Center for Community Criminology and Research. Altogether, she has 14 years experience leading organizations, strategies and initiatives aimed at solving community problems.

Her experience includes working directly with Operation: Safe Community's Safeways and Just Care 180 strategies concerning domestic and family violence. The FSC itself is growing out of Operation: Safe Community planning. Ms. Murry-Drobot has masters degrees in business administration and applied anthropology with a focus on urban issues.  

The Family Safety Center is expected to open its doors in late summer, providing a one-stop location where many services are provided to victims of family violence. The Center will provide a secure environment for families and space where professionals can provide legal and advocacy help, as well as various social services needed when families are in crisis.  The Center will be located in the top floor of the Madison Professional Building at 1750 Madison Avenue.

Agencies with missions to help victims will co-locate with Family Safety Center   

Two essential partners in the community's drive to make families safer and to reduce the numbers of victims of domestic violence are the Mid-South Sexual Assault Resource Center (MSARC) and the Shelby County Crime Victims Center.

Both agencies will be moving into the Madison Professional Building at 1750 Madison Avenue to co-locate with the Family Safety Center. Their new offices will be in secure areas of the building's first floor.

"Having those offices in the same building will greatly enhance the idea of a 'one-stop shop' concept that is so important to providing necessary services to families in an efficient and effective manner," said Linda K. Miller, FSC executive director.

The Sexual Assault Resource Center provides crisis intervention to adult sexual assault victims, plus legal advocacy and forensic evidence collection (examinations) up to 72 hours after an incident. MSARC also offers treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases and emergency contraception, counseling, community education, a resource library and support groups.

The Crime Victims Center acts as a hub of services for crime victims who are residents of - or visitors to - the City of Memphis and Shelby County. Help includes courtroom accompaniment, counseling, assistance with applying for the Tennessee Criminal Injuries Fund, and referral to appropriate social services.

Anna Whalley is the county's administrator of the two offices.

"Co-location will enable domestic violence victims to connect with ongoing assistance from these county agencies on the same day they access Family Safety Center services," she said.