Hi, my name is Christina Lee and I am the Deputy Director at Rebuilding Hope! Sexual Assault Center for Pierce County. I am so grateful to be able to share my story with you. My journey started when finishing up my last year at the University of Washington. There, I attended a self-defense class where I was introduced to the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center. I was immediately compelled to start working within my community and began volunteering at the Family Justice Center.
While I was there, I expanded my knowledge in victim services and familiarized myself with community agencies that did similar work. In 2009, I discovered the Sexual Assault Center for Pierce County (Rebuilding Hope) and my interest sparked. I wanted to enhance my work in victim services and learn about the overlap between domestic violence and sexual assault, so I decided to volunteer at Rebuilding Hope.
During my volunteer experience at SACPC, I dabbled in both the Advocacy and Prevention Education programs. I was enlightened by the work. As positions became available I jumped on the opportunities. Over a 5 year span I served as a volunteer advocate then expanded to working as a prevention specialist before being promoted as the crisis line coordinator, where I supervised the agency’s team of 24/7 advocates.
In 2015, I graduated with my Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. I loved the work that I was doing at Rebuilding Hope, but needed to obtain clinical experience towards my licensure. I made the extremely difficult decision to work towards my counseling licensure and accepted a position at Catholic Community Services working with high risk youth and their families. At CCS, I provided intensive in-home therapy in the Family Behavioral Health Program. Additionally, during my time at CCS, I developed my crisis management skills and therapeutic approaches. My experience there allowed me to develop as a Clinical Supervisor for the FAST/CRISIS team that served crisis responses for youth throughout the county facilitated through the Pierce County Crisis Line.
I’m extremely grateful and humbled to be back with Rebuilding Hope. I’ve missed the work dearly along with the staff and clientele. I have always felt that I would be back at the organization and am entirely honored to have returned in the capacity as the Deputy Director, where I supervise the agency’s Advocacy, Prevention Education and Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Program (STEP) departments. I am in awe, but not at all surprised to see how much the agency has developed and grown in my absence and am excited and humbled to be part of such an amazing team and to continue this extraordinary work. Please continue to check our website to follow what we’re offering in the community and know that I am here to be a resource to you whether you are seeking our services or just trying to get to know Rebuilding Hope a little better.
