We are thrilled to share that Gabrielle Rainey was recently promoted to Director of Victim/Witness Services at Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP)!
As AVP’s Director of Victim/Witness Services, Gabrielle will further our mission of reducing the cycle of violence in our community, ensuring that victims and survivors are supported and empowered through high-quality, compassionate, and trauma-informed services so that they may achieve survivor-defined justice and healing.
In this role, Gabrielle will oversee the operations and growth of our Victim/Witness Services department, which includes the victim advocacy programs: (1) Families of Murder Victims (FMV), AVP’s flagship court-based victim advocacy program that works alongside the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s Homicide Unit; and (2) West/Southwest Victim Services, AVP’s victim services program specific to victims of crime in the 12th, 16th, 18th, and 19th Police Districts.
“It is an honor to serve as AVP’s newest Director of Victim/Witness Services,” says Rainey. “I am proud to lead a diverse team of dedicated individuals who share their compassion with victims of violence in Philadelphia. The needs of victims and survivors have evolved significantly in the last two years. I am committed to the development of victim services at AVP so that we are better equipped to meet the needs of our clients and communities and affect meaningful change in our city.”
Gabrielle started her career at AVP six years ago as an intern in our FMV program. After her internship, Gabrielle joined our team full-time as a Victim/Witness Advocate and later as FMV’s Preliminary Hearing Coordinator. A graduate of Widener University, Gabrielle holds Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Legal Studies and Analysis and earned her Master’s in Criminal Justice while employed full-time at AVP.
“During her time at AVP, Gabrielle has demonstrated exemplary dedication to our clients, as well as the growth of our organization,” says Natasha Danielá de Lima McGlynn, Executive Director of AVP. “She has proven herself a steady force at AVP. Her profound commitment to victims and survivors, combined with her determination and ability to think critically and strategically about victim support services during these challenging times, have prepared her to take the helm of AVP’s Victim Services department. We are especially delighted to promote from within as this demonstrates the caliber of our current team. This is a well-deserved promotion.”
Her leadership skills in serving and advocating for victims and survivors is also reflected in her recent appointment as Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Coalition of Victim Advocates (PCVA), which is the membership consortium for victim services professionals in Philadelphia. As Co-Chair, Gabrielle will lend her expertise and abilities to collective efforts by PCVA members that provide enhanced advocacy and assistance to victims and survivors.
“We are excited Gabrielle has accepted these roles and new responsibilities,” says de Lima McGlynn. “AVP is committed to fostering pathways to leadership not only within our organization, but within the victim services profession as well. Gabrielle’s ability to work effectively with various stakeholders will prove instrumental in furthering collective strategies to support victims and survivors during this critical time, and will also strengthen AVP’s position as an innovative leader of victim support services in Philadelphia.”