ST. CLOUD - Education, privacy and expansion are all apart of Anna Marie's Alliance plan and goals for it's future.

To help make all those goals possible the alliance has finalized plans to expand their current shelter and build the Center for Family Peace. While Anna Marie's Alliance has invested most of its resources to providing shelter for women and children of domestic abuse, the center will help them in their shift to also providing education.

Charles Hempeck is the Executive Director for Anna Marie's Alliance. He says the shift towards education is about getting to the root of the problem.

"One of the things we want to put more energy into is prevention. We want to be able to stop domestic violence before it happens."

 

For women and children who are staying at the current center have been in a communal living atmosphere, with the expansion Anna Marie's will be able to provide more privacy by offering apartments.

Hempeck says while the apartments are great for privacy, the apartment will also help prepare the women and children for life after they leave the shelter.

"The rooms will give a little more autonomy and privacy, more family for the women with kids. They can play games, watch TV, cook. Just build the skills of living on their own."

 

The project is estimated to cost $4,000,000.00 and they say they have raised around half the needed amount.

Ground Breaking for the project is expected to happen in April 2018, with dedication in October 2018 on Anna Marie's 40th anniversary.

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