Maggie John planned to retire next year, but a “perfect storm” of recent events accelerated the timing of her decision, the former Shasta Women’s Refuge executive director said Thursday.
John, who started working at the refuge in January 2005, announced her retirement Wednesday. Reached at home on Thursday, she said she and her husband, Ray – who stepped out of retirement to take over leadership of the Haven Humane Society in 2008 – had been talking about her stepping down during the first half of next year.
But circumstances prompted her to reconsider the timing. About six weeks ago, John broke her foot. Homebound for a week on crutches, “your mind starts thinking about things – like maybe this is a message I should slow down a little bit,” she said. “Then I started thinking about how we’d never had a holiday season where one of us could do stuff. Things were going well at work – the (state) budget had been approved. It was a perfect storm.”
While some were surprised by her announcement, the refuge’s board of directors knew it was coming, past president Margaret Long said. “We’re excited and happy for her and wish her nothing but luck,” she said.
Replacing John will be difficult, Long said. “Her tenure was during a difficult period, with budget cuts in the state of California. She kept services going through the entire time, expanded what we do, and keep staff on track. The board is very grateful for her service,” she said.
The approximate 11-member board – representing a cross-section of agencies that deal with domestic violence and sexual assault – will take its time to do a thorough search, Long said.
“In the interim, the staff will step up,” she said, noting that associate director Linda Dickerson will bear much of the responsibility.
Big shoes to fill
As executive director of the refuge, John oversaw 21 employees who serve about 3,000 women, men and children a year. The refuge’s services include a 24-hour crisis line; a client services office that offers intervention for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; a family law advocate to help with restraining and custody orders; membership in the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART); and a 24-hour shelter, which offers programs for children and personal empowerment, case management, referrals, and emergency transportation, food and clothing.
John’s contributions to the refuge and community will be greatly missed, said Redding Police Chief Peter Hansen.
“I think she did an outstanding job,” he said. “I’m sorry to see her go. She’s been extremely supportive of victims in our community, and she’s done a lot in terms of bringing law enforcement and the district attorney and victims advocacy groups together.”
One of John’s most notable efforts was working to find funds to keep Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) nurses on call. “Not having these nurses on call meant that victims of sexual assault could wait hours before undergoing their examination, causing unnecessary distress and frustration,” explained Shasta County District Attorney Jerry Benito via e-mail. He and John worked on funding solutions with the city of Redding, county Board of Supervisors, and Randall Hempling, chief executive officer of Shasta Regional Medical Center.
After two years of patching together funding from those three sources, the hospital agreed to fund the entire cost. “Maggie’s great determination and commitment to victims of sexual assault resulted in this final resolution to this funding problem,” Benito said.
A major challenge for John was steering the refuge through fiscal storms. The organization is largely dependent on state funding. “At the beginning of my tenure, we had to close a couple of programs because of the financial situation,” John said. “It was really tough on staff over the years because we never knew.”
But the refuge’s workers never faltered, she said. “We never lost a beat as far as taking care of clients, and the staff never complained,” she said. “I will always treasure the staff and their dedication to the mission. They did what they needed to do.”
In addition to the staff’s consistency through tough times, John is also proud of how the refuge sought to educate the community about domestic violence and sexual assault – and the resources available to victims. “The community knows who we are,” she said. “There’s a lot more to be done for people to know this is everyone’s problem, but I think we’ve done an excellent job of building awareness.”
Chief Hansen served with John on the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council for years and noted her work in numerous events, including Take Back the Night and activities related to victims awareness. “She’s taken the lead on many things and really done a lot,” he said.
John said the refuge has worked hard to build partnerships with other nonprofits, law enforcement, and the court system.
“It’s been a roller coaster but very rewarding,” she said. “The first thing I recognized when I got there was the impact on children. I’m so proud of how hard the agency works to help families and children survive the storm of domestic violence.”
Background
Prior to working at the refuge, John spent seven years as executive director of BloodSource in Redding. The Redding Chamber of Commerce named her Business Woman of the Year in 2003 for her work there. Her first job in the north state was as development director for Northern Valley Catholic Social Service. It was also the first time she had worked in the nonprofit sector. John, who has a degree in engineering and a master’s in business, worked for Pacific Bell in the Bay Area for 25 years, in a variety of leadership and management roles.
“This is actually my second retirement,” she said.
In the mid-‘90s, the Johns’ Oakland house burned down in a firestorm. “It was kind of an epiphany – like breaking your foot, but on a larger scale,” John said. “We realized stuff is just stuff. I decided to retire. We started thinking, we don’t have to stay here.”
Ray was working at a school in Alameda that had just won a national award. He saw an ad for a new school in Palo Cedro, and they moved to the north state in 1995 so he could start work as the principal of Bishop Quinn High School.
“We just love it here,” Maggie John said. “The community is welcoming, and there are so many opportunities to serve and do things.”
Speaking of doing things, John is not in a hurry to decide her next move.
“Right now I just want to get ready for the holidays,” she said. “I’ll use the new year as a time for reflection and assessment.”
What she does know is that she won’t spend much time at home.
“I want to volunteer,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in the elderly and end-of-life situations.”
She laughed. “I’m also interested in learning about birds of prey,” she said.
The energy in her voice is apparent. “I’m really excited.”
Candace L. Brown has been a magazine and newspaper reporter and editor since 1992, including eight years at the Redding Record Searchlight. She lives in Redding and can be reached at candace.freelance@gmail.com.
