The mission of Wynona's House is to promote justice and healing of child victims of abuse and violence by coordinating investigative, prosecutorial, treatment, and prevention services.
The vision of Wynona's House is create an community where children are safe, families, are strong, and victims become children again, by:
- Reducing the number of times a child is interviewed during the investigation phase to a single interview conducted by a specially trained interviewer in a child-friendly environment
- Increasing successful prosecution through improved evidence collection, victim-witness advocacy, and partnerships with municipal law enforcement
- Promoting the research and development of innovative evidence-based behavioral health treatments for children and families
- Strengthening the safety net for children through community outreach, education, and prevention efforts
Wynona M. Lipman was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 1971 – the first African-American to serve there and, for many years, the Senate’s only woman. Throughout her career, she was known as the ‘Steel Magnolia’ for her persistence in adhering to her principles and priorities while always maintaining grace, elegance, and style – an iron hand in a velvet glove!
Wynona was born in LaGrange, Georgia. Her educational achievements included a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Columbia University and a Fulbright Scholarship to the Sorbonne, in Paris. For nearly three decades, Wynona represented Newark’s 29th District and sponsored many groundbreaking legislative initiatives, including the Prevention of Domestic Violence Acts of 1981 and 1991, at the time, the toughest domestic violence legislation in the United States. She also pioneered legislative action on behalf of minority women and women-owned businesses, affirmative action, family leave, pay equity, and enforcement of child support.
Wynona M. Lipman, who died in 1999, was a trailblazer throughout her long and creative political career and was unwavering in her commitment to protecting the rights of children, women, and families. It is only fitting that Wynona’s House, dedicated to protecting children and families, bears her name.
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