Michelle Evans is the program director of Safe Journey, a domestic violence services program that serves survivors in rural Erie County, Pa. In that capacity Michelle oversees the day-to-day operations of Safe Journey for both staff and clients. With more 20 years of experience managing all aspects of shelter and counselor/advocacy services, she has developed an expert knowledge base on victim empowerment. Michelle is co-founder and chief operating officer of PurpleOne, the evidence-based domestic violence and bystander awareness program created by Safe Journey. Michelle believes informed bystander intervention has a positive and meaningful impact on reducing domestic violence. She also is a founding member of the Rural Erie County Domestic Violence Task Force, the county’s coordinated community response to domestic violence. Prior to her work in domestic violence services, Michelle worked in a variety of industries, including education, first responder services, and government. She earned a bachelor's degree in education with a specialization in mathematics from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.