Staff

MARY L. WALTON, M.S.W.; M. Div.

Project Director

2003 Master of Divinity, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont CA.
1971 Master of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh , Pa.
1963 B.S. in Education, California University of Pennsylvania, California, Pa.

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Rev. Mary Walton has worked in a variety of community-based social service, health/mental health service and faith community settings and has a lifelong commitment to building a culture of peace and wholeness among people. Currently Rev. Walton is Pastor of Dominguez United Methodist Church in the Carson/Long Beach, CA community.

Rev. Walton serves Interval House as Senior Management & Program Consultant and as Project Director of the Creating A Safe Environment (C.A.S.E.) Partnership. The C.A.S.E. Partnership is a model family violence prevention and intervention strategy, which has enabled faith communities to partner with DV services for culturally sensitive and congruent anti-violence activities. Rev. Walton serves as a board of directors member of A Place of Miracles (HIV/AIDS) in Pasadena, and a faith-based community service agency, Living Into The Future Foundation in Long Beach.

Throughout a lengthy career, Mary has notably served as, Project Director of California Black Women’s Health Project; Project Director of Moms & Miracles a perinatal substance abuse project; Founding Executive Director of Interval House, a domestic violence shelter in L.A. & Orange Counties; and Director of Development, CLARE Foundation in Santa Monica, CA.

As an associate with the consulting firm of Richard Heath & Associates, and in collaboration with GTE and PacBell, Ms. Walton trained the staffs of over 125 battered women’s shelters and Legal Services organizations in California. As a Master Trainer for RHA, Mary assisted with the launching of the California Department of Health Service’s insurance program for children, HEALTHY FAMILIES.

Rev. Walton was commissioned as a Probationary Elder in the United Methodist Church in 2004 and serves both the local church and the Long Beach District of the California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

In September 2005, Rev. Walton was among 40 domestic violence and sexual assault advocates from throughout the USA, working with the faith and community gathered together in Minneapolis to share strategies, successes, challenges and vision for the future. "A Gathering of Allies" was convened by Faith Trust Institute, a pioneer organization working to education faith leaders and congregations about these issues.

REV. ARNETHA E. BELL-INGE; B.S., M. DIV.

PROJECT COORDINATOR

2009, D. Min., Fuller theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

2001, Master of Divinity, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA

1997, B.S. in Religion, University of LaVerne, La Verne, CA

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Arnetha Inge was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church August 1997. She serves as Associate Minister at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, California. Her ministry at Bethel includes: ministry to women, which includes the Women’s Bible Study every Thursday from 6-7 pm, coordinates workshops and learning opportunities for the women (young and more mature) of Bethel. She ministers to the sick-in-shut-in and encourages each with Word and Eucharist. She is Bethel's informational/contact person for Domstic Violence victims seeking a safe haven and counseling; works with the Christian Education Department, Vacation Bible School Teacher and received certification from The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for completion of Region II Clergy Academy and serves with The Lennox Clergy Council.

She has completed three years of course work toward a Doctor of Ministry degree at Fuller theological Seminary, Pasadena, California and expects to graduate May 2009.

She has provided leadership as Project Coordinator, for C.A.S.E. (Creating A Safe Environment) for the last six years. CASE is a model program birthed out of the relationship between Zaferia Shalom Zone Agency (ZSZ), and Interval House Crisis Shelter. CASE is a prevention and intervention domestic violence program. She is a workshop presenter/trainer for the CASE project, as well as, presenting for other non-profits working in the field of abuse. Her presentations have included the 5th District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church clergy and clergy spouses in an effort to promote awareness and challenge its leadership to address domestic violence in their perspective congregations.

Arnetha began her professional career in the private industry, moving into the field of education out of a desire to change lives and help others obtain their personal and professional goals. She has 20+ years of professional experience, a competent, reliable and committed professional with excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills. She is certified by the State of California, and have instructed business and other vocational courses. Adjunct Professor, University of La Verne, Ecumenical Center For Black Church Studies.

She has also spent a great deal of time working with youth in different capacities. She worked for the Los Angeles Job Corps as a Resident Adviser, working directly with the residents, provided counseling and guidance. While at Claremont, she worked with the Youth Discipleship Project as a counselor and provided counseling and spiritual guidance to high school youth. Also, while at Claremont she chose to Intern at “Crossroads, Inc.” a re-entry home for paroled women, instead the traditional church intern. At St. Anne’s Maternity Home for Pregnant Teens, she provided leadership and counseling to teen mothers. Her working relationship with Bright Future Group Homes and Bright Future Foster Family Agency includes, counseling in the group home setting, working with teens facing difficult challenges. Her passion and focus was to direct the minds of the residents and especially information pertaining to government and African-American History. She is also home inspector for the Agency.

MRS. THELMA CLEAVER

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Thelma has been with the C.A.S.E. Program since inception, January 2000. Thelma worked in the Aerospace industry for many years.