The Wendy Wood Kjelvik Women Making History Award
Recognizing women making strides in fields related to concussion/TBI, domestic violence, and/or safety in the home
Remembering Wendy
In remembrance of Wendy Wood Kjelvik, Safe Living Space is honored to introduce the The Wendy Wood Kjelvik Women Making History Award 2024. Wendy Wood Kjelvik was a driving force for Safe Living Space and worked hard to bring changes in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with recognized and unrecognized brain injury caused by domestic and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV). A beloved team member since our organization’s inception in 2021, Wendy contributed to a variety of projects, such as authoring grant applications, planning the annual Safe Living Space 5K-Your Way, an activity-based fundraiser to help raise awareness for brain injury, and even crafting our organization’s mission statement. Wendy also co-led the Mental Health Psychosocial team, helping to create research and guidelines for mental health providers assisting clients with histories of abuse-induced brain injury. As a former OR nurse, Wendy always approached her work through a patient-centered lens, offering insights and new perspectives on this heavily stigmatized issue.
In addition to Safe Living Space, Wendy was also a donor to WEAVE - the non-profit in Sacramento County that administers the domestic violence shelters and has created a ride along program for DV advocates to accompany each DV police call. Up until a few days before her passing, Wendy was spearheading a collaborative effort between WEAVE and SLS on Abuse Induced Brain Injury, in order to make brain injury screening a part of the care every client receives at WEAVE. Wendy was an inspiration, advocate, gifted writer, loving mentor, important voice guiding our organization and efforts, and dear friend to us all. She will be dearly missed. The SLS Women Making History Award will be renamed in Wendy’s honor as a tribute to her lasting contributions to SLS and to the fields of domestic violence and brain injury research and education.
Remembering Wendy
In remembrance of Wendy Wood Kjelvik, Safe Living Space is honored to introduce the The Wendy Wood Kjelvik Women Making History Award 2024. Wendy Wood Kjelvik was a driving force for Safe Living Space and worked hard to bring changes in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with recognized and unrecognized brain injury caused by domestic and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV). A beloved team member since our organization’s inception in 2021, Wendy contributed to a variety of projects, such as authoring grant applications, planning the annual Safe Living Space 5K-Your Way, an activity-based fundraiser to help raise awareness for brain injury, and even crafting our organization’s mission statement. Wendy also co-led the Mental Health Psychosocial team, helping to create research and guidelines for mental health providers assisting clients with histories of abuse-induced brain injury. As a former OR nurse, Wendy always approached her work through a patient-centered lens, offering insights and new perspectives on this heavily stigmatized issue.
In addition to Safe Living Space, Wendy was also a donor to WEAVE - the non-profit in Sacramento County that administers the domestic violence shelters and has created a ride along program for DV advocates to accompany each DV police call. Up until a few days before her passing, Wendy was spearheading a collaborative effort between WEAVE and SLS on Abuse Induced Brain Injury, in order to make brain injury screening a part of the care every client receives at WEAVE. Wendy was an inspiration, advocate, gifted writer, loving mentor, important voice guiding our organization and efforts, and dear friend to us all. She will be dearly missed. The SLS Women Making History Award will be renamed in Wendy’s honor as a tribute to her lasting contributions to SLS and to the fields of domestic violence and brain injury research and education.