HURON In the 1970s nobody talked about domestic abuse in Huron, South Dakota. It was a forbidden topic that was seen as airing your dirty laundry.
Those experiencing the abuse behind closed doors felt alone, isolated.
That began to change with the launch of the YWCA domestic violence program in the early 1980s, a program that is now called the Jan Manolis Family Safe Center.
Jan Manolis, who was instrumental in starting the program in Huron, said a guest speaker at the YWCA in the early 1980s motivated her and a group of friends to investigate the need for a domestic violence program in Huron.
Manolis, Lynn Green, Norma Mees, Barb Wilkens and Darlene Kutzler traveled to different towns that had domestic violence programs, to look at how other communities were providing services to victims of domestic abuse.
Because people who were experiencing abuse in their home kept it private, it was decided that a survey in the Plainsman would show us if there was a need in our community for a domestic violence program, Manolis said. We were inundated with messages of support, and our journey began.
Operating under the 501C3 of the YWCA they started the process of informing the public of their services. They spoke to service clubs, churches, sororities, community groups, friends, family and anyone who would listen.
We asked for donations, and volunteers to help us spread the word about our mission, Manolis said. We had no money, no shelter for our victims, and we had not been through training. We looked to experts in the field to train us and our volunteers that we call advocates, and we were up and running.
Without a shelter to house victims they placed them in motels and fed them in restaurants. Then began a search for a shelter. Jan visited Randall Lampe, who was treasurer of the Huron Kiwanis Club, who made them an offer they could not refuse.
He said if the program could raise the money for a down payment on a house, the Kiwanis Club would retire the 20-year mortgage, said Manolis, who still to this day sings the praises of the Huron Kiwanis Club, because without their help the program wouldnt have succeeded.
In 2009 Jan Manolis and her advocates formed the Jan Manolis Family Safe Center. A Board of Directors was created and they applied for their own 501C3.
In 2010 Red Wilk and his family donated a house for them to call home. This house was used as a shelter for victims as well as an office until 2011, when a second house was donated by Dr Fuchs and his family to shelter victims.
The Huron community and area have always been extremely supportive of the JMFSC and the domestic violence program, Manolis said. Each one of our survivors has a different story and different reasons for leaving their situation. All have the need for the services the JMFSC can provide.
Manolis said she has learned a lot about domestic abuse in 40 years, what it can do to a family and what it can do to a community. As the family violence program in Huron turns 40 this year, Manoliss passion and dedication for helping victims of abuse remains as strong as ever.
Some former victims still send cards, call when theyre in town, still say thank you for the help they received from the program and some became great supporters of the JMFSC.
Manolis who was born and raised in Huron, by her mother, married her high school sweetheart Dean Manolis in 1956. To this marriage came three children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren all living in Huron.
Jan and her husband Dean both taught classes at Northwest College of Commerce for 25 years starting in the late 60s.
Dean suffered a stroke in 1990 after he had been elected to fill the remainder of a term on the Huron City Commission. The commission appointed Jan to serve the rest of his term with his blessing. She was reelected several times and served on the city commission for 24 years. Dean passed away in September of 2018 after 62 years of marriage.
Manolis said that when she received the news that she would be inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, she felt extremely humbled and excited. There are so many other people who deserve an honor such as this, Manolis said. I feel very blessed to be doing what I love.
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