linda crockettFounder and Consultant
Linda was the visionary behind Safe Communities, founding the organization in 2019 out of the Safe Church and related programs she developed and directed at a Samaritan Counseling Center. She serves as the Founder and Consultant and is a member of the SC Board of Directors. The Safe Church program grew out of her work as a consultant to congregations experiencing the contentious dynamics that occur when a child is molested by a lay or ordained leader. Under her leadership, Safe Church expanded to a national training platform. From 2016-2019 she worked with a national cohort of grantees and fellows of the Just Beginnings Collaborative on social movement building to end child sexual abuse. Her work focuses on shifting culture in institutional settings so that adults prioritize protecting children from sexual abuse within and beyond the institution, and on trauma-informed healing practices for adults who experienced childhood sexual and other abuse. Linda’s first book “The Deepest Wound: How a Journey to El Salvador Led to Healing from Mother-Daughter Incest” (Writer’s Showcase) was published in 2001. As a church volunteer and activist, she accompanied refugees and survivors of torture during the civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s, working with church and human rights organizations. The book includes her personal narrative of childhood sexual abuse, intertwined with the violence experienced by the Salvadoran people. The Deepest Wound was awarded first place in the “Life Stories” category by Writer’s Digest in March 2003. The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling recommends its use in seminary and graduate school classrooms, and by therapists and pastoral care providers. She also contributed to Render Unto God: Economic Vulnerability, Family Violence and Pastoral Theology (Chalice Press, 2002; Poling, James; Ruiz, Brenda; Crockett, Linda), a cross cultural economic analysis of sexual abuse and domestic violence. A review of The Deepest Wound on the website Confronting Collusion with Abuse in the Faith Community may be viewed at http://www.takecourage.org/deepwnd.htm |
Safe communities board
Karen BachmanInterim President & Secretary
The Rev. Karen Bachman is the part-time pastor for the Coleman Memorial Chapel, Lititz, Pa. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a BS in Business Administration from Albright College. In addition to her work as a pastor, Karen is a Certified Risk Manager and manages the corporate insurance program for The Vanguard Group, Malvern, Pa. She lives in Lancaster with her husband, Bill. Her favorite past-times include playing golf, reading, crocheting, and walking her dog. |
Alicia HaigisVice President
Alicia is the Executive Assistant for Jane Mintz Consultancy. She graduated from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with her Master of Science in Psychology and a concentration in Forensic Psychology. Alicia has been a supporter of Safe Communities since 2011. Beginning in 2018, she became co-lead for Safe Communities Resilience Cohort. Alicia’s passion lies in advocating for survivors on their brave path to a healthier mind and body, empowering them to use their voices and be heard, and helping them courageously reclaim their lives. As a survivor of domestic violence, Alicia feels the importance of changing the culture for victims of abuse, and advocating for social justice and equality as a way to build stronger and healthier communities. |
Michael P. SquierdoTreasurer
Michael Squierdo is a member of Saint James Catholic Church in Lititz, where he attends with his wife, Mary Theresa. Mike is a member of the church’s pastoral council, finance committee, and building and grounds committee. Mike is past Finance Chair of Horseshoe Trail District of the Penn Dutch Council Boy Scouts, past Treasurer of the Lititz Springs Park and the Park’s Capital Campaign. Mike is currently on the Board of A Woman’s Concern and is its Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee. Mike is a retired career banker with accounting, tax, regulatory and management reporting, enterprise, and operational risk management expertise. He is also a graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s (College) University and the Bank Administration Institute School of Banking. |
Download the meet our team document
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.









































