BWJP Welcomes Kenneth Noyes, JD, Director of the Gender-Based Violence Initiative
Ken represented survivors in family courts and in the DC child welfare system for many years, which inspired his pursuit for social justice. Ken has considerable non-profit leadership experience having served as the Executive Director of the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and as Chief Operations Officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. He worked for many years in the federal government where he was an Associate Director of Military Family Readiness Policy, Family Advocacy Program, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Ken is also a former Senior Program Officer of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is also a proud veteran of the United States Air Force.
“Ken’s commitment to survivors, especially those who serve our country through their military service, is evident by his important work at the Department of Defense to improve policy and systems on behalf of military members and their families,” said BWJP CEO Amy J. Sánchez. “His dedication to advocating for the rights of domestic violence survivors and abused and neglected children for more than 28 years is an asset to our organization, especially as we grow to ensure all communities are served.”
Meet Ken
Q: What brought you into the field of gender-based violence?
Ken: I began my legal career representing families in the DC child welfare system. My caseload consisted principally of representing mothers in child neglect cases and children as guardian ad litem. I quickly learned that many of the moms would not have been in the child welfare system had they not also been survivors of domestic violence. As I continued my work, I decided that I could be more effective addressing the root causes of violence if I focused on supporting women caught in gender-biased systems that too often separated them from their children. Since then, I have firmly believed that focusing on domestic violence and those impacted disproportionately by the violence, namely women, also helps children grow up in safer, more secure homes.
Q: What drew you to want to work at BWJP?
Ken: BWJP has always been committed to supporting military members and families impacted by domestic violence. I learned that BWJP is ramping up its work with the military and believe that my DoD experience in the Family Advocacy Program can help assist BWJP in its efforts to partner with the military to address domestic and sexual violence.
Q: What are you most looking forward to working at BWJP?
Ken: The people, the mission, the team-driven approach to success, and leadership’s commitment to reimagining the CCR so that all communities and systems are proactively and meaningful engaged in dismantling gender-based violence.
Q: How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Ken: My spouse and I are currently planning to move to FL to be nearer to family and to a love we both share, the ocean. We also enjoy traveling when time allows and love spending time with friends and family.
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