PBN BUSINESS WOMEN AWARDS 2020 CAREER ACHIEVER: Peg Langhammer | Day One
PEG LANGHAMMER was always driven to make a difference.
She grew up in the 1960s influenced by the civil rights movement, and later the Vietnam War. That passion drove her to get involved in marches and demonstrations, both locally and nationally, she said.
“I believe that I developed, at a young age, a core belief that I needed to be involved in social change in whatever work I did,” Langhammer said.
Langhammer once spent time helping to manage an inner-city social-service, meals and shelter program, even serving briefly as a prison chaplain. During that time, she became involved in women’s issues and worked as a volunteer in one of the first domestic violence shelters in the state, Langhammer said.
When the position of executive director at the Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center became available in 1980, Langhammer saw it as a natural fit for her.
The Providence-based organization changed its name to Day One in 2005 so it can continue to grow and expand upon its programming to include more at-risk groups, including children and adolescents. Today, Langhammer continues to promote the work done through Day One – the only agency in the state specifically organized to deal with the issue of sexual violence as a community concern.
Day One offers clinical treatment, crisis intervention, court, law enforcement and legal advocacy, and prevention education services. As the state’s sexual assault coalition, Day One advocates for public policy, legislative and systemic changes to improve the state’s response to cases of sexual assault and abuse. Additionally, the agency educates the public about sexual violence, human trafficking and child exploitation.
‘I believe that I developed, at a young age, a core belief that I needed to be involved in social change in whatever work I did.’
Peg Langhammer, Day One executive director
A major program development that has taken place within the past 25 years is the establishment of the Children’s Advocacy Center. The center utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to cases of child sexual abuse by working with the R.I. Office of the Attorney General; law enforcement; the R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families; and mental health and medical representatives.
“Currently, the [center] is available to children under the age of 14, consistent with Rhode Island statute,” Langhammer said. “We have been working this year with our partners and the R.I. General Assembly to increase the [maximum] age to 18. The legislation was successfully heard in the House just prior to business closings due to [the] COVID-19 [pandemic]. We believe it would have fared equally well in the Senate. If the legislation isn’t considered this session, we’re confident of its passage next year.”
Another project in the works is a major expansion of Day One’s volunteer opportunities, including the launch of a statewide mentor program. Currently consisting of a 24-hour victim advocacy program and a mentor program serving only sex-trafficking survivors, Langhammer believes it’s time for Day One to create an extensive volunteer and mentoring program.
“We constantly hear from people in both private and public sectors who want to be involved in the organization,” she said. “Day One cannot end sexual violence alone and we are excited to develop new partnerships.”
Cara LaBella, Day One’s grants officer responsible for raising funds to support the agency’s work, said she gets to see firsthand Langhammer’s dedication and drive to help others.
“I have known Peg since she hired me to oversee Day One’s fundraising efforts in 2016,” LaBella said. “The work Peg does in fulfillment of the agency’s mission is incredibly important. She’s thoughtful about and intentional in her work, is inclusive, seeks counsel and listens. She is also a relationship-builder and problem-solver. She believes in a good world and doing her part to make it a better one.”
In the end for Langhammer, it all comes back to doing her part to make a difference.
“I think my passion about my work, and life, is about not just as an individual but as a partner with friends and colleagues just trying to make our community, our country, our world a better place,” she said. “I am just fortunate that I have been able to work and make a living doing something I so passionately believe in.”
