Today, we’re putting the spotlight on Christon MacTaggart, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Response Coordinator here at the Women’s Fund of Omaha. Christon joined the Women’s Fund Staff in June 2016. She is responsible for creating a coordinated system response to domestic violence and sexual assault that will keep victims safe and hold offenders accountable.
She is passionate about collaboration and working with communities to creating change and has spent over fifteen years working with victims of crime and coordinating system response.
We sat with Christon and asked her a few questions about her experience at the Women’s Fund, and what she likes to do outside of work.
What’s your favorite part of working for the Women’s Fund?
I really love working with other strong advocates for social change. There are a lot of other people doing amazing things. There’s a lot of passion for creating that social change.
Describe the Women’s Fund in 3 words.
Strong, Collaborative, Game-Changing
Best thing about living/working in Omaha?
We have a lot of really great partners that are also committed to making their community a better place. We can bring different perspectives to the table and make things happen through a well-rounded approach.
When you’re not working, what’s your favorite thing to do?
I really like to spend time with family. I like to read and I run. I also really enjoy relaxing with friends.
What’s one goal you hope to accomplish within the next year?
I would say to create a community-wide protocol for how we respond to both domestic violence and sexual assault. Also to work with our team of partners to do that.
What’s the most interesting or unusual job you’ve ever had?
I was a snack cart girl at a golf course when I was in college. I met a lot of very cool people. I would say I met some of the most interesting people with that job.
What are you reading or listening to these days?
I listen to everything; I am super eclectic. I listen to everything from older music and country, to pop and blues.
I really love historical fiction because I feel like I can learn something in the process. I read so many books that I can never remember the titles to them. The last book I read was about a woman named Mary Bowser. She was a freed slave but came back to work as a union spy because she could read and write. She would pass information off to Union leaders so her level of bravery was unparalleled.
I also just read a story about a female pilot who ferried planes in Europe during WWII but ended up being captured by Germans and put into concentration camps. I’m drawn to historical fiction.
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?
I love Tina Fey, she’s way funnier than I am but that would be okay because she could just be funnier than I am naturally. She’s a strong woman that sees the world in similar way that I do.