Varian

Since Karen Justice-Guard founded Safe Havens for little People in 1998, she has worked to make her dream of helping women leave the painful world of abuse and addiction a reality.

A year ago, with substantial help from Varian Analytical Instruments in Walnut Creek, she opened Express Yourself Bistro, an employee cafeteria, catering service and training ground for people trying to learn a trade so they can leave welfare. This month, the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department sends the first group of eight clients to Justice-Gaurd's bistro to learn food preparation and catering.

Justice-Gaurd is a firm believer in financial independence, so her program teaches women such life skills as dressing for work, balancing a checkbook and catering a luncheon for 50 people.

"We need to stop handing people money and give them opportunity. If you give people money, you strip them of their dignity and their hope," She said. "I train people how to be creative and how to market themselves."

Her determination to help others turn their lives around caught the attention of the corporate world. Varian, one of the first companies to believe in her, invested thousands of dollars in new kitchen equipment to allow Justice-Gaurd to develop the catering business.

"Karen came in and talked to us and her idea seemed worthwhile," said Martin O'Donoghue, Varian's general manger. "The concept was a win-win situation because at the time we had a cafeteria service and we needed something new, something fresh. Also we liked the concept of the welfare-to -work idea. It's very attractive."

United Parcel Service evaluated her program last summer and gave Safe Havens for Little People a grant for $100,000. "Without our assistance, we were convinced that this agency would not be able to continue the outstanding service that they provide to women and children in the Contra Costa County," said Dana Bailey, chair of the grant committee for UPS.

For Sandy Bustillo, work force services specialist for Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department, Justice-Guard not only offers a good example, she offers a way out.

"Karen's goal and mission is to assist women who come from a domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse background, with a real focus on the children. It meshes nicely with welfare reform goals," Bustillo said.

"The catering world is definitely a good career connection," she said. "Catering is a strong entrepreneurial path. That in itself is good cooking skills. But of course this goes way beyond cooking for a family into cooking for hundreds of people."

After a year with Express Yourself Bistro, O'Donoghue is quite pleased. "From our perspective we've provided the location for this effort and we've certainly invested quite a bit in terms of support that we wouldn't normally have done . I would have to say it was Karen herself, primarily her and her enthusiasm, that convinced us," he said. "It was a good fit for us and the feedback from employees is very well as to the quality of the food and the quality of the service."

The praise is especially meaningful for Justice-Guard, who has come so far. As everyone who comes into contact with her discovers, she is a passionate advocate for women trying to put their lives back together. The 42-year-old mother of two knows what it's like to lose control of her life because she lost control of hers. Her years of drug addiction and spousal abuse were painful, but she realized she had the knowledge to help others who were as downtrodden as she had been.

"I am here because of where I've been. I'm no better and no worse then you are, but I understand where you've been," she said. "I had to get my self esteem back, and I earned it, one day at a time."

Justice-Guard is always looking for ways to expand her services and she is currently organizing a fundraiser for May 5 at Varians Walnut Creek campus. She has dubbed the event, the CEO (Community Enrichment Opportunities) Dinner and is hoping to raise awareness of Safe Havens for Little People in the Community. For more information, call 925-280-0135.