Sojourner Project, Inc. began in 1977 when two Hopkins residents, Kitty Alcott and Jenny Arimond, documented domestic abuse in their community, west Hennepin County. As they spoke out, Kitty and Jenny gave a human face to the issue of family violence in our own community; subsequently, others joined their quest. For the next two years, Jenny, Kitty, and their supporters lobbied for support and educated the public about the need for a domestic violence program in the area. In 1978, with the support of agencies such as St. Joseph’s, Hennepin County, Hopkins Interchurch Council, West Hennepin Human Services Council, and the Hopkins City Council, one of the first battered women’s shelters in Minnesota opened in a former single-family home in downtown Hopkins.

Then known as the Hopkins Project, the organization initially kept its focus on providing a 24 hour emergency phone line, legal advocacy and support groups for the shelter’s residents. The organization expanded its reach beyond the shelter wall in 1982, when it began partnering with the Hopkins Police Department to provide support, information and referrals to victims immediately following a domestic assault. Soon, hundreds of additional women and children began connecting with the organization, requesting information, support, counseling and advocacy in the legal system, and our community-based services were firmly established.

Today Sojourner Project, Inc. maintains working relationships with many police departments serving the west Hennepin Community, and our programs serve more than 1,000 battered women and children each year though our shelter and community-based services.