History of the Sego Lily
​Center for the Abused Deaf

Compiled and Written by Jodi Christel Becker 
Written by Joene Nicolaisen & Stephanie Lowder Mathis 

​Published in 2014
​Updated in 2025
Author's Note 
During my time in graduate school at Gallaudet University, I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragic murder of Penny Williams at the hands of her ex-husband. The news sent shockwaves through the Utah Deaf community, and it was hard not to feel the weight of that loss. Although I never had the chance to meet Penny, my heart goes out to her loved ones during this unimaginable time. 

I am immensely grateful to everyone who played a role in founding the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf, which serves as a vital sanctuary for those in need of support. Special thanks to Joene Nicolaisen and Stephanie Lowder Mathis for their dedication to preserving the important history of the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf, as well as to those involved in SLCAD for their unwavering commitment to advocating for and empowering Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals. Your work makes a meaningful difference in so many lives.

​Jodi Christel Becker 
The Unexpected Passing
​of Penny Williams
On September 14, 1999, Penny Karen Williams, a vibrant young Deaf woman ready to start a new chapter in her life, tragically lost her life. She was born on October 20, 1966, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to a Deaf family—Norman Bryan Williams and Karen Ethel Bird. Penny grew up in West Jordan, Utah, and graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf in 1983. She was a well-known and well-liked member of the Utah Deaf community. After overcoming substance abuse, she was in the process of rebuilding her life and pursuing a degree in psychology at the University of Utah. Her goal was to become a substance abuse counselor in the Deaf community.

After less than a year of domestic violence, Penny was murdered by her estranged ex-husband, who was also Deaf. The police were unable to protect her due to communication issues, as well as a lack of safety protocols and resources. Her death stunned Utah's Deaf community. Although they had heard about the horrific news of domestic violence incidents and deaths, it didn't truly resonate with them until one of their own Deaf community members died as a result of it. 

Penny's incident prompted the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf, founded in the spring of 2000, to offer culturally accessible services, advocacy, and education. Its main goal is to create a safe and empowered community for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals.
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Penny Williams
After Penny's murder, the Utah Deaf community had many questions. They wondered if such a tragedy could happen again and if there was anything they could do to prevent it. They also asked if they could take any action to avert similar future tragedies in their community. Coincidentally, the opportunity to establish a domestic violence organization became available to the Utah Deaf community soon after.
Marilyn Smith, Executive Director of Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services Offers to Assist 
In the winter of 1999, Marilyn Smith, the Executive Director of Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services (ADWAS) in Seattle, Washington, wrote to Annette Stewart, a licensed clinical social worker at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, offering her assistance. ADWAS was founded about two decades ago in the aftermath of the murder of a Deaf woman in Seattle. Marilyn, as a former counselor, has personal experience with the challenges that Deaf individuals face when seeking help, particularly women escaping domestic violence or sexual assault.

She knew from personal experience the challenges of accessing treatment as a Deaf woman and a survivor of sexual assault. Deaf survivors often struggle to find help and communicate with shelter staff, police, or the courts. In response, Marilyn Smith established a non-profit advocacy organization to assist Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind women and children in accessing care in a setting that is free of barriers and run by and for Deaf individuals.
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Marilyn Smith. Source: Gallaudet University
The Abused Deaf Women's
​Advocacy Services Training 
The Office of Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice awarded Marilyn Smith a federal grant in 1998—the grant aimed to implement the ADWAS agency model across fifteen locations nationwide. Annette Stewart wrote a letter to Marilyn, requesting that they invite Utah to select and send five Deaf and hard-of-hearing women to Seattle for a week-long training in the spring of 2000. This training, a transformative experience for the Utah Deaf women, equipped them with the essential knowledge and skills to advocate against domestic violence and launch their organizations, including creating a board and a funding plan. The ultimate goal was for these women to return to their respective states and establish advocacy groups that would assist Deaf survivors of abuse in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner. Five Utah Deaf women, including Linda Berness, Christy Layton, Kristi Mortensen, Eleanor McCowan, and Joene Nicolaisen, along with other Deaf women from various states, attended the training in Seattle. After three years of hard work, ADWAS was proud to witness the birth of fifteen sister agencies that provide services to Deaf populations throughout the country.
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Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf Co-Founders L-R: Eleanor McCowan, Kristi Mortensen, Linda Berness, Christy Layton, & Joene Nicolaisen in 2000
The Establishment of
Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf 
Founded in 2000 by Linda Berness, Christy Layton, Kristi Mortensen, Eleanor McCowan, and Joene Nicolaisen, the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf, also known as SLCAD, is a nonprofit advocacy agency. Following ADWAS training and after Penny Williams' death, the Utah Deaf community took a proactive step and united in a powerful display of solidarity to establish the center. They aimed to meet the needs of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault in Utah.
The Inspiration of the Utah State Flower, Sego Lily 
SLCAD is an organization named after the Sego Lily flower, which symbolizes people who have survived abuse and have the strength to withstand even the harshest weather and climate. It serves survivors of abuse in Utah, with a group of trained women spreading the word about its services. Since its inception, SLCAD has helped an average of thirty to sixty survivors and their families each year. The organization also provides education to various groups, including police officers, shelters, interpreters, and lawyers, on how to make their services more accessible and appropriate for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind survivors. Additionally, the organization developed community outreach, prevention, and awareness initiatives, such as Deaf Women's Day and Safety Fair activities, to disseminate information about abuse and how to seek help to the Utah Deaf community.
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Joene Nicolaisen. Source: Deaf Nutritional Sandria Graham
Director Joene Nicolaisen receives
the Utah Governor's Award for
​Excellence in Public Service
A pager system and the unwavering dedication of volunteers sustained SLCAD's operations between 2000 and 2006. Despite the lack of funds to open an office or hire staff, these volunteers, with their selfless commitment, kept the organization running. Their efforts were instrumental in shaping the early years of SLCAD. In 2006, a generous private donation enabled the organization to establish its first office, a testament to the tireless efforts of its volunteers.

The year 2007 was a turning point for SLCAD. The Department of Justice's Office of Violence Against Women Programs awarded substantial federal funding to the organization. This funding revolutionized SLCAD, allowing it to broaden its scope and provide services to Deaf communities across nine rural counties in Utah. The impact of this grant was profound; it allowed SLCAD to hire paid staff, establish a comprehensive outreach program, and focus on the Rural Grant goals, thereby enhancing its ability to provide services to victims in rural Utah.
​
SLCAD received prestigious recognition in June 2008 when its former Executive Director, Joene Nicolaisen, received the Utah Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Service. This award acknowledged Joene's exceptional leadership and underscored the significant impact of SLCAD's work in the community.
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Joene Nicolaisen
Stephanie Lowder Mathis Joins
​the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf Agency
Stephanie Lowder Mathis became the Director of the Rural Program in 2007. The Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf, with its reliance on trained volunteer advocates, continued to support survivors in areas not covered by the Rural Grant, including the Wasatch Front. The dedication of these volunteers, along with the support of previous board members, aided Joene Nicolaisen in fulfilling her role as the volunteer Executive Director until December 2011. In January 2012, Stephanie Lowder Mathis assumed the role of Executive Director. SLCAD, with the invaluable contribution of these volunteers, has dedicated many hours to protecting the safety of the Deaf community.
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Stephanie Lowder Mathis
The Sego Lily Center for Abused Deaf dedicates itself to offering services, advocacy, and education that are culturally accessible. They aim to establish a safe and empowered community for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals. At SLCAD, they believe in the strength of the community and work diligently to provide survivors with the necessary tools to make informed decisions and advocate for themselves, while communicating with them in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner. All of their advocates and volunteers are proficient in American Sign Language and have a deep understanding of Deaf culture. With at least 51% of their board members being Deaf or Hard of Hearing and fluent in ASL, all their services are culturally and linguistically appropriate. SLCAD's current and future goals are centered on building and strengthening their community, which includes

  • Building an accessible shelter, 
  • Increasing counseling services, 
  • Offering continuing education workshops in schools and community centers, 
  • Providing positive parenting training and
  • Offering programs specifically designed for children and teens​

You can find additional information on the website of SLCAD at www.slcad.org
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Erin Kelly Watkins, SLCAD Director

​SLCAD Historical Timeline

  • September 1999: Penny Williams dies at the hand of her ex-husband.
  • Winter 1999: Utah is invited to ADWAS for training to set up services in Utah.
  • April 2000: five Deaf women traveled Seattle to receive training from ADWAS.
  • June 2000: SLCAD is established as a 501c3 non-profit agency.
  • Fall 2000: SLCAD served their first victim. 
  • March 2006: SLCAD opens their first office in Murray, Utah.
  • October 2007: SLCAD is awarded the Rural Grant from the Department of Justice under the Office of Violence against Women.
  • May – Oct 2008: SLCAD hired their first staff members.
  • June 2008: Joene Nicolaisen, Ex. Director received the Utah Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service for her work with SLCAD. 
  • June 2008: SLCAD is honored with an award from the Utah Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (UTRID) for their outstanding community service in providing support to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing victims and survivors of abuse.
  • October 2009: SLCAD was awarded the Rural Grant from the Department of Justice under the Office of Violence against Women.
  • February 2010: SLCAD partnered with the Southern Utah Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs (SUDHHP) to reach out to more victims and survivors in the rural areas of the Southern Utah region. SLCAD was given an office space to provide services. Grant Pemberton was hired as Southern Utah Advocate Coordinator.
  • July 2010: SLCAD was awarded the Victim of Crime Acts Grant from Utah Office for Victims of Crime.
  • October 2010: SLCAD hosted the Justice for Victims National Coalition Conference in SLC, Utah where 15 sister agencies representatives were in attendance. ​SLCAD is awarded the Legal Assistance for Victims grant under the Dept. of Justice under the Office of Violence against Women. 
  • October 2011: SLCAD is again awarded the Rural Grant from the Dept. of Justice under the Office of Violence against Women. 
  • December 2011: Joene Nicolaisen, after 11 years of dedicated services, retires from SLCAD.
  • August 2012: Stephanie Lowder Mathis, Executive Director receives the community member award from the Utah Registry of Interpreters. 
  • September 2012: SLCAD partnered with the Family Justice Center of Salt Lake City (FJC) who just opened their brand new building. The partnership included providing SLCAD an office space to provide a wraparound service for Deaf, DeafBlind and HH survivors. FJC also provided space for local community partner agencies such as the Salt Lake Police department, Department of Workforce Services, Legal Aid Society and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. SLCAD advocates attended their staff and partnership meetings monthly.
  • June 2013: SLCAD receives a Presidential Award by the Utah Association of the Deaf.
  • February 2014: SLCAD partnered with Utah Association of the Deaf to present The Vagina Monologues at the University of Utah. Local ladies and young women performed and shared stories from Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologue script in American Sign Language.
  • October 2014: SLCAD hosted its very first Gala-The Purple Tie Gala at Thanksgiving Point. It was a special night where everyone came dressed up in purple attire. SLCAD was fortunate to have April Brown’s auctioneer to lead the evening with games, silent and live auctions and dessert dash.
  • 2015: Sari Williams, a long time advocate for Sego Lily, received the Advocacy in Action award for her years of outstanding advocate services at the Annual Crime Victims’ Conference in Midway, Utah. 
  • March 2015: Sego Lily hosted its very first Deaf Ladies Expo at the Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. Many booths were set up by local Deaf organizations and Deaf women owned businesses. Fitness classes were offered throughout the day! 80 Deaf Women were in attendance! 
  • October 2015: SLCAD was awarded the Rural Grant from the Dept. of Justice under the Office of Violence against Women.
  • October 2015: SLCAD hosted the Purple Tie Gala: Dancing with the Star at the Provo Marriott Hotel. Dancers who competed were local community members and leaders. The dancers were: Pamela Mower & Aaron Bullock, Ayas Hussain & Chrystee Davenport and Carol Macnicholl & Johnny Hill. Pamela Mower & Aaron Bullock won first place. The judges for the competition were: Ben Jarashow, Joel Coleman and Mariyln Tiller Call. We were honored to have a House of Representative at the event: Kim Coleman, representing District 42. We had silent, live and dessert auctions, and we raised $15,000.
  • October 2016: SLCAD hosted the Sego Lily’s 3rd Annual Purple Tie Gala: The Mad Hatter Tea Party at the Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. The Deaf Center’s Gym was transformed by a beautiful rabbit hole that transported guests to the Mad Mad world! It was a fun filled evening that began with a mystery dinner game and hat contest. We raised $18,000.
  • February 2017: SLCAD’s main office was moved to the avenues near downtown Salt Lake City. The office is located within few miles of the Family Justice Center, Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Matheson Courthouse, Capitol, Salt Lake Police Department, and Utah Domestic Violence Coalition.
  • October 2017: SLCAD hosted Sego Lily’s 4th Annual Purple Tie Gala: The Wild West theme at the West Jordan Library. The evening was a night to remember! The country decor with bales of hay, large screens, a western themed photo booth, mechanical bull ride contest that created a very lively vibe! The event was hosted by our very funny and entertaining Aaron Bullock. We raised $24,000.
  • October 2018: SLCAD was awarded the Rural Grant from the Dept. of Justice under the Office of Violence against Women.
  • October 2018: SLCAD hosted its 5th annual Purple Tie Gala: Return of 5th (Star Wars theme) at the Utah Cultural Celebrations Center in West Valley City. Guests came dressed as their favorite character from Star Wars. The evening included activities such as costume contests, star wars themed games and entertaining masters of ceremonies, Adam Shewell and David Davenport. We raised $17,000.
  • January 2019: SLCAD was awarded the Violence Against Women Acts Grants from Utah Office for Victims of Crime. SLCAD was able to have an in-house counselor for the very first time. The SLCAD therapist was granted an office space across the hall from the SLCAD main office.
  • January 2019: SLCAD partners with Utah School for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) in establishing the Empowering Deaf Teen Series (EDTS). Emily Tanner the school social worker at USDB worked with SLCAD to plan workshops for students throughout the year. Topics of the EDTS' interactive workshops included healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, trauma and bullying. These topics were taught to middle and high school students at Jean Massieu School (JMS), and Kenneth Burdett School (KBS.)
  • February 2019: SLCAD partnered with the Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SCDHH) to establish the Deaf LGBTQ+ activities committee with the goal of providing a safe space for the LGBTQIA community to heal from trauma. Committee members met regularly to plan activities for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and CODA LGBTQ+ individuals to meet up. The first event “Ally Night” was where all LGBTQ+ and allies met up to learn about the goal and to get their input regarding the wants and needs of the LGBTQ+ Community. Eighty-five people attended and it was indeed a successful night. Subsequent activities such as coffee night, a kickball game, and Pride Festival Breakfast kick off.
  • June 2019: SLCAD hosted the very first Deaf pride “Kick-Off Brunch on Pride Weekend” at Denny’s. We had a huge turnout and enjoyed socializing and networking. SLCAD decided to keep this tradition in support of the LGBTQ+ community upcoming in the years.
  • September 2019: SLCAD set up a Dream Team of presenters for training of local police. The presenters are representatives of Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Deaf. The Hard of Hearing representatives are Chelle Wyatt and Sue Ordonez. The DeafBlind representatives are Stephen Ehrlich and John Galli. The Deaf representatives are Cj Hirsch, Erin Watkins, and Jeremy Murphy, who are employees at Sego Lily. Each presenter taught police how to work and communicate with their populations effectively. The first training was given to the South Salt Lake Police Department. The audience was law enforcement and victim advocates. The training was successful and they asked a lot of questions regarding each population. We’ve had a few police departments invite us to provide training. Our goal for this training is to provide safety and accessibility for all of our community members.
  • October 2019: SLCAD hosted 6th annual Purple Tie Gala: Sego Lily is the Word! The Grease/1950s was the theme at the Utah Museum of Fine Art. We were honored to have Melissa Yingst as the Mistress of Ceremonies to lead the evening with silent, live, and dessert auctions. Many ladies came dressed as Pink Ladies! We raised $10,000.
  • December 2019: Stephanie Lowder Mathis retired from the Executive Director to take on the full time counselor position for SLCAD clients.
  • December 2019: Holly Parker Jensen was hired as an Executive Director.
  • September 2020: Erin Kelly Watkins was hired as an Interim Executive Director.
  • October 2021: SLCAD was awarded the Rural Grant from the Dept. of Justice under the Office of Violence against Women.
  • January 2022: SLCAD was awarded the Communication Services for the Deaf Foundations for $12,000. This award would go to the rebranding of our logo, LGBTQ+ Hangouts and Suicide Prevention program.
  • 2022: The Select Health Award program recognizes organizations that promote health and well-being, assist individuals with special needs, and support underserved populations. Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf is honored to have been chosen for their Select Health award in 2022. They donated $3,000 and a marketing package that included our banner and a YouTube video interview. This fund will be used as emergency funds for rent and utility assistance to increase clients’ feelings of success and independence in meeting their housing needs. ​
In loving memory of Penny Williams 
​and all victims of domestic violence 
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Penny Williams
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L-R: Rep. Karen Morgan, Norman. Williams, Rep. Trisha Beck, and Rep. Michael Waddoups with the Williams family during Deaf Arbor Day, 1999, in memory of Karen and Penny Williams. Source: Utah State Office of Rehabilitation Division of Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2000
HISTORICAL DOCUMENT
Nicolaisen, Joene (2009) & Mathis, Stephanie Lowder (2013). History of the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf. (PDF)                                                   
Videotape of KBYU Eleven Community Connection interviewing Stephanie Mathis, Executive Director of the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf.
 March 26, 2014 
Attached is the video of Tracey Christensen, the host of KBYU Eleven's Community Connection, a segment showcasing Utah nonprofit organizations, interviewing Stephanie Mathis, a representative of the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf, on March 26, 2014.