At a recent social gathering a couple of Beachcomber staffers attended, someone mentioned Tavi Black, the former project manager at DoVE. “She rocked,” this islander, a board member for DoVE, said. “We’re really going to miss her.”

Black, it turns out, is a writer. She’s published a couple of short stories and has a novel in the works. But on the island, she’s known by many as the visionary islander who helped to resurrect a grass-roots, Vashon-based domestic violence program. After years of being adrift, Vashon — thanks in large part to Black — now has a small but competent program in place. DoVE offers weekly support groups for victims, provides legal advocacy, staffs a crisis line and has collaborative relationships with other nonprofits on the island.

Black just handed the reins over to another woman, Elizabeth Archambault, who also promises to be a strong and capable leader. But as she does so, take a minute to consider what Black has accomplished and feel grateful. Indeed, she rocked.