When Elia Meca was growing up in Barcelona, Spain, she “heard all the horror stories” when the topic was domestic violence.

Today, she is the new bilingual advocate at the Family Crisis Center (FCC) where she cares for and supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as well as human trafficking.

The stories she heard over the years came from her father, a human-rights attorney in Spain. In one instance, he was involved in a case that originated in Texas and moved to Kansas.

“Dad helps people get out of their horrible situations and brings victims of human trafficking to safety,” Meca explained. “I take after Dad and want to follow in his footsteps. We have a heart for helping vulnerable people find their way to a better life.”

After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Kansas, Meca began looking for job opportunities in the local area, while keeping her father’s experiences in the front of her mind.

• “The Family Crisis Center sparked my interest right away because it emphasizes empowerment,” she recalled. “Empowering people is one of the most important things we do.

“I can’t make decisions for survivors but I can help empower them to make their own choices.”

In addition, Meca was drawn to the FCC because of its atmosphere of teamwork. “Everyone here works together to support survivors of abuse. And since I am bilingual, I can support this team by advocating for a wide range of clients.”

Meca’s undergraduate work was in criminal justice/pre-law, with a minor in business at Sterling College.

She recently graduated from Wichita State University with a master’s in criminal justice/criminal intelligence. She is here on a student visa and hopes to stay in the U.S.

“In Spain, there is a merit-based foundation that pays for people to attend college or spend a summer abroad. I had heard about Sterling College from a family friend and was offered the opportunity to attend. At age 17, I made the decision to move here.

“And to top it off, Sterling College offered me the opportunity to play volleyball, which I love.”

Kylee Graves, FCC executive director, said that when she reviewed Meca’s resume “I was immediately impressed with her extensive education and experience. And when I learned she speaks several languages, I knew she would be an incredible asset to the Family Crisis Center.

“Elia has already exceeded expectations. She has a calm, compassionate demeanor and demonstrates a genuine understanding when interacting with our clients. She seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge, develop her skills and contribute to the growth of our agency.

“I am truly grateful to have Elia as part of our team,” Graves added. “Her compassion, dedication and willingness to grow bring tremendous value to the Family Crisis Center. I look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish for us.”

The FCC, 1924 Broadway in Great Bend, serves survivors and families in Barton, Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Kiowa, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush and Stafford counties.

For more information, call 620-793-9941; the 24-hour crisis hotline is 866-792-1885.