Staff

		Margaret McAbee Executive Director

Following the murder of her husband in 1985, Survivor Resources' founder and Executive Director Margaret McAbee participated in a support group for widows. She then became a volunteer for the program, facilitating grief groups for young widows and widowers. Recognizing that the issues facing homicide survivors were unique, she begged her supervisors to allow her to start a weekly group for homicide survivors. Margaret was the motivating force for the first weekly homicide survivors support group in St. Paul, starting in 1992.

That homicide support group became the impetus for Survivor Resources. McAbee served on a task force charged with developing Survivor Resources' precursor, the Victim Intervention Project (VIP), which also supported survivors of suicide and accident. She was hired as the director of this unique and enormously successful program when it began in 1995. Since that time she has walked with thousands of people as they struggle with the complicated issues and emotions that arise in the aftermath of violent death. The program expanded to Minneapolis late 2002 at the request of the Minneapolis Police Department's homicide unit.

McAbee experienced a second tragedy in 2006 when her second-oldest son was killed in a snowmobile accident. Following the I-35W Bridge Collapse McAbee was one of the first to respond, offering support groups to help families who lost loved ones as well as those who survived.

		Julie Chalmers Counselor

Julie Chalmers is a Grief Counselor with Survivor Resources, dividing her time between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Julie is a suicide survivor and has volunteered with Survivor Resources since its inception. She graduated from the College of St. Catherine’s in 1992 and holds a bachelor's degree in Business. She is the proud mother of two boys, ages 14 and 11.

Leigh Ann Olson Counselor

Leigh Ann Olson came to Survivor Resources in 2004 after her daughter Mikayla was murdered by Leigh’s ex-husband, who then took his own life. Just five months later her mother was also murdered. A year and a half after her mother’s death there was a long murder trial and finally a guilty verdict. Leigh has worked hard to reclaim her life in the wake of these devastating events. She has come full circle – from being a victim to becoming a whole and healthy survivor who can reach out to others with the perspective of one who has been tested.

For the past two years, Leigh has volunteered for Survivor Resources, first helping out in the office and then working with the children’s groups--an area that is especially dear to her. She is often invited to speak about her experiences--to educate others about domestic violence hoping there will never be another Mikayla. Leigh Ann says, “I would like to be the voice for those who are afraid or never had the chance to speak. It is important to try and do something productive in dealing with these very personal tragedies and to give back the support I’ve been given and to let others know it’s possible to find hope.” She is very passionate about helping others, making her a perfect choice to serve as a counselor for Survivor Resources.