Jackson Free Press

Dorothy Triplett is driven to help people in any way she possibly can. She believes that sometimes the best assistance anyone can give is objectivity and a listening ear.

A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Triplett worked as the deputy director of Project Equality of Wisconsin in the 1970s, which promoted affirmative action for minorities and women by encouraging people to support businesses that hired diverse staffs.. In 1977, she earned a community organizing degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

After moving to Mississippi in 1978 when her then-husband retired and returned to his home state, she worked for HeadStart in Louisville, Miss., then for a community agency in Starkville. Triplett, 72, moved to Jackson in 1987.

"My personal passion is anti-racism," Triplett said.

In 1983, four years before she moved to Jackson, Triplett began volunteering with CONTACT the Crisis Line, a local non-profit agency that serves individuals in crisis by offering a 24-hour phone line. In 2002, she became vice president of training and community relations for the organization. CONTACT helps answer crisis lines for Catholic Charities (including two rape hotlines), Compassionate Friends, the Episcopal Aids Committee and other organizations that need calls answered any time of the night or on a holiday.

Each Crisis Line employee and volunteer serves as an objective and caring listener to callers who have experienced different kinds of trauma or emotional issues, and offers them information and options they may have not considered. Callers and Crisis Line employees and volunteers are all anonymous, and calls are confidential. CONTACT refers callers to other organizations for help if necessary.

"I was just so intrigued with their way of dealing with people--by not giving advice, by not judging them in any way ... and (by trusting) that they have within themselves the answer to their problems," Triplett says. "What they need more than anything is for somebody to really listen to them without telling them what they need to do."

On Friday and Saturday of this week, Fondren Theatre Workshop is producing a benefit for CONTACT. This musical cabaret dinner theater will feature songs from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

"It is going to be so much fun," Triplett says. "Eleven very talented women from the theater scene in the metro area are going to be the singers. They are singers, actresses, playwrights, producers and directors. And they have all come together to do this benefit for two nights."

See "Leading Ladies: A Night of Nostalgia" at 7 p.m., June 24 and 25, at Brent's Soda Fountain (655 Duling Ave.) in Fondren. For reservations or information, call the Fondren Theatre Workshop at 601-982-2217. Tickets are $25 and include dinner. The show is already sold out for Friday.

Previous Comments

ID

163868

Comment

Awesome lady and this is a well deserved honor! Congrats Dorothy.

Author

chambliss65

Date

2011-06-23T13:22:26-06:00

ID

163882

Comment

"My personal passion is anti-racism" This lady, Dorothy Triplett, lives a life that demonstrates her passion for racial equality and racial harmony. Congratulation and to the JFP, a well deserved "Person of the Day". You have been my "person" for many years!

Author

justjess

Date

2011-06-24T20:40:55-06:00

ID

163885

Comment

Dorothy is a gift to Mississippi; genuine, determined, and kind are the first three words that come to mind when describing her. Those of us who have come to know Dorothy consider ourselves fortunate indeed!

Author

jamesparker

Date

2011-06-25T04:24:30-06:00