From Victim to Advocate: A Journey of Healing

I was just 17 when my boyfriend first struck me. His mother’s response? “Go home.” My embarrassment and shame kept me silent, trapping me in a cycle of abuse that defined the next chapter of my life.  

That relationship led to me becoming an unwed teen mother. A few years later, I married a man with a history of violence—something I only discovered after enduring his abuse myself. The multiple police visits to our home never led to charges or intervention. No one told me he had a permanent protective order from a former girlfriend. No one told me about shelters or victim services that could help.  

I turned to alcohol to numb the pain. But thanks to a 12-step program, supportive friends, and family, I found the courage to leave with my two young children. Tragically, I had to leave our pets behind.  

Two decades later, I found myself facing a different kind of abuser—one who wielded power not with his fists but with legal threats. A former employer sued me for breach of contract after I asked him to remove videos of me promoting his work from his website. I was unable to find an attorney without a conflict of interest or the right expertise in his jurisdiction, so I took an online course on how to win in court without a lawyer. Representing myself in court was daunting, but it reminded me of the strength I had found through my journey.

The emotional trauma of that experience pushed me to dive deeper into my daily Block Therapy practice. I began releasing decades-old trauma stored at a cellular level, and I felt called to help others navigate their own paths to healing.

I became a 24/7 crisis line volunteer with PeaceWorks, eventually joining as a part-time shelter advocate and certified Block Therapy Instructor. I also developed PeaceWorks’ community wellness program to help survivors rebuild their lives by improving personal wellbeing to influence healthy relationships and create safe, stable homes.

Today, as the Executive Director of PeaceWorks, I am honored to lead a mission that provides hope and healing to survivors of gender-based violence, their children, and their pets.

Our services include:

- Safe Shelter: Mountain Peace Shelter offers sanctuary in a rural community where resources are scarce but desperately needed.  

- SafePets Program: Ensuring survivors don’t have to choose between safety and their beloved pets, with support for large animals and livestock.  

- Mobile Advocacy: Personalized safety planning, assistance with protective orders, and medical and court accompaniment.  

- Community Awareness & Education: Empowering youth and families to break the cycle of violence and build safe, healthy futures. 

Your generosity makes it possible for us to provide life-saving services and expand our reach. Together, we can ensure no one has to face abuse alone.  

Please consider making a gift today. Every donation brings hope to survivors and helps us build a community where safety and dignity are within reach for all.  

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support.