Board Members

After many years of living within Florida's prison walls, I witnessed first hand different types of abuse forced upon women and girls. I realized our voices were unheard. Women's screams were silent to the rest of the world. This is how it was prior to my arrival in prison and the duration of my incarceration. I made a promise not only to myself but to the women inside that our voices would be heard, that change would come. A CHANGE is needed to ensure women and girls are not left behind, not forgotten. PRISON IS NOT THE ANSWER!

Entering prison as a young adult, I grew up watching women beaten and abused by the people of authority that were supposed to offer care, custody & control. Decades passed and I became numb, even accepting of the behaviors that are life inside the walls. After 27 years I came home and realized that being incarcerated should not mean subjection to abuse on all levels. Women and girls are alone in jails and prisons. I push for CHANGE because prisons are full of mothers, daughters, sisters & friends. They are human beings and deserve to be treated as such. 

I was at Lowell for 7.5 years. 6.5 of those years I spent in the Medical Dorm known as I dorm. I technically worked as a CNA and took care of the elderly inmates that were in the equalivant to a nursing home. I seen so much wrong while I was there, but also took some good things with me as well. I am working on getting my certification for being a paralegal and also working on my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. I am looking forward to working with the ladies who are still in fighting.

I am a firm believer that your past does not define your future. I myself have had a long journey through group homes, programs, addiction, and incarceration. But, I have come out the other side as a stronger and more diverse woman. During my 5 years in department of corrections, I have seen first hand  just how broken the system is- this is what urges me to speak for those without a voice and push for a change. For many, incarceration is the lowest point of our lives. How can we be expected to rebuild ourselves in a toxic environment, where physical, sexual and mental abuse is rampant and many other issues are not being addressed? This is why I am ready to stand for what is right and make a difference.

I am a former inmate from Lowell Correctional Institution. I was 17 years old when I was convicted and sentenced to a 35 year sentence. While incarcerated serving a sentence that was considered a life sentence I knew that I had to fight for justice. I was still just a child that made a mistake. I started going to school then earned my HVAC certification.. I was determined to become a better person and a role model. But after doing a few years I became discouraged. The Officers and staff that are supposed to encourage us to be rehabilitated are the very ones that would put us down. And there have been countless times where I was told I was wasting my time with school and programs because I was going to die in Prison…But I continued to fight through all the emotional and sometimes physical abuse.. Because I had faith that there were bigger plans for me. I kept my head up and only cried in the shower.. After 10 years I was granted a court date and given a second chance to be the voice I was meant to be. I became a part of Operation New Hope And began putting my story out there to not only encourage people, But also to bring awareness to what was going inside those gates and our Judicial systems. Never be afraid to stand up and be the Voice the world needs.. Change Comes Now.