“My life took a turn for the worse after a traumatic experience in high school that I never told anyone about. 

“When I reached early adulthood, I experienced crippling anxiety that I soothed with alcohol and pills. I became addicted while I was staying at home with my two young children.”

Ruthie tried to ignore her trauma, but it did not go away. Even when she got sober, she still experienced a deep sense of self-loathing.

Buried trauma doesn’t disappear.

When a woman feels safe, seen, soothed and secure, she can begin to self-reflect, and reflection leads to growth and change.

“Through the small, powerful moments that shaped me, one conversation at a time, I gained the ability to self-reflect. I learned to pause before reacting, to welcome stillness instead of fearing it, and to sit with discomfort rather than pushing it away. 

“In doing so, I gained clarity, aligned my choices with my values, and created wellbeing instead of constantly reacting to life’s challenges. This shift is not just about personal growth; it is about reclaiming power over our own lives.”

I am passionate about cultivating a healthy organization. From the board, staff, volunteers, partners and the women we serve, I seek to cultivate wellness across the entire organization. I hold to the values that relationships come before outcomes and a healthy staff is how we continue to do this work for decades to come. I’m committed to ensuring our organization has what it needs to serve many more generations of women and children.