This week we are interviewing Natasha Nascimento, Founder & Executive Director of Redefining Refuge as a part of their graduation from our Partner Grant Program! Read the first part of their story and check back Wednesday and Friday for more.

Today Natashsa shares the ups and downs of starting a safe house.  She shares that despite all the set backs it’s worth the work, don’t give up!

Q: Where were you/your organization when the grant began vs. where you are now? Explain.

A: In 2012, Redefining Refuge began the process of securing and readying a therapeutic safe house in anticipation of Florida adopting safe harbor laws to be applied to female minors who were exploited by means of sex trafficking. However, due to some significant structural issues that were revealed midway through, the project was subsequently halted, and the search for a new space began.  This was extremely disheartening because we had already spent several months renovating this 1920’s home on both the inside and outside.

In late 2012, Redefining Refuge secured a new and very promising location. Not only was this home situated on 10 acres and almost a 100 years newer and several thousand feet larger, but as ‘fate’ would have it, both the inside and outside were replicas of the colors we had painted our first home; colors I had personally chosen at the Home Depot much earlier that year. The scriptural reference “be faithful in little {and I will see to it that you have the opportunity} to be faithful in much” resonated with me deeply.  It was finally all falling into place – or was it?

Unfortunately Redefining Refuge encountered major permitting and licensing hoops in the State of Florida as the Department of Children and Families (DCF) had not yet licensed such a facility. Despite our educated reluctance to be licensed as a ‘group home,’ we were left with no choice in the matter, and ultimately conceded to the terms set forth via DCF. We were licensed in May 2013 to begin accepting residents.

In July 2013, Redefining Refuge received our very first grant from Shared Hope International, but sadly the constraints set forth by DCF failed miserably, and after just a few short months we were forced to close our doors. Shared Hope remained a faithful partner of Redefining Refuge throughout this extremely tumultuous period. In 2014, we were able to try again and finally began to experience more successes than failures. We were included in state law drafting, presenting nationally about our successes and failures on our path to open our doors, and continuing to build relationships with everyone we met. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth it.

[easy-tweet tweet=”It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth it.” user=”SharedHope”]

We have had the absolute privilege of growing our relationship and mentorship with Shared Hope from 2013 to 2017, and you have truly been the ‘big sister’ that gave our caterpillar dreams its first set of butterfly wings. You believed uncompromisingly in our mission, in our leadership, and in the true ‘can-do’ spirit of collaboration. There will never be words adequate enough to convey the absolute heartfelt gratitude, love and respect that Redefining Refuge has for Shared Hope.

[easy-tweet tweet=”You believed uncompromisingly in our mission and in the true ‘can-do’ spirit of collaboration. ” user=”SharedHope”]

Because of you formerly exploited girls were able to celebrate a birthday for the very first time. A bed was no longer something that had to be shared, but rather a place to rest a head and dream of a bright and promising future. We went from serving roughly 40 girls per year, to approximately 8-10 girls per year because they are staying much longer. We have had the opportunity to plant seeds for real and lasting change as opposed to merely being a Band-Aid on a larger issue. We have become more of a home than just a ‘safe house’. We are eternally grateful, and pray that your butterfly effect continues to touch the hearts, minds, and lives of all the exploited youth that will cross your path.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Because of you formerly exploited girls were able to celebrate a birthday for the very first time.” user=”SharedHope”]

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Every year Shared Hope works in partnership with domestic and international partners, giving them grants to fund their direct service work with survivors and offer them technical support. This blog series celebrates the graduation of two of our partners. 

Every year Shared Hope works in partnership with domestic and international partners, giving them grants to fund their direct service work with survivors and offer them technical support. This year we are graduating 3 organizations from our grant program and want to share with you their journeys!

This week we are interviewing Natasha Nascimento, Founder & Executive Director of Redefining Refuge! Watch for future posts featuring the rest of their story.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and why you founded your organization.

A: After spending almost a decade in Finance, I found myself becoming increasingly disenfranchised with my career, and in truth; even myself. Climbing the ‘corporate ladder’ was not fulfilling to me at all. At the time (2008/2009), I distinctly remember reading a C.S. Lewis book that talked about the concept of ‘time’ – specifically that if we were headed down a ‘path of success’ that wasn’t truly ours; then that was not in fact progress but regression at its finest. That struck a chord very deep within me but I wasn’t quite sure why. I only knew I was incredibly miserable on the inside regardless of what my life appeared to be like on the outside.

Months after reading this book, I suddenly remembered making a silent promise to God in elementary school (after learning of a classmate’s parental sexual abuse) that “one day I was going to help girls like that.” Of course as time went by, I moved on with my life and forgot all about this until I was reminded in what can only be described as a miraculous way. This revelation both set and changed the course of my life forever, and although I was determined to keep that promise, I was not quite sure where to even begin. I started volunteering my time, and using my network to provide resources to those respective agencies that were already providing some type of service to sexual trauma/assault victims.

[easy-tweet tweet=”I had to tell everyone this was human trafficking & happening in the US to American children! ” user=”SharedHope”]

In doing this for almost two years, I started to become well acquainted with the concept of ‘forced prostitution’ and upon learning that these children were being arrested as such; sent me into an absolute internal outrage! My mission became astoundingly clear – I simply had to tell everyone that this was actually human trafficking and that it was happening in the United States to American children – who knew?! Starting Redefining Refuge was purely to create public awareness and a call to action, but as life would have it; this tiny ‘mad idea’ took on an entire spirit of its own. Almost a decade later, here I am, and now when I read that C.S. Lewis book, I no longer feel this sense of urgency about time. I have peace that my time is being well-spent on the path I was created for.

This week we are interviewing Stephanie Holt, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Mission 21, one of the organizations that is graduating from our Partners Program! Read Monday’s post and watch for the last post on Friday featuring the rest of the Mission 21 story!

What was your favorite part about being a Shared Hope partner?

I remember vividly the day that I called Shared Hope International. Here I was, a young, zealous, nervous new founder. In my early research on everything I could learn about this movement I came across the Shared Hope website. I decided to call and see if I could talk to anyone about what to do next. Surprised and completely unprepared, Elizabeth Scaife answered the phone and spent over an hour sharing all sorts of invaluable wisdom.

I remember hanging up with her and squealing with happiness and excitement. It was as if I had just won the lottery. This has been my favorite part of partnering with Shared Hope International. Even before our formal partnership, I appreciate the transparency and willingness to equip young organizations to do the most good. I was so lucky to have had an invitation to join the Restoration Shelter Working Group in 2010, with a nomination from Heather Callier at Breaking Free and a second motion Emily Fitchpatrick from Hope House at that time. This early mentorship and real-talk training was an incredible opportunity that fast forwarded Mission 21’s progress and credibility. The people that make up Shared Hope International, have been my favorite part of our journey together. Authenticity, ability, passion, wisdom and heart has been just as valuable, if not more valuable, than the very generous grants we have received to provide services to youth survivors throughout the years.

[easy-tweet tweet=”The people that make up Shared Hope, have been my favorite part of our journey together.” user=”SharedHope”]

What’s the biggest thing SHI provided for you during your time as a partner?

You believed in us. You did that with more than just words of encouragement and affirmation. Shared Hope did this with investing in our program, not only financially, but also with making yourselves available and approachable. You created spaces for us to share ideas, concerns and solutions to complicated issues. You increased our credibility and in turn our ability to raise more support for sustainability. That can have no pricetag.

What’s some advice you would give to people/organizations (like your own) just starting out in this field?

• Start off with a supportive and equally as passionate Board of Directors that will look out for the overall health of the organization AND the overall all health of the Executive Director and all of the staff.
• Be strategic and set short and long term goals. Celebrate each victory no matter how small. Dream together often and be ready for constant change. You have to accept that there are many paths to achieve the goals you want.
• Tap into support groups and have mentors on speed dial. Being a part of the RSWG and creating friendships with other leaders in the movement has been a lifeline that will make the journey easier and more sustainable.
• Have a mandatory self-care plan for all staff members. Practice often and set good examples to the survivors you serve. Your needs are just as important as the people you are trying to help.
• Survivor voices and leadership is very important. Have the participants in your program participate in organizational decisions as often as possible. When their ideas and voices are heard they are more invested in the organization and you will see so much more success in their lives in multiple areas.

Stay tuned to read the last part of their story on Friday!

Every year Shared Hope works in partnership with domestic and international partners, giving them grants to fund their direct service work with survivors and offer them technical support. This year we are graduating 3 organizations from our grant program and want to share with you their journeys!