Her Story
About Desiree
I founded Ashes to Wings almost a year ago after surviving human trafficking and domestic violence. The nonprofit helps survivors and victims, and I aim to open a long-term shelter to provide better support systems. I also ran a Phoenix Closet donation program from my garage providing essentials to survivors and low-income families including those affected by ICE. I am pursuing a bachelor's in social work and eventually a PhD to conduct research proving the need for systemic changes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Desiree
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Self-care is very important. We have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others. You genuinely cannot pour from an empty cup, and burnout is really hard to deal with.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is finding volunteers and board members who want to stay and believe in the mission, as it is a volunteer position that is very time-consuming.
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