Her Story
About Tammi
Tammi Davis is an author and community support professional based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, whose work centers on helping homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives. On July 7, she published her book Through the Fire, a personal account of her experience with domestic violence and the journey that led her out of it. She credits her faith and the upbringing she received from her mother, who taught her to be kind and to meet people where they are without judgment.
Davis works at a homeless shelter and teaches Time to Heal classes at a local county prison and a recovery house. She finds her greatest reward in watching people transform, whether by securing housing, overcoming addiction, or reuniting with their children. She is also a facilitator with Titus 2 Ministries, where she mentors younger women in positive living habits such as finances, cooking, and personal hygiene.
Beyond her direct service work, Davis is a member of the Pennsylvania Prison Society and serves on the re-entry committee of a program that helps people reestablish their lives after release from prison. She holds respect as her core value, believing that dignity in how people are treated and addressed shapes how they respond. Davis is married, a mother of three adult children, and a grandmother of four. She enjoys interior decorating, especially transforming her home for the holidays.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tammi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the way my mother raised me. She taught me to be kind and to meet people where they are, without judging them or insisting on who they should be, and to work with them right where they stand. That upbringing has taught me more than anything else.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them never to forget what their mothers taught them. At some point growing up, we all brush off something our parents say, only to look back later and realize they were right. Always value the words of those who love you and have your best interests at heart, because what they tell you will last a lifetime. Listen to your parents and hold on to their guidance, because you will likely need it at some point in your life.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that I work with the homeless, and it is a very difficult and sad situation. I know I cannot help everyone, but I can at least try to move people out of the mindset that this is where they are, that they should get comfortable here and simply survive. Those who are homeless, incarcerated, or in recovery often feel there is no hope and no way out of their circumstances. I want to step in and offer encouragement, which can be very challenging and stressful because people hold tightly to the mindset that has become their survival tactic. I try to show them there is much more to life than where they are now. The opportunity comes on the flip side, when I see people make progress: finding a place of their own, getting themselves together, paying rent instead of spending it on drugs, and finally getting their children back.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect is the value that matters most to me, and it goes a long way. You have to give respect to gain respect, and it comes down to how you treat and speak to a person. The way I communicate and deliver my words can determine whether someone responds with hostility or greets me the way I greet them. We should never look at people as though they will take anything because they are homeless, or assume they do not want better because of past drug use. I strive to treat every person with dignity.
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