“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
—Maya Angelou
Before she came to NOSW, Johnnie Chavours had one defense she used again and again: to run. Running track had helped her earn respect in her school: from her teachers, friends, and family. When she found herself in trouble, that was a tactic she felt she could always rely on, even as an adult. Johnnie could simply run away, move to the next state over, slip away under the cover of night with her children.
After 48 years of running, Johnnie was ready to bravely face her fears and trauma: trauma that started in the form of bullying at the hands of her family and peers, and over the years evolved. This was combined with the trauma of witnessing violence in her own family as a young child, as well as trauma that lingered from several toxic relationships that turned physical. Then, her most beloved family member, her rock, her mother passed. Finally, Johnnie says, she was done running. She was broken inside, and she knew she was better than the running that she was worth more than that.
By the time Johnnie was ready to stop running from her trauma, she found herself in a domestic violence shelter in Richmond, Kentucky, called Hope’s Wings. All she had was herself and her car when she arrived.
Johnnie was done running because she had finally had time and space, just enough, to think about what she wanted in life and what she wanted for her grandbabies and children. For years, she had dreamt of a place where she and her children could have peace and be safe. And when she saw visions of that place in her dreams, her mind showed her a body of water: a beautiful lake surrounded by trees and teeming with life: fish, ducks and their ducklings, and groups of floating geese. In her dreams, she flew over the surface of the serene water and saw a bustling community just beyond, a community that felt to her like home. When she arrived in Richmond, she recognized this place to be Lake Reba, a place she began to visit regularly to reflect and pray for guidance.
Part of the program at Hope’s Wings includes mandatory courses for all participants. One of the courses was with the staff of NOSW, Amy, Crystal, and Jen, where staff spoke about the services that NOSW offers to women in Berea and beyond. Instantly, Johnnie felt drawn to the program. She recalled feeling excited about everything NOSW had to offer, from self-esteem building and boundary setting to creative arts. As she said, she wanted to do it all! This was her chancer, her time to shine, and she did the bravest thing she could do: say yes.
After Johnnie said yes to NOSW, she attended a three-day program online and then a two-week residential session in Berea, Kentucky, in November of last year. During the session, Johnnie said she learned so much about others, but she really learned the most about herself. She was able to confront the brokenness that had followed her since she was only eight. She gained a community of loving sisters and folks she could turn to when she needed support.
What Johnnie learned during the two weeks has helped her make peace with her past and encouraged her to keep moving forward with her education and goals. Currently, Johnnie is enrolled in school with a 4.0 GPA. The apartment she lives in today is her own. She sees her children and grandchildren regularly. She recently made history by starring in a play with a local theater company. Despite never having acted before, she played six different female roles all by herself—and even sang a song during the production!
Johnnie says that NOSW helped her finally get it together. Her journey, although turbulent, has transformed into something truly beautiful and radiant. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
