We were lucky to catch up with Jamie R. Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jamie R. , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I took a risk during the height of the the pandemic, in April 2020. When I woke up the morning of April 23rd, 2020, I never in a million years thought that later that same day, I’d be full of shame, broken, broke, hopeless and homeless. Unfortunately, that is where I found myself.
In 2020, was either risk my children burying me as a result of domestic violence, or risk contracting COVID in a homeless shelter in order to escape my abusive relationship. After speaking with a phenomenal therapist at the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC), the shelter fled-to for safety, I made the decision to stay at HAWC. I was scared, embarrassed, full of shame, uncertain, you name it, I experienced it. However, I made the decision to stay at HAWC and regain my worth, sense of self, and financial independence back.
Jamie R. , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Jamie R. Wright is a Resilience and Encouragement Speaker, Advocate, Activist, Coach, Domestic Violence Survivor. Despite Jamie’s trauma from abuse, depression, attempted suicide, and becoming a mother at 14 years old, her ability to overcome life’s oppositions is nothing short of impressive. In 2020, Jamie founded Jamie R. Wright, LLC with a mission to provide survivor-led awareness, education and empowerment to communities of color impacted by domestic and intimate partner violence.
Jamie has appeared on 60 Minutes, BBC News, NBC, CBS, Fox26, numerous podcasts, and has been featured in various articles around the world. She has also appeared on The DRS TV Show, with Dr. Ian Smith! As a humanitarian, Jamie is proud of serving on the Board of Directors for the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) and Unsilenced Voices; both are non-profit organizations that provide domestic and intimate partner violence services. In 2021, Jamie was the recipient of an Inspector General “Good Citizen Award”, SME “Humanitarian Award”, and was recognized as one of Houston, Texas’ “Top 10 Total Package Award” honorees, for her efforts to end domestic and intimate partner violence.
Through her humility and commitment to raise the consciousness of her community, Jamie inspires the hearts and minds of thousands to create a new lens about domestic and intimate partner violence. Jamie is also committed to unfolding truths of the emotional, mental, and physical impacts of domestic and intimate partner violence within communities of color. Jamie currently resides in Texas and enjoys her newfound freedom and autonomy in life!
The main things Jamie would like those impacted by life’s disappointments is, her story of overcoming life’s disappointments and obstacles, is only evidence that they can overcome TOO! Jamie believes that when/if we ‘Make the Decision to PUSH, we can OVERCOME ANYTHING!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The lesson I had to unlearn is, that the disappointments and loses I experienced in life, those unfortunate events does not define my worth. I had to, instead learn, that I am indeed worth it! And that “it” for me was, to experience the life a live now, which is filled with an abundance of joy, love and meaning.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
If I could go back, I would not, for one moment, remove or change April 23rd, 2020 from my life. I would not known the level of strength and resilience I have had being strong and resilient was all I had. I regained my strength, found meaning for my life, and get the honor to help other’s along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jamierwright.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamierwright_speaker/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamie.c.wright.9
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-r-wright-6172101b4/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieRWrightAu1