We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Fifteen years ago, all my dreams fell apart. My marriage was over. I carried so much shame. It was messy. I lost any feeling of having control of my world. That’s when I ‘met’ Hagar for the first time. I read about her trial. She carried so much shame. And anger. It was messy. I connected with her story. I was now not alone.

Then four years ago, I left (what I thought was) my forever calling – education. I had lost my passion and my purpose. I didn’t know who I was. I felt I had nothing left to give in this world.

I again ‘met’ Hagar; however, this time, it was different. When I read the words, “I have now seen the One who sees ME,” I crumbled. I wept. I knew.

I knew my life was never to be what I dreamed it was to be; defined by titles I had put on myself: divorced, unloved, single mom, unworthy, educator, unseen. My life was defined by the HEART in me: seen, worthy, valued, and loved.

I heard loud and clear: “Jennifer is seen.”

Hagar’s Heart was founded on this story – that our worth is not defined in WHAT we do but WHO we are. Hagar’s Heart provides women in crisis with the tools for self-care and mental health support, to rediscover how they are seen, valued, and loved, just as they are.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Wife. Mom. Daughter. Sister. Survivor.

For 20 years, Jennifer worked primarily in Arlington as an educator of many grades and ended her career as curriculum coordinator at a school for learning differences, which provided her with a wealth of knowledge about self-care. In 2018, she followed a calling and her heart, leaving education to pursue being home with her two children (now 17 and 10) and founding Hagar’s Heart. Hagar’s Heart is a nonprofit partnering with local domestic violence shelters to promote self-care, giving women the tools, through our monthly “I See You” box and other Hagar’s Heart signature events, to discover how they are seen, valued, and loved.

Hagar’s Heart currently partners with 7 domestic violence shelters across 4 counties — Tarrant, Dallas, Collin, and Kaufman — and continues to grow.

Unknowingly saying yes to a domestic violence relationship 30 years ago, Hagar’s Heart is Jennifer’s story of how she found her worth after the storm. Her desire to help other women know they are seen, valued, and loved, regardless of the titles they may carry, is the mission of every program Hagar’s Heart provides to partner shelters.

When she’s not traveling around the DFW metroplex, Jennifer enjoys time on a patio with her husband, ubers weekly to kid activities, and is her children’s biggest fan in the stands.

Any advice for managing a team?

Life is full of lessons, if we stop to see and hear them. One of the biggest lessons I have learned, is that life is not about “living to work,” but “working to live.” When I began my career as an educator, it was about climbing the ladder, learning as much as I could, and making a name for myself. I’ve now learned that it wasn’t always life giving.

At Hagar’s Heart, whether it is my board, advocate team, employees, or volunteers, I want every experience to be life-giving. If it doesn’t feel life giving, it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t care, but it’s not what you are passionate about. I’ve learned passion is what drives who we are and what we do.

I feel as human beings, we miss so many life-giving opportunities and memories because we make it “feel like work” or “I have to do it.” Learning that we should “work to live” changed my perspective on a lot of things and brought me to share this philosophy with everyone who is in contact with Hagar’s Heart.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Hagar’s Heart has a growing social media presence. It is constantly changing as we interact with our followers.

As a former educator, you have to look at how others learn and use it to share the story : pictures and graphics and stories are what our followers want to see. It needs to be consistent, heartfelt, and something that connects to our audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hagarsheart.org
• Instagram: @hagarsheart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/hagarsheart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hagars-heart/
• Other: https://donorbox.org/donate-to-hagar-s-heart

Image Credits
Choose Courage Foundation for headshot