Janette Lopez: living example that hope is never lost

Here is a brief summary of Janette’s interview:

As the residential manager of the Shelly Stayer Shelter in Immokalee, Janette directs and oversees all residential services provided by the shelter, ensuring that empowerment-based family services, resources and referrals are provided on an ongoing basis, to help participants obtain needed services, advocate for participants with community agencies, and provide food, clothing, personal items, etc., as required.

In this interview, Janette shares her story of abuse. As a child, she was physically, verbally, emotionally, and sexually abused by a family member. She felt like nobody believed her and she was in a lot of pain. She ran away from home at the age of 15 and fell into addiction (drugs and alcohol). She was searching for love and trying to cope with the pain of the abuse that she experienced during her childhood. She felt like she could never change. She had three daughters and after her third daughter was born, she decided to seek professional help and became sober.

Since then, she has been involved with several agencies that help people deal with addition. She feels great to be able to helps others while keeping herself sober. She has been sober for 22 years and always advises survivors to take it one day at a time, as this was the advice that was given to her when she was in her lowest moments. She is very happy to be with The Shelter, helping survivors overcome violence and abuse.

Janette grew up in Newark New Jersey and moved to Bonita Springs Florida in 2015. She has 10 years of professional experience in substance abuse treatment and recently managed a residential treatment center. Additionally, she has 22 years of continuous recovery, making her the perfect advocate and role model for participants suffering from substance abuse. Janette’s dedication to empowering women seeking support to live healthy lives, her life experiences and professional experience are what make her the perfect person to help the shelter continue to have a positive impact on people who are suffering abuse in our community.