Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Quiroz.
Hi Elizabeth, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a Human Trafficking Victim Advocate/Drug and Alcohol Counselor. I am also a human trafficking survivor, a former Foster youth and a formerly incarcerated student. Growing up, I endured so much physical abuse that I landed in foster care. I come from a family of gang members, drug addicts and alcoholics. I ran away from everything at 15 years old and right into the arms of my trafficker. My trafficker got me hooked on meth and my family supplied him with the drugs. For about twelve years, I was addicted and trafficked on the streets of San Francisco. I endured physical abuse and sexual assaults beginning at the age of four and rapes from the age of 14 to 26. Throughout the years, I went to Valley State Prison and in and out of numerous correctional facilities. At the age of 26, I lost my son and was arrested for the final time. I was numb from all of the horrific abuse. That day brought me back to life though. I was sentenced to a five years prison term in two different counties. I decided to change my life around and today, I have going on ten years clean. In 2019, I received an Associate in Arts degree in Social Advocacy, Behavioral Science, and Human Services, all with Highest Honors. I just graduated Sonoma State University with my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with Distinction. Now, I am currently at Arizona State University to obtain my Master’s Degree in Social Justice and Human Rights and will be graduating in 2023. I am the first person in my bloodline to obtain a degree! I am breaking generational curses.
God, the programs, and the arresting officers gave me a new life. I was granted a full and unconditional Governors Pardon from Governor Jerry Brown on Christmas Eve. In my spare time, I volunteer with the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force alongside critical partners, including nonprofit directors, FBI agents, district attorneys, Homeland Security, and other law enforcement agencies. As both a service provider and a survivor of trafficking, I bring a unique perspective to the team. I see myself in the intersection between policy and practice where I can provide valuable insight into policy-making decisions but where I can help ensure the compassionate application of policies and procedures. My experience as a victim and past interactions with law enforcement and the justice system provide me an opportunity to point out where system changes may be necessary to improve outcomes for victims, investigators, and the justice system.
I am married now with a blended family. I am a visionary and a pathfinder for the lost and hopeless. I envision myself traveling and testifying what God has brought me out of while bringing awareness about Human Trafficking. Alongside my partner, Lisa Diaz-McQuaid, my long-term goal is to open Redemption House of the Bay Area, a safe house for Human Trafficking victims here in Sonoma County. I choose these goals because God put a burden on my heart to plant seeds of hope to others and lead them to a path of freedom. I am so grateful to be able to share my story and bring hope to others that feel there is NO other way. If I can turn my pain into empowerment to inspire others, then there is hope for those who are still stuck in the grips of human trafficking.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have had many struggles along the way. When I was released from my last prison term, I decided to go to a treatment facility (Women’s Recovery Services) to continue to heal from my past trauma. Having to relocate to a city where I was not from and with no support made my experiences in treatment a challenge. When I completed residential treatment, I was placed in a Sober Living Environment, then transferred to a homeless shelter, then back to multiple Sober Living Environments. My only transportation was a bike. I rode my bike everywhere, rain or shine. I didn’t qualify for food stamps due to my criminal record, and I applied at multiple jobs and was denied due to my criminal record. I remember riding my bike to food banks to get food and having to practice being in humility. I chose to return to school to further my education, so I enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College in 2014. This was my first time on a college campus.
My anxiety was high because I was terrified of being judged by others. I was a formerly incarcerated student, a recovering addict, and a high school dropout who just obtained her GED while incarcerated. I finally received a job as a busser at a restaurant and started to build relationships at Santa Rosa Junior College. Throughout the years, job opportunities arised for me but was denied due to my criminal record and this infuriated me. So I decided to apply for an expungement of my criminal record and a Governor’s Pardon. I asked my previous public defender if she can write me a letter of recommendation and she told me, “You will not be granted an expungement or receive a Governor’s Pardon because your criminal record is extensive.” I told her, “Watch me receive an expungement and a Governor’s Pardon.” I fought for two years in multiple courtrooms but I finally received an expungement of my criminal record, then I received a certificate of rehabilitation of my criminal record. After all of this, I received a call from the Governor’s Office on Christmas eve of 2018 and the gentlemen over the phone told me, “Congratulations Elizabeth, Governor Jerry Brown granted you a full unconditional Governor’s Pardon of your criminal record.” My life changed that day!!!! I finally felt the true meaning of redemption and how God truly restores a person’s life.
During this time, I was also going to court to regain full custody of my son. I had lost him due to my last arrest. Fighting for him, fighting to get my record expunged and going to school full-time took a toll on me. I lost in court for my son and it almost destroyed me, but I decided to pick myself up and use my pain for purpose. I was president of the Second Chance Club for three years and I learned to become a trailblazer. In 2019, I walked the stage and received three Associates Degrees with Highest Honors. I am the first in my family to receive a degree!! In 2020, I went back to court for my son and I finally received full custody of my son. I fought nine long years for him. In May of 2021, I walked the stage to receive my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with Distinction. and my son was watching from the crowd. There is hope for families, JUST DONT GIVE UP. God put a burden on my heart to open a safe house here in Sonoma County. I partnered with Co-Founder Lisa Diaz McQuaid and we started building Redemption House of The Bay Area from the ground up since 2018. Redemption House of The Bay Area finally became a 501c3 non-profit this year. There were many challenges and there were times I wanted to give up, but I CHOSE NOT TO because I knew God would see us through and he did.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I give back to my community by volunteering at The Promise Center, my place of worship. I also volunteered for the Bear Cub Scholar Program for foster youth. I was president of The Second Chance Club for formerly incarcerated students at the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) for three years. I am a sought-after speaker and presents on various topics, including Criminal Records Expungement, Addiction Recovery, and Human Trafficking. Among my audiences are; Sonoma County Jail GED graduates, female inmates at Folsom State Prison, the California Violence Prevention Network annual conference, the Placerville Summit view Child and Family Services, Lake County Tribal Health, the San Mateo women’s correctional facility, the 2019 SRJC Latinx graduation, and was a keynote speaker at the Santa Rosa Junior College President’s Address to the Community. I also presented at events including the SRJC Human Trafficking Awareness and Women’s History Month events.
As a mentor, I work with at-risk youth from multiple organizations including, Seneca, Valley of the Moon, and Juvenile Probation. I currently serve as a member of the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force and founded and co-facilitated Sonoma County’s first Human Trafficking support group for victims and survivors. Together with my partner, we coordinate a monthly street outreach program for human trafficking victims, aiming to provide them with a safe way out of the hands of their perpetrators. To support these efforts, we are the co-founders of Redemption House of The Bay Area, and we are currently working to establish a nonprofit organization to assist human trafficking victims by providing them with a safe place to live while recovering and healing from their traumatic past. I travel all over California to share my story and bring awareness about human trafficking. I won the Humanitarian Hero award from The Red Cross in 2019. I also received the Sonoma County Spirit Award of 2021 from Sonoma County Commission on The Status of Women. The three things I am most proud of is surrendering my life to God, marrying my husband, Jose Quiroz, and becoming a full-time momma to my baby boy, Jacob.
What’s next?
When I first arrived in Sonoma County, I was in shackles and had just been sentenced to five years behind bars. I had to say goodbye to my street family and the Elizabeth I used to know. I have been clean going on ten years now, and I recently walked across the stage to receive my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with Distinction. I am currently attending Arizona State University to pursue my Master’s degree in Social Justice and Human Rights. After fighting for my son for nine years after losing him due to my last arrest, I finally received full custody of my son last December. God truly heals and restores families. Because of my faith and endurance of adversity, God’s plans for my future is BIG. My passion is to continue to get on any platform and speak my TRUTH around Human Trafficking, the Criminal Justice System, a Broken Foster Care System and Drug Trafficking. So, ten years from now, I see myself speaking on huge platforms in different states shedding light, planting seeds and spreading hope. I see myself alongside my partner, running Redemption House of The Bay Area with multiple safe Houses. I SEE HUGE CHANGES coming to Sonoma County!!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://redemptionhouseofthebayarea.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quirozelizabeth2015/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://b-m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008532254171&fref=nf&pn_ref=story
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niDyE2i1KNM
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBxS1Lt7hb8&t=2802s
Image Credits:
Valerie Rosa Medina
