Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Jenkins. Lisa and her team shares her story with us below:
Lisa’s story reads like an epic tale filled with near misses, struggle, strength, courage, and triumph – From her life’s experiences she has uncovered her life’s purpose, discovered the power that lies within, and recovered her spiritual self, and she has emerged as a living testament to God’s Prevailing Peace, Power, and Presence.
Lisa received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Limestone College in 2006. She also completed her master’s degree in Adult Education in 2011. She is currently writing a book on her life and how she overcame her struggles. She is happily married to George Jenkins of 15 years who is an army retired veteran. She is the mother of 7 children and bonus mom to 1 and grandmom to 4 amazing grandchildren.
Lisa is currently on the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, and Crime Victim Services Advisory Board, she also sat on the State of Colorado STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program Implementation Planning Committee and the Transformational Community Engagement & Collaboration (TCEC) Project Advisory Board for Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA).
Lisa has advocated for Domestic Violence Victims and underserved youth for over 25 years and spent countless hours volunteering, assisting in the empowerment of others. It is her mission to change the narrative around issues of family violence and childhood and adult. “My greatest desire is for people to know who they are from the inside out and to use that knowledge to create the life they desire and deserve. I believe my purpose in life is to facilitate the evolution of human consciousness, how we think, through the understanding of spiritual principles.”
She was no stranger to need, but the soul-shattering poverty she observed planted the seeds of a vision that God gave her, and that eventually became the Kingdom Builders Family Life Center. In April of 2013, she founded Kingdom Builder’s Family Life Center. Lisa’s goal is to open a state-of-the-art domestic violence transitional housing for women and their children as well as a Home Away from Home safe house for children that have left unsafe and often violent homes these living conditions. These services will provide a haven as well as a variety of support measures that will allow women and children to break the cycle of domestic violence in their lives. Her goal Is to also, to open a Christian charter school and it is our purpose to give students a solid academic foundation while emphasizing Christian character and patriotism.
These services will provide a haven as well as a variety of support measures that will allow women and children to break the cycle of domestic violence in their lives. Also, to start a Christian charter school it is our purpose to give students a solid academic foundation while emphasizing Christian character and patriotism.
Lisa has developed and is continuing to develop a comprehensive network of personal and professional contacts with key community leaders. This will be instrumental in raising the profile of Transitional Housing, a safe house for teens who have left their homes because of violence and/or other dangerous living condition. She wants a safe place for these children to live so they will not be exploited and will be able to get empowerment as they realize their true worth and become the person GOD created them to be.
Kingdom Builders is committed to changing the narrative of under-served individuals, families and youth who have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Professionally, Mrs. Jenkins has 25 years of experience working with high-risk youth, domestic violence survivors, and their families. Most recently, she worked as a Victim Advocate at Fort Carson Army Base from 2013 to 2018, until she retired in August 2018 to be the full-time CEO of KBFLC. Kingdom Builders offers a program, My Brother’s / Sister’s Keeper (“MBSK”), that provides a wide range of victims’ services. Operating since 2013, the program served 65 people in 2019, 95 people in 2020, and 123 people in 2021 and so far in 2022 we have served over 200 victims of crime. We opened a safehouse for Domestic violence survivors who are in immediate danger in 2020 and we are currently looking for a second location. KBFLC also runs an intervention and prevention program for at-risk youth, Project Right Direction that provides a world-class experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anytime you are doing the work of GOD you will have challenges that is just what it is but, the most rewarding part of it is me knowing that I am doing HIS will and saving so many lives. If you look at statistics on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.1 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact, sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services.
1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.
That is a lot of lives that are being destroyed and I have the honor to be in the fight of helping families break free from violence in the home so that they can one day become thrivers like I am.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the Founder/ CEO of a 501c3 nonprofit that support survivors of Domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
I am most proud that I followed my dream and passion to start the nonprofit and in April of next year it will be 10 years. What sets me apart is at one point I was a victim of Domestic violence and escaped my 1st marriage with my 3 small children at 24. I struggled for many years, but I was determined to be the best I could be for not only myself but my children. I am now a thriver, and I am using my experience and knowledge I gained over the years to lead my organization and provide the best services for those coming in our door for help.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I had mentors over the years and what stuck with me is finding someone in the areas that you feel you need support in. No one knows it all so finding others that have expertise in certain areas and asking for help is why I have been so successful. I also don’t just pick the first person I meet; I have to have a connection with them before I ask them to come along with me on my journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kbflc.org
- Instagram: @KBFLC2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KBFLC2
