I am Women’s Bean Project: Jen

Transcribed from Jen’s speech at the 2025 Ready Set Grow fundraiser:

I was once a mother and a wife, happier than I have ever been. My heart was full of love for my little ones, and I felt a deep sense of purpose in the world. But then everything changed. One day I found myself alone, broken, lost, and overwhelmed with sadness as I went through a divorce. Looking out the window, I saw a stranger taking over my life I once knew.

Alone in the darkness. Tears flowed freely. But in the midst of it I saw a small, small sparkling glass bubble. The temptation was too strong. I picked it up, lit the flame, inhaled the smoke, and something inside me shifted. The sadness, the loneliness, the ache in my heart. They all disappeared. Replaced by a numbing sense of peace.

For a fleeting moment, the bubble became my only friend. My way of escaping the pain. But the peace didn’t last. The more I used it, the more I found myself surrounded by toxic people and dangerous situations. My choices pushed me further away from those who loved me. Weighed down by guilt and shame, eventually I woke up in jail, alone with my magic bubble to comfort me.

This time it was different. I didn’t feel the same pain. The feelings I’d carried for so long were still there. But they were bearable. In the silence I heard a voice. A voice telling me I wasn’t alone, that I was safe, and that I had a choice to make. I could choose to stay and heal or run back to the darkness that had once controlled me.

I chose healing. Slowly but surely, I reached out to my loved ones. I opened myself to God, allowing his love and grace to pour into my heart. With each step, the chains of addiction and guilt began to break. I found forgiveness — not just from others, but for myself. The day finally came when I walked out of the darkness and into the sunlight.

The fresh air felt like freedom and the arms of my family and faith welcomed me home. God had allowed me to face my battle with clarity, strength and health. The poison that had once taken over my body would no longer control me. Then came a new chapter. The day I was hired at the Woman’s Been Project. The moment I walked through those doors, everything began to shift.

For the first time in a long time, I started to see myself differently. The programs at the Bean Project weren’t just about work, they were about personal growth, empowerment, and building a future. Through their support, I gained the confidence to believe in myself again. I realized I had a voice and I loved using it. I had isolated myself for so long, but now I couldn’t stop talking.

Especially when I learned that I had a passion for public speaking. I also discovered that I am capable of achieving my dream job. I have it in me to become the woman my kids can look up to. Someone who shows them that anything is possible, if you put in the effort and believe in yourself, and maybe, just maybe, by embracing my growth, my own growth, other women will see what is possible for them, too.

I’m not just working towards my future anymore. I’m actively creating it, and that feels empowering in ways I never imagined. During my time at the Woman’s Been project, I also faced an unexpected challenge: I was diagnosed with cancer. It was a terrifying moment, but I didn’t face it alone. With my new faith in God, the unwavering support of my doctors, my family and the team at the Bean Project, I fought through it and today am proud to say I am cancer free.

Their encouragement, love and strength kept me going and I am beyond grateful to have come through the battle with a renewed appreciation for life. The team at the Women’s Bean Project guided me towards a new career path, one that allowed me to live independently and provide for myself without relying on government resources or anyone else. I wasn’t just a job, it was a life-changing opportunity.

The Woman’s Been project opened doors for me to further my education. Why? Well, there I earned certificates in mental health, first aid, Food 101 and Medical Administrative Office. Currently, I’m completing the final two steps for my full certificate at Arapahoe Community College. Additionally, I reinstated my cosmetology license, which I had let lapse a decade ago — something I never would have thought possible just a few years ago.

Pursuing education that once felt beyond my reach has been incredible, and I know this is just the beginning of my journey. I had found a reason for a reason to live again. A renewed purpose, a heart full of love and a deep joy I hadn’t known in years.

My journey has transformed me. I wasn’t just surviving anymore, I was thriving. I was a better mother, a better woman, and a whole person once again. I stood on the mountaintop praising God for my redemption, feeling the weight of my past finally lifted. The woman I had been and the woman I had become were two very different people.

And I knew that all that pain, struggles and triumphs had shaped me into someone strong and resilient. With God, my girls and my family by my side, and with the new stability and support from the Women’s Bean Project, I knew that the journey ahead would be beautiful. I had already won the greatest battle of all: finding myself again.

Now I’m on a path that will carry me to a future full of hope, independence and strength. And then, just when I thought my journey had reached its turning point, another opportunity came into my life. One that added a new layer of purpose to my journey. I was offered two job opportunities, something I had never imagined would happen.

For the first time, I found myself faced with the decision, choosing between two paths. After careful consideration, I chose to accept the offer as a patient service representative at Solis Mammography. This role, working in such a vital area of health care, allowed me to use my story to help others in their moments of vulnerability. It was a new way to give back; to be there for people who are facing their own battles, and it felt like a perfect fit. As I guided patients through their appointments and offered them support, I realized I was not just helping others, I was helping myself even more. Thank you.