Our Founder's Story
When I think about why I started True Heart Inc., it was a direct result of God giving me this vision. He looks at the heart and he is judging by my heart. Although I have endured a lot of pain and heartache, I still have a sincere heart to serve God and my community. Being transparent with myself help me to realize I was broken at one point in life. I stand firm in my beliefs that God will not put on you anymore than you can bare.
As a survivor of Domestic Violence, I understand all too well the highs and lows of wanting to give up. God would not allow me to fail. He put the right people in my life who shared the necessary tools for me to get out. As a proud advocate for Domestic Violence, I bring firsthand knowledge how fear must leave, and each individual must gain strength through prayer faith and time.
I’m also an ex-offender. I’m not offended anymore because I have learned transparency is key. I did my time for the crime I committed, returning home to see life is too short to give in or up!
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Despite the blessings I received throughout my obstacles; I wouldn’t want anyone to walk in my shoes. The rate of prisoner residuum is still rising and is at an all-time high. Veterans are living on the streets, that has to change. Young people are leaving foster care only to become prey to the dark streets. I challenge myself and others to create change by extending a helping hand assisting them to conquer their fears becoming stable and rejoicing know True Heart Team is here for the betterment of the community.
True Heart founder Teresa Browning shares her personal testimony and the experience she’s had with domestic violence, incarceration, and how she's taking steps towards change and making a difference.
Our Why
True Heart understands its importance in the community we serve and how what we do affects the lives of so many people. Statistics show how so many people struggle with their second chance due to the environment and conditions they are given under. True Heart's desire is to create healthy pathways to a better life so the second chances that are given are not wasted.
20%
of foster youth will become homeless the day they get out. 20,000 children age out of foster care every year, leaving 4,000 of them homeless.
1.5m
veterans are considered at risks of homelessness while struggling with finding employment and mental health issues.
1 in 4
women have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
8.6m
adults have suicidal thoughts due to physical, mental, or financial circumstances. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death.
650,000
ex-offenders are released from prison each year. 2/3 will likely be rearrested within 3 years due to many returning to impoverished/disenfranchised neighborhoods with little support & high crime rates.
1 in 4
of foster youth will succumb to the "foster-care to prison pipeline", and end up in prison after aging out of the system.
How We Plan to Make a Difference
Evoking change starts with one individual and eventually becomes a collective of people that soon evolves into a community of people working and striving to make a difference. True Heart believes a difference can be made in many forms by many different people. Each avenue taken to make a difference eventually gets our community to the point we are striving to reach. Our plan to help make a difference in one life which in then end will become change made in many lives.
Emotional Support & Encouragement
Provide Essential Supplies
Being Vocal About Legislative Change
Stipends for supplies & assistance
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
-Desmond Tutu
We can't make the world a better place alone.
Sign up here to volunteer for True Heart and help improve the quality of someone's life.
Our Story
"Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me."
-John 14.1
True Heart is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. True Heart was borne in 2006 from collaboration talks between founder Teresa M Browning and a dear friend. True Heart is Powered by the love and compassion for communities they serve. Teresa knows all too well how important services and connections are. After returning home from prison she realized she had been given a second chance. This awakening inspired her to begin making a difference in her community.
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True Heart name was birthed from Teresa's Walk of faith, heritage love with God. Her life in love w God scripture John 14.1, “Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
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Energized to make a difference and love for her community are the main reasons why she set out to create True Heart. Through personal experience, she witnessed individuals who needed resources and tools to take them to another level of self-assurance and stability. True Heart is very passionate about ascertaining change. Many people have either dealt with domestic violence, family or friends returning home from prison, veterans who are struggling, and young people aging out of the foster care system.
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Witnessing people struggle with second chances due to lack of knowledge, resources, or support are why many women fail to leave violent relationships, felons return to prison, veterans struggle with mental health, and young people end up being homeless or in compromising situations just to survive.
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If we are able to reach just one person, we can equip them with the tools they need to maintain. True Heart wants to push the community forward, and we believe we can do so by promoting healthy happy lives.