Creating Healing Spaces through Social Enterprise with Kit Evans-Ford

Dr. Kit Evans-Ford’s passion for providing safe spaces for survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence is deeply personal. Kit’s grandmother, Argrow, is the namesake for her social enterprise Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope, a bath and body social enterprise that employs female survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. Kit shares how her family story and her own life experiences led her to discern her life’s purpose and learn how to start a social enterprise. This compelling conversation has a thread of grace that inspires with transparency and vulnerability and a great reminder that whatever we’re facing in life, we don’t do it alone.   Note: There are themes of violence and sexual abuse in this interview. If those are triggering topics for you, please take care of yourself and skip this episode.   QUOTES “But ultimately, what I do and why I do what I do is deeply rooted and connected to the women in my family… but also from a place of deep personal pain for me that I know that God has used to do good in the world.” -Kit Evans-Ford [19:02] “It’s ok to think outside of the box. Everybody’s path doesn’t look the same, but all the work that we do is grounded in the love of God and Jesus Christ.” -Kit Evans-Ford [46:48]   TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Intro [01:36] About Kit Evans-Ford [03:05] What stood out in this conversation [05:48] What led Kit’s to where she is [09:59] Joining the Peace Corp [16:17] Accepting her call to ministry [21:11] Take a deep breath [23:03] Becoming a spokesperson at a young age [27:49] The connection between trauma and call [32:21] Doing it together as community [34:49] Safe spaces for healing [43:18] It’s ok to step outside of the box [47:57] Be open to understanding [51:16] The essence of Wesleyans [53:00] A blessing [55:23s] Outro   RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS This episode references domestic violence, physical violence, and attempted sexual violence. Please skip this episode if these topics are triggering for you. For resources related to trauma, visit the work of Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Here is another site full of resources related to trauma. RSVP for the Locke Leader Virtual Event You are invited to attend a virtual event honoring the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award recipients. Earlier this year, four extraordinary leaders received a surprising letter from our organization. Without their knowledge, each leader had been nominated and selected to receive the second annual Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. We would be honored if you would join us to celebrate them at a virtual event on Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm CT / 6 pm ET. RSVP and find out more about the Locke Award at award.wesleyaninvestive.org. Expect to be inspired by their stories and filled with hope for the future of the church’s witness! (45 minute virtual event, register today!) Visit Argrow’s House website and support this amazing social enterprise! Argrow’s House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area.  This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at TMF and Wesleyan Investive. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. Subscribe to our Leadership Ministry emails here. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts / iTunes? Kit Evans-Ford Bio Dr. Kit Evans Ford is a national trainer, spiritual director, and professor. She is passionate about nonviolence, God, and serving others. She has been a trainer and activist for 14 years working relentlessly in the areas of nonviolence education and assisting people in healing from violence and abuse. Kit is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theology at St. Ambrose University.  She is the author of 101 Testimonies of Hope: Life Stories to Encourage Your Faith in God and A Children’s Book On Bishop Richard Allen:  A Nonviolent Journey.  She is also certified in spiritual direction and is the founder of Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope in Davenport, Iowa. Argrow’s House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area. Argrow’s House is also a successful social enterprise where women healing from violence and abuse create beautiful bath products that provide a living wage for themselves in a safe space that celebrates who they are.