As part of YWCA USA’s 30th annual Week Without Violence, YWCA Spokane sat down with Teresa Dixon, a longtime employee and survivor of domestic violence, to reflect on her journey as a mother, survivor, and advocate. This year’s theme, Safe Beginnings: Protecting Mothers, Nurturing Futures, centers the stories of mothers who have fought to build safety, stability, and hope for their families.

Teresa’s story is one of courage, not only in leaving abuse, but in rebuilding a life grounded in love, purpose, and possibility.

“Motherhood is my contribution to the future.”

When asked what motherhood means to her, Teresa paused and smiled thoughtfully.

“I feel like motherhood is my contribution to the future,” she said. “The things I give my children, emotionally, the way I show up for them, that’s what they’ll carry into the future and share with their own children. Sometimes that means breaking cycles, because some of what was passed to us isn’t what we want to pass on.”

For Teresa, motherhood has been both an act of love and transformation, a chance to change her family’s story and lay the foundation for a safer, stronger future.

The Barriers to Leaving

Leaving an abusive relationship was anything but simple. Teresa was a stay-at-home mother of four, with no income, no clear place to go, and a deep cultural belief that families should stay together at all costs.

“I was committed to my partner and to keeping my family together,” she remembered. “It was scary to think about breaking that up. I wondered, Am I doing something wrong by leaving?”

Financial instability and lack of housing made the decision even harder. “Where in the world were we going to go?” she asked. “I couldn’t just pack up my kids and land nowhere.”

Despite leaving multiple times, Teresa often returned because the barriers of poverty, shame, lack of resources felt insurmountable.

Teresa shared, "I just wanted to do what was right and safe for my kids."

“Housing changed everything.”

The turning point came when Teresa entered YWCA Spokane’s Safe Shelter with her four children.

“That first night was one of the hardest nights of my life,” she said quietly. “But the next day, something miraculous happened.”

A housing assistance organization called the shelter looking for a family that matched her exact household makeup. Within months, Teresa and her children had their own apartment, a stable, safe place to call home.

“That housing assistance program was everything for me,” Teresa said. “If I didn’t have that, I might still be stuck in that cycle. It gave me something solid under my feet and my children something solid under theirs.”

Eight years later, Teresa purchased her first home, the same home she still lives in today.

Finding Support and Belonging at YWCA Spokane

Teresa’s connection to YWCA Spokane began as a client who was seeking safety, housing, and hope.
“When I first came here, I felt so much shame,” she said. “This wasn’t supposed to be my story. But I was also deeply grateful that YWCA’s services were here when I needed them.”

She remembers her case manager as a lifeline during that time. “Having someone to talk to, someone who helped me stay on track when I was overwhelmed, that made all the difference.”

That experience would eventually lead Teresa to her own career at YWCA Spokane, where she has now worked for more than 11 years.

“Home is the dream.”

Reflecting on her journey, Teresa became emotional when asked what a safe and stable home means to her.

“It’s the dream,” she said through tears. “It’s the one thing I’ve wanted for my family more than anything else. It’s the solid ground we all need. My home is where I can be creative, where I launch my dreams from, and where my children can always come back to.”

Building Safer Communities

When asked how communities can better support survivors who are also mothers, Teresa highlighted three key needs:

• Access to childcare. “How can we rebuild our lives if we have nowhere safe for our children to go?”
• Accessible transportation. “In our community, that’s a huge barrier. Without transportation, everything is so much harder.”
• Safe, affordable housing. “It’s impossible to rebuild your life without a safe place to live.”

She also urged people to remember that leaving isn’t simple and that survivors need compassion, not judgment.

“It’s not always the right time or the right choice to leave,” Teresa said. “We need to trust survivors to make the decisions that are best for them. Our role is to keep supporting them, no matter what.”

A Legacy of Healing

Today, Teresa’s life is filled with the stability, creativity, and connection she once dreamed of. Her four children are grown, and she’s now a proud grandmother. She continues her work with YWCA Spokane, helping others find safety and strength, just as she once did.

“I think that’s the legacy I want to pass down,” she said. “That we can break cycles. That we can create new beginnings.”

Upon completion of our time together, she paused to ask a question that continued to linger with both of us long after the interview ended.

“Why not place that responsibility to move out, to restart your life, to begin again on the person who is causing harm? Why is it always the survivor’s responsibility to leave?”

Powerful questions we should continue to ask ourselves as we work towards a future free from violence.

YWCA USA Week Without Violence 2025

YWCA Spokane is proud to share Teresa’s story as part of YWCA USA’s Week Without Violence. A national campaign, taking place October 20–24 across the country, that advocates for a safer world for women, girls, and families. This year’s theme, Safe Beginnings: Protecting Mothers, Nurturing Futures, is all about how we can support moms and their children as they build hopeful, healthier futures.

Throughout the week, YWCA USA will be sharing stories from real YWCA program participants (including Teresa’s story) to amplify their voices, honor their resilience, and inspire action.

Learn More