My Past is Not My Future
Michelle Moore | September 11 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Room Ingman
This presentation will explore a local survivors story of becoming an incredible thriver..? Michelle Moore's story started out like many others: the daughter of a prominent Toledo attorney and a stay at home mother, raised with strong Catholic values. But that all changed when her boyfriend got tangled in alcohol and drugs. Soon, she was trafficked to pay off his drug debt. So began twenty years of nightmares for Michelle.
After a near-death experience, Michelle regained control of her life. Eight years later, her life has completely turned around from that moment on the streets of North Toledo. She has been clean and sober since, working to keep others from the life. Sharing the same past as the clients she serves allows Michelle to use her experience, strength, and hope of recovery, to save them from the decades of hell that she survived. Michelle continues to push for survivor leadership, helping to prepare these women to move beyond victimization to thriving. With her intimate understanding of survivor's challenges, she is able to build a supportive environment with trauma informed groups, art therapy, and self-esteem building exercises, so that they may live freely by choice, and not be compelled by their prior circumstance.
Michelle is now a full time Recovery Specialist at RISE and holds a Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate, as well as a Bachelor's in Counseling. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Advocating Opportunity. Michelle has won the prestigious Liberator Award from Ohio Governor Kasich for her dedication to human trafficking. Michelle is also in the process of expunging of her record under the Safe Harbor Law.