Meet Amelia Quinn: Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amelia Quinn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amelia, how does your business help the community or world
For all the beauty in the world, we still have so far to go. Somehow our world has decided that some people are less valuable and can be treated as such. We have created systems to reinforce this belief. I watch this everyday in the world of commercial sexual exploitation. Racism, the pornography industry, wage disparity, the justice system and more all play a role in trapping individuals in exploitation and convincing so many that is the only place they belong. At BeLoved, I am able to watch individuals pave a new path with the proper resources and support. It is easy for us to focus on the impact of the individual receiving support but what I really love to watch is the impact that individuals then has on the community. The women BeLoved works with are some of the strongest most resilient women I know. When given the opportunity they are the ones who will change the community and the world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I founded BeLoved Atlanta 8 years ago. I believe community is healing and if we could combine community living with resources, something magical could happen. BeLoved Atlanta wanted to be set apart by the way we value each individual person. We celebrate each woman who steps into the community with trust by offering her a key to the home, we see her as an individual by creating a treatment plan specific for her, allowing herself to set her own goals and intentions. We started with one home and now have three residential homes serving up to 10 women at one time. Our plan is to continue to grow until we can serve around 30 women. Nothing has been easy about it. Community is hard, trauma is deep and addiction is strong but each day I’m reminded that we are stronger. I am proud of the work we do and the community we have created but I think I am the most proud of how I have let it change and grow me. Each woman I sit with shapes me, every small victory reminds me of hope, and every loss reminds me of the importance of resilience or perseverance. I am who I am today because of this community and while ever growing, I am happy in who I am.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I do love this city. I live in the West End so we would definitely be spending some time at ASW distillery and Honeysuckle Gelato. It feels impossible to be outside if aren’t by water right now so one day we would go to Sweet Water to hike and play in the river and another day we might even Shoot the Hooch. For food, I love the Jack and Coke slushy while playing ping pong at Victory. The restaurant part is hard, it’s been so long since I have been in a restaurant that I think I would flock to any of them right now. But let’s go with BoccaLupo for our fancy dinner and Nuevo Laredo for a more chill dinner.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been mentored by Neisha Yates for more than 15 years. She believed in me well before I believed in myself. I have a family that doesn’t just allow me to dream but pushing me to dream and then walks alongside me in pursuing that dream. I can’t begin to count the amount of volunteer hours my family has put into BeLoved. I get to work with the most amazing people, I always knew that but COVID has reminded me even more. We care for and challenge one another, we are a family.

Website: www.belovedatlanta.org
Instagram: amelia719