Meet Michelle Flowers | Advocate I Relationship & Christian Life Coach I Domestic Violence Instructor I Inspirational Speaker

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

Hi Michelle, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Perfect Love, Inc is a non-profit, faith based organization dedicated to educating the community on the cycle, dynamics and dangers of domestic violence. Our mission is to: Empower women and men to leave abusive relationships, prevent destructive behaviors amongst our youth, and to strengthen and preserve lives, families and communities nationwide through education, training, advocacy and the Word of God. We offer domestic violence classes to women, men and youth, with specialized classes for business professionals and clergy and advocacy to those in need. Perfect Love, Inc also founded “Conversations on Domestic Violence In The Faith Community’ an event that is designed to bridge the gap between the faith community and victim service providers that offer assistance to victims of domestic violence. This event is free to the community and consists of a panel of experts on the topic of domestic violence who are there to answer questions and provide information on the services their organizations offer to victims. Perfect Love, Inc. also provides educational content pertaining to the issues of domestic violence on various social media platforms.
 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been advocating on behalf of victims for the past 25 years. I started out my career as a Victim Advocate for the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit in their Early Crisis Intervention Unit. After my first year, I was promoted to Lead Domestic Violence Victim Advocate. It was in this position that I discovered my passion for assisting abused women. I was responsible for coordinating and teaching a monthly domestic violence seminar. Women would always come up to me after the class and tell me their story and that they were glad they attended the class. I eventually began teaching about domestic violence at various events throughout the community and to teachers, students, law enforcement, business professionals, clergy, etc. Significantly, as I was teaching others I was also learning and was able to understand and heal from my own childhood trauma of experiencing domestic violence. This led to me realizing how important domestic violence awareness was and the need for it to reach out deeper into the community and beyond. Perfect Love, Inc was born out of my desire to reach those who may never attend a class or an event and those who were suffering in silence because they were too afraid to report the abuse.

For the past 18 years I’ve been a Victim Advocate for the Titusville Police Department, assisting victims of all types of crimes, the majority of which are victims of domestic violence. I’m most proud of receiving the NAACP Unsung Hero Award for my work assisting victims in the community, receiving a Certificate of Honor from the Governor of Florida, in recognition for my efforts in serving the victims of the Pulse Shooting in Orlando, Florida, receiving the Victim Advocate of the Year Award in 2002 and 2012 and hosting my own radio talk show, Michelle’s Haven, discussing topics that empower women and men to leave abusive relationships.

There were a lot of challenges throughout my journey but I overcame them by relying on my faith in God and the promises of His Word. And in those times that I feel like giving up, I hear a phrase in my ear coined by my Pastor, Dr. Yolanda Payne, “fall down seven, get back up eight, learn that lesson. What I want people to know about my story is that I am not just an Advocate, Coach, Instructor and Speaker but I am also a Survivor. Not only did I experience domestic violence as a child but I also experienced emotional abuse as an adult. My brand is a combination of all my education, training, painful experiences, successes and failures. By this, I am able to educate and empower others from a place of experience, not just knowledge, which I think is extremely powerful and impactful. In other words, “I got receipts!”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Autumn’s Crab in Rockledge for some delicious seafood! And the Sugar Factory at ICON Park in Orlando for some out of this world, delectable, gigantic desserts!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes out first and foremost to God! Without Him I am nothing nor is my success. I would also like to send this shoutout to every Pastor, Teacher, Mentor, Coach, Instructor and Leader who has ever touched and impacted my life. And to my parents, children and my two grandsons, who keep my love tank overflowing!

Website: www.perfectloveinc.com

Twitter: Perfect Love Inc. @perfectloveinc5

Facebook: Perfect Love, Inc. www.facebook.com/perfectloveinc

Youtube: Modern Day Deborah – Voice For The Voiceless @modern-daydeborahvoicefort6840

Other: Tik Tok: @michelleflowers55

Image Credits
Antonio Taylor Media