Who We Are
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Cecelia V
Founder and Executive Director, StartAnew CPRS- with Forensic Endorsement and WRAP facilitator “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” Maya Angelou I am the Founder and Executive Director at Start Anew the non-profit, as well as part owner of Sisters Empowered. I am passionate about human rights, civil rights, advocacy, community support and the right to be you. I hold a BA in Liberal Arts and my focus is on Women’s Empowerment and Advocacy through Community Support. I hold certifications in: Peer Covery Support, Family Peer Support, WRAP Facilitator, and I am trained facilitator in Nonviolent Conflict Resolution. I am currently working on my master’s degree in divinity with a focus on Leadership. I am one of the facilitators of the Women’s Empowerment group called, “It’s OK 2 B U.” have done some public speaking and would like to do more. |
“One of my goals is to empower BIPOC women and young ladies who have been justice impacted and survivors of incarceration. I would like to a see a world where stigmas do not define the person.
It is never too late to follow your dreams. "
Our Team Members
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Earlean G
Facilitator and Community Outreach Coordinator at StartAnew for It’s OK 2 B U and at Sisterhood at AAATF I have been living with HIV for 33 years and have been facilitating these groups because I want to help in the community with self-health and self-care. I want to be able to show support and love to anyone that wants to live and learn. My purpose is to make and keep people aware of some things; if not all things that can help people to live a safe and healthier lifestyle. |
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Najya B
Director of Young Women's Programming, Social Media Coordinator, and Facilitator. I am also a co-owner in Sisters Empowered. I facilitate group activities, conversations which include topics that impact women and girls today. My greatest accomplishment is being a mother. My children are one of the reasons that I get up in the morning. I am passionate about social justice and women’s positions in the world, which include women’s rights and one of the reasons is because my mother was justice impacted and is a survivor of incarceration and this also makes me justice impacted. I believe that there are levels and underlying conditions that play a part in why a person becomes part of the justice system and that we as a community need to re-evaluate the who’s the why’s and the what’s in finding the how’s. I am also interested in the art of makeup and fashion. |
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What We DoStartAnew is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that focuses on BIPOC women and girls who are survivors of incarceration and those who have been impacted by the justice system.
Our services include: It’s OK 2 B U (empowerment group) Healing Circle Mentoring Pre-incarceration & Post-incarceration Consults Mental Wellness Financial Refinement Resources Certified Peer Support Recovery Support Forensic Peer Recovery Support One on One WRAP Development Plans |
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Why StartANew?
We offer a wide range of services as well as a thought-provoking curriculum which challenges women to evaluate their thoughts, core beliefs, and their behaviors while changing their lifestyles in order to create better for themselves and those that are around them.
To know who you are, you must know who you were; and in order to get where you are going, you have to know where you have been.
This is something that does not change only once as we evolve, but it is an ongoing process.
To know who you are, you must know who you were; and in order to get where you are going, you have to know where you have been.
This is something that does not change only once as we evolve, but it is an ongoing process.
01.We work with We work with BIPOC women and young ladies who are justice impacted and/or survivors of incarceration. |
02.We Build Networks we build networks that assist and provide the best support for each woman’s individual needs. |
03.We Empower Our ultimate goal is to increase the mindset of BIPOC women by providing intrinsic empowerment tools to motivate her into being the best person that she can be. |
04.We Acknowledge It is our birthright for all to achieve the highest level of education that they desire and deserve. |
05.We Provide Support We provide personal support in most types of situations. |
06.We Mentor We provide one on one mentoring sessions. Our expert team works tirelessly to conduct sessions for those who would like to receive it. |
Impact Stories
Start Anew! Wow where do I begin?
I met the founder of Start Anew, at a workshop, on a University campus. I didn’t know what to expect, due to, it being my very first time, educating myself about the prison system and the intricacies of what the “system” is all about.
After the presentation was done, it was time for the breakout sessions, where we could meet the panelists and learn from them. That’s where I met Ms. Cecelia Viel, and our sisterhood began there. Over the next few months, I’d come to learn and know, that I didn’t know very much about the prison industry.
After coming under the “tutelage” of Ms. Cecilia, by joining her, alongside a group of women, who meet on a weekly basis, to discuss how we can better improve ourselves, our shortcomings, readjusting to this “new way” of existing, because now there’s a label attached to our names. Admittedly it was a transition, to say the least, but our weekly meetings and interactions with one another, it has truly made adapting a lot easier. Having a sisterhood, so to speak where you can come and let your hair down, laugh, as well as learn how to adapt to your new way of living in society.
Start Anew, has assisted us with our deposits for new housing. Assisted with providing information on housing, starting a new job, advancing on our current jobs, learning about health and nutrition, and having an overall sisterhood, has offered a fresh breath of air, where at times it felt stagnate and immovable.
I thank Almighty God, for our meeting that day on the college campus. Not there as a University student, yet not knowing that Ms. Cecilia and Start Anew would be a new start for me and my future. I am humbly grateful to Almighty God, for Ms. Cecilia and the ladies at Start Anew.
Thank you!
Sandra Abu-Bakr
I met the founder of Start Anew, at a workshop, on a University campus. I didn’t know what to expect, due to, it being my very first time, educating myself about the prison system and the intricacies of what the “system” is all about.
After the presentation was done, it was time for the breakout sessions, where we could meet the panelists and learn from them. That’s where I met Ms. Cecelia Viel, and our sisterhood began there. Over the next few months, I’d come to learn and know, that I didn’t know very much about the prison industry.
After coming under the “tutelage” of Ms. Cecilia, by joining her, alongside a group of women, who meet on a weekly basis, to discuss how we can better improve ourselves, our shortcomings, readjusting to this “new way” of existing, because now there’s a label attached to our names. Admittedly it was a transition, to say the least, but our weekly meetings and interactions with one another, it has truly made adapting a lot easier. Having a sisterhood, so to speak where you can come and let your hair down, laugh, as well as learn how to adapt to your new way of living in society.
Start Anew, has assisted us with our deposits for new housing. Assisted with providing information on housing, starting a new job, advancing on our current jobs, learning about health and nutrition, and having an overall sisterhood, has offered a fresh breath of air, where at times it felt stagnate and immovable.
I thank Almighty God, for our meeting that day on the college campus. Not there as a University student, yet not knowing that Ms. Cecilia and Start Anew would be a new start for me and my future. I am humbly grateful to Almighty God, for Ms. Cecilia and the ladies at Start Anew.
Thank you!
Sandra Abu-Bakr
Our Supporters
