Black History Month - Honoring Vanessa McNeal

In celebration of Black History Month, Friends of the Family is highlighting one African American individual per week that has contributed to our mission of serving people who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and/or homelessness. This week's spotlight is on Vanessa McNeal.

Vanessa grew up in a very abusive household. She was neglected, sexually abused, and exposed to other trauma, such as domestic violence. She was placed in her grandmother’s care permanently during grade school, which set the foundation Vanessa needed to attempt to heal. It was clear that Vanessa had fallen drastically behind her peers academically. She was placed in remedial classes, but quickly caught up to her peers, as school became her coping skill. Despite facing other hurdles in school, such as experiencing intimate partner violence, being sexually assaulted by a peer, and having a legal battle with the program in which the sexual assault occurred, she was the first in her family to graduate high school. McNeal then pursued higher education.