By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors), a local nonprofit organization, is celebrating six years of helping Latina women live healthier lives free of violence.

Andrea Inostroza, founder and executive director, has served over 2,500 individuals since the inception of Puertas Abiertas in January 2019. While Inostroza focuses on providing services for female victims of abuse, trafficking and discrimination in the Latina community, no one is turned away.

Regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, Inostroza opens her doors to all in need.

“What we provide here is a support group for women, men, children, adolescents, and LGBTQ+ too,” says Inostroza. “This organization was born with the idea of: Serve the Latino community and break the cycle of domestic violence (DV) through education.”

“We speak their language”

Inostroza leads the organization with cultural sensitivity and awareness. As the only bilingual organization in Michigan offering resources for those escaping domestic violence situations, Puertas Abiertas provides a vital service for the Latina community.

The nonprofit offers services such as therapy; support groups; food, clothing and housing assistance; employment and resume building assistance; and a 24/7 Spanish domestic violence hotline.

Puertas Abiertas works with more than 60 partners and community organizations to offer as many resources as possible under one roof – which was Inostroza’s goal.

“My idea was to have an organization where everybody comes here, and we don’t send anyone anywhere,” Inostroza says, adding that partnerships are vital to the success of this process. “You can’t do this work by yourself. You have to do it in a collaboration.”

Inostroza’s staff includes five Michigan licensed therapists and two full-licensed therapists. Inostroza’s background also contains an extensive knowledge of trauma-informed therapy. Puertas Abiertas’ therapy program currently serves over 140 men, women and children.

Puertas Abiertas staff also includes five advocates that accompany clients to various places (ex: court) and assist with transportation and translation.

“We are always with them. Always,” says Inostroza. “That’s what makes a difference. To have somebody beside you, and to know that you belong to the organization…it’s a sense of belonging.”

“We don’t label”

Inostroza says there is no judgment at Puertas Abiertas.

“We don’t differentiate here, we don’t label. If someone comes here and needs services, we help them. Our mission is to provide, to teach these women to have a healthy life free of violence,” Inostroza says.

“We work with the Latino community, and we’re trying to protect the clients, protect the organization, and to have the best outcome based on everything that is going on around us.”

Teaching safety and equality

Inostroza was raised in Concepción, Chile and moved to Kansas with her family in 2002 without knowing the English language or culture. The move was precipitated by a desire to place her children in a safe environment and teach them about equality.

“Chile is very divided by social status, socioeconomics and finances, so we wanted to teach our kids that everybody is the same,” says Inostroza. “We don’t look at anyone differently.”

Initially, Inostroza struggled with the English language and change in culture.

“I came from the second biggest city in Chile, beside the ocean – to Kansas, in the middle of nowhere,” said Inostroza, adding that she later moved to Michigan because of the lakes and her desire to be near water.

Inostroza learned English while pursuing a postgraduate degree. Her certifications include: a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education, a Master of Science in Psychology, a Master in Art Therapy and Counseling. She is also registered as a professional artist at Fine Art America.

Recognizing a need

Inostroza was inspired to start Puertas Abiertas while employed at a Grand Rapids school where 86% of students came from the Latino community.

“I saw a lot of problems with children,” says Inostroza. “[The school] wanted to discharge them from the school system because of their behavior.”

Inostroza realized the negative behavior stemmed from domestic violence at home, or because the students were survivors of domestic violence.

She began talking with her students’ mothers, gaining their trust. Inostroza soon realized the women were also DV victims and survivors, or were sexually abused as children.

“That’s what motivates me: the needs of the people and the misunderstanding of the behaviors of the children in school – because it was not their fault,” says Inostroza. “They were repeating [what they saw at home].

Inostroza began a ten-week support group (Puertas Abiertas) for women. As the number of participants quickly increased, she began looking for a larger meeting place – and encountered unexpected resistance.

David vs. Goliath: The fight for resources

While trying to obtain support and resources, Inostroza was continually turned away with the words: ‘No, there is no domestic violence in the Latino community.’

“Grand Rapids wasn’t prepared to face it,” says Inostroza.

Another misconception was the belief that domestic violence was part of the Latino community culture.

“It’s not,” said Inostroza. “It is a lack of formal education. Latino and South American countries are known for lack of formal education.”

Despite the negativity surrounding her, Inostroza refused to give up.

“In the beginning, it was very stressful. I knocked on so many doors. I can’t tell you how many doors.”

Money was also a problem, with only $1,300 for liability insurance. Puertas Abiertas now has a million-dollar budget and 21 staff members.

“It has been a lot of work, a lot of grant writing, a lot of talking,” Inostroza says. “People are supporting the organization and seeing the work being done. We have the trust of the people, but that took work.”

Breaking the cycle

Many children belonging to the Latino community are born into a domestic violence cycle.

“These children are the future generations of the United States,” says Inostroza. “And we don’t see it. We don’t believe that these kids are going to grow up, they are going to become adults, they are going to have families, and the cycle is going to continue.”

Education is necessary, Inostroza continues, to help these children grow, become independent, recognize the difference between need and want – and break the DV cycle.

“This organization was not based on what I wanted to give the community, it was based on what they needed. That is why it has been so successful,” says Inostroza.

“If we don’t provide the services or the education we’re providing, this is going to continue and continue.”

Wins and losses

Inostroza says she has learned a lot since Puertas Abiertas opened its doors, and that recognizing both wins and losses over the past six years is important.

“It’s important because we learn from our mistakes,” says Inostroza. “We have made some mistakes, and we have learned from them so we don’t repeat them again.”

Inostroza’s staff share the Puertas Abiertas mission, vision and values – and share the rewards as well.

“To know [clients] are going to have a bed at night, a place to sleep, is a huge reward for us,” said Inostroza. “To know they are going to have food, to know they are safe, to see their smile, is what has motivated me to keep going. Nothing else.”

And Inostroza is willing to put in the work.

“We have to do the work…and do the best we can to protect the clients and protect the organization. I cannot fail.”

To learn more about Puertas Abiertas or how to support/partner with the organization, click here (English) or here (Español).

Watch this special episode of WKTV Soundbites En Español with host Yeli Romero and Julieta Torres, Gerente de Programas de Puertas Abiertas: Soundbites En Español.