Johanna Spille shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Johanna, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
One of the things I’m most proud of building at Covered is our internal culture—something that’s not always visible from the outside, but absolutely shapes everything we do.
We’ve created a culture rooted in trust, empowerment, and shared purpose. Our team isn’t just trained to be trauma-informed—we live it in how we treat each other. We honor each person’s voice, create space for growth, and emphasize collaboration over hierarchy.
The work we do is hard. It requires emotional resilience, flexibility, and constant learning. So we’ve intentionally built rhythms that allow our team to be supported—not just professionally, but personally and spiritually as well. From the way we handle staff meetings, to how we process hard client moments together, to our emphasis on celebrating the everyday wins—we’ve created a culture that helps our staff stay grounded in why this work matters.
That invisible foundation—our culture—is what allows everything else to function. Programs, partnerships, fundraising—none of that can flourish without a healthy, mission-driven team behind it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Johanna Spille, and I’m the Founder and Executive Director of Covered Colorado, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, counseling, education, and long-term support to adult survivors of sex trafficking. I’ve spent the past eight years building Covered from the ground up—what started as a dream has become a safe and healing space for over 154 women so far.
What makes Covered unique is our commitment to walking with survivors for the long haul. We don’t offer quick fixes—we offer a community. From our crisis house to our two-year residential program and aftercare, we focus on helping women stabilize, heal, and truly rebuild their lives.
We’ve also created something rare: a deeply trauma-informed culture, not just in how we serve clients, but in how we treat each other. We believe healing is possible—but it takes time, trust, and a team that shows up consistently.
Right now, we’re focused on expanding our Care and Education Center and strengthening our programs so we can serve more women across Colorado. It’s hard work—but it’s sacred work. And I’m honored to be part of it.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that really shaped how I see the world happened when I was a child. I went with my family to downtown Denver to serve food to people experiencing homelessness. I remember watching an older woman—about the same age as my grandmother—quietly take her plate and sit alone.
She didn’t talk to anyone. She didn’t make eye contact. She just sat there, eating in silence.
That image stayed with me. At a young age, I realized it’s not just the lack of housing or safety that breaks a person—it’s the loneliness. The feeling of being unseen. It struck me that no one should ever have to experience that.
That moment planted something in me: a deep belief that every person deserves dignity, connection, and a place to belong. It’s shaped how I lead, how I build teams, and how we care for survivors at Covered. Because healing starts not just with shelter—but with being seen and valued.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I last changed my mind about something important during the planning phase of our second safe house, which we opened in March 2025. Originally, we had envisioned it as a transitional home for women graduating from our long-term program—a natural next step we had been excited to build.
But after several conversations with our law enforcement partners and others on the front lines, we began to hear a different need rising to the surface. Survivors in crisis were being identified, but there weren’t enough safe, immediate placement options in Colorado. What our community truly lacked was a stabilization home—a short-term space for survivors to land, be safe, and begin their journey.
So we pivoted. We redesigned our plans and opened a crisis/stabilization house instead. And without question, it was the right decision. That shift reminded me that good leadership means staying close to the need, listening well, and being willing to let go of your original plan to meet the moment.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is truth-telling. Somewhere along the way, we’ve started to believe that sugarcoating things is more loving—but I’ve found the opposite to be true.
I deeply believe in loving people well. And part of that love is having honest conversations—the kind that are rooted in care, not criticism. I’m not talking about venting online or speaking harshly. I’m talking about sitting across from a staff member, a family member, or a friend and being willing to say the hard thing—because you care enough not to stay silent.
Truth-telling, when done with humility and love, is how trust is built. It’s how teams grow. It’s how people heal. And in the work we do at Covered, it’s essential. Survivors, staff, and leaders alike need spaces where truth can be spoken—and received—safely. That’s the kind of culture I fight for.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, role, and possessions, what would remain is my faith in God, my passion to help others, and my love for my family and friends. Those are the foundations of who I am—unchanging, even when everything else is stripped away. My faith grounds me, my calling drives me, and my relationships remind me what truly matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coveredcolorado.org
- Instagram: Covered Colorado
- Linkedin: Covered Colorado
Image Credits
Alaina Lynn Photography
