May 12, 2020

Meet Johanna Spille of Covered Colorado in Denver Metro Area

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Johanna Spille.

Johanna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2016 I became aware that a friend of my daughters had been trafficked. I had heard of trafficking before but this one hit close to home. She reached out to me for help. Her story broke my heart. She felt alone and scared. I began to try to help her try to find resources that could help her work through some of the trauma she had experienced. All of the organizations I reached out to were either full or they couldn’t work with her since she was over the age of 18. A friend of mine and I made the decision we would help her try to figure things out. I began to learn more about trafficking and as I read I learned that trafficking was here in Denver. It made me angry that people and children were being sold in my backyard. I began to meet and talk with more survivors and as I listened to their heartbreaking stories. I realized this was not something I could turn away from and pretend it didn’t exist. So I quit my job and started a nonprofit that would work with survivors of trafficking over the age of 18. I wanted them to know someone cares what happens to them. In July 2017 we received our 501c3 and we have been empowering survivors ever since, to take steps toward their healing, rebuild their life, and become self sufficient.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. It’s difficult to raise money for something people don’t entirely understand. We have to do a lot of awareness and education to just open up some of those conversations.

It’s difficult sometimes working with survivors. They have a lot of trauma. Their healing process takes time and can be very complicated. They have learned to be fighters. That’s why they are still alive. But just because you are out of that now doesn’t mean that fighting instinct goes away. We have to work closely with them and spend a lot of time with them to help them develop skills to communicate with others out in society, in the courtroom, and on the job.

We have to think about security as well. We are a volunteer based organization so we have extensive vetting and training procedures.

Please tell us about Covered Colorado.
We empower survivors toward healing.

There are countless organizations committed to ending sex trafficking, but way less exist to help support survivors after they have escaped the cycle. When survivors escape, many end up back in trafficking because of the limited resources available to help them fully recover. In most cases, victims had all of their important documents and identification forms taken from them by the trafficker, and with no way to prove who they are, they cannot obtain jobs, housing, or food.
That’s where we step in. Covered works with survivors over 18 years old, assisting them and their children with a chance to change their lives for the better. We know more than anything that these survivors need love and positive direction. After such a traumatizing experience, their brain functions are not the same and they need help to change the behaviors their minds have been manipulated with and assistance to make decisions on their own.
We believe if we can change the cycles of survivors post-escape, then we can transform the sex trafficking industry by helping victims realize they can take back their independence.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I had a great childhood. I grew up in a loving Christian home, had lots of friends, and loved school. My parents use to take me down to the Denver Rescue Mission and serve food to those experiencing homelessness. I remember as a little girl be so excited to get down to Denver and help. I guess I experienced at a young age what it felt like to make the world a little better. Focusing on the good and doing what I could do to help. It changed my life.

Pricing:

It takes us about $15,200 to get a survivor and her child(ren) through our two year program.

Contact Info:

Website: coveredcolorado.org
Email: info@coveredcolorado.org
Facebook: Covered Colorado

Image Credit:
These were all pictures taken by Covered. One we bought for our branding on a photo site.

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