From Surviving to Thriving: Agape Garcia’s Journey

Agape is a survivor of domestic violence and the founding force behind the nonprofit organization, Confronting Domestic Violence. Her harrowing experience of surviving a double attempted homicide while eight months pregnant has ignited her mission to empower others and advocate for policy change. With over 35 years of experience, she’s developed transformational programs that promote emotional awareness and post-traumatic growth.

Agape’s Story: From Pain to Purpose Agape’s story is as gripping as it is inspiring. Starting from her childhood, filled with immense challenges, she shares how her journey began. “My childhood was marred by domestic violence while my mother was still pregnant with me,” Agape explains. She speaks of the concept of gestational trauma and how it impacted her. By the age of three, she had already lost her younger sister to cancer and her mother had abandoned her, leaving her in a toxic household with her father. Despite these early hardships, Agape learned to thrive in adversity, growing up with a tough mindset shaped by the harsh realities she faced.

Defying the Odds and Finding Strength Fast forward to her teenage years and early adulthood, Agape faced an abusive relationship at a young age. “It was abusive very quickly – a possessive individual, very power-driven,” she recalls. Despite the challenges, she emerged stronger, determined to change her circumstances for her daughter’s sake. Agape’s resilience is remarkable as she describes her relentless pursuit of a better life, whether it was earning her GED, securing employment, or ensuring stability for her daughter. But once again, life would test her strength when she encountered another abusive partner, resulting in a life-threatening experience that saw her flee barefoot with her child in the middle of the night.

Relocating and Rebuilding Agape’s story doesn’t end there. She speaks of her exhaustive efforts to rebuild her life, standing in long lines at social services, juggling college, and securing basic necessities for her children. “This was survival mode to a degree that I would never want anyone to undergo,” she recounts. Jumping through hoops, from selling her possessions to staying in a one-room shared home, Agape’s determination shone through.

Turning Adversity into Advocacy Her life took a transformative turn two and a half years ago after a near-fatal accident. With a 1% chance of survival post-surgery, Agape saw this as a second chance at life. This experience gave birth to Confronting Domestic Violence, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families relocate to safer environments. “Why was my life spared? What is my purpose?” These questions guided her path after the accident.

Confronting Domestic Violence: The Mission Today, Confronting Domestic Violence works to provide resources and support to families in need. Their mission is to ensure no one has to leave everything behind for safety without assistance. Agape also sheds light on her efforts advocating for legislative changes such as SB 553, which mandates workplace violence prevention programs in California. “Helping families and ensuring a safe environment for children is at the heart of what we do,” Agape states. Her work also includes educating employers on compliance with these new regulations, offering a lifeline to affected employees.

Join the Movement To support this noble cause, Confronting Domestic Violence is hosting its first fundraising gala this October in Del Mar. The event aims to raise awareness, bring the community together, and secure the necessary resources to continue their vital work. For event details and support opportunities, visit confrontingdomesticviolence.org and sb553consulting.com.