It all started with Lisa Shelman, who is the broker/owner of Land Chick Realty.
Through the years of Lisa’s work in the field of real estate, it became apparent to her that while most people find a way to claim the safety and security that comes with homeownership, positioning to buy a home can be challenging for even the well-prepared.
So what about those who aren’t prepared, she thought? What about those who haven’t had access to the same guidance and resources as their peers?
With every successful sale that Lisa witnessed, she began to reflect on those for whom safety and security were out of reach—especially those trapped in abusive situations with no easy way out. No viable happy homecoming in sight.
Lisa began to wonder if there was something she could do to make a difference. If she might create a way to provide the very guidance and resources survivors need to claim their own financial safety and security.
That’s when the concept of Flight to Light began to form.
In December of 2022, Lisa’s next step was to collaborate with Janna – herself a survivor of domestic abuse and one of our founding board members – whose vocal, vigorous advocacy was something Lisa had admired for years. Janna’s experience in the nonprofit sector felt like a perfect fit, too, so you might say that’s when the concept for Flight to Light grew wings.
The women began to put ideas to paper, as well as pursue official business qualifiers—like 501c3 determination from the Internal Revenue Service, which happened in April 2023.
They added two more board members, Peyton and Reagan, created a Flight to Light email account, claimed a website domain, started a Facebook page, and began fleshing out a detailed business plan that could pave the way to providing housing support for survivors of domestic abuse and intimate partner violence . . .
And here we are today.
This week our website officially launched, and we’re seeing the story of our first grant recipient find its conclusion. We’ll be sharing more about that, our mission, and all we hope to accomplish in the weeks, months, years ahead.
We’re also going to use our blog as an educational tool for survivors and survivor supporters, share ways to claim your own safety and security, explore our grant options, and establish patterns of guidance.
Right here.
Be sure to keep in touch with this space!