By Reynaldo Mena
At first, I was unsure how to start my conversation with Isabella Grosso, the CEO of SHE IS Powerful, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing a supportive environment for young girl survivors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
Isabella Grosso career is impressive.
She has worked with renowned artists as a profesional dancer such as Lady Gaga, Debbie Allen, Rihanna, Pitbull, Janet Jackson, and many more. Isabella Grosso has also appeared in commercials for iPod, K-Swiss, 7up, Sears, and Puma. But that wasn’t what sparked this interview.
I wanted to talk to her about her organization, SHE IS Powerful, which aims to reaffirm the value of individuals who have been victims of sexual abuse through the practice of dance.
“It’s a way to reconnect with our bodies, to reaffirm our worth,” says Isabella Grosso.
She speaks from her own experience.
On her website, she shares her own story.
“She was first abused at the young age of five. By the time she was twelve, seven different people had abused her, and unfortunately, not one of these people was a stranger to her. After years of attempting to heal from her trauma, she found solitude in dance. She discovered a sense of empowerment and reconnection with her body when she was dancing.”
Isabella Grosso has a very soft voice, which cracks as I listen to her over the phone. It conveys peace, compassion, and gratitude.
“We are raising awareness in the community about this issue,” says Isabella Grosso.
I express my surprise at the published figures on reports of child sexual abuse, which amount to around 3.5 million cases per year. She doesn’t seem surprised.
“There is increasing awareness of this problem. It used to be more challenging. Now we are talking to a younger generation,” she mentions.
Isabella Grosso mentions that many people feel uncomfortable discussing the issue of child sexual abuse.
“On one occasion, I was at an event, and one of the people there asked me what I did. When I explained it to them and told them my story, they felt uncomfortable. It seemed like they wanted to turn a blind eye to this problem. I asked them if they had daughters, and they said yes, one who had just started college. Then I thought about the absurdity of the situation. They didn’t want to know about the issue, but they had a daughter who was exposed to becoming another victim. She could go to a party on campus, someone could spike her drink, or something else could happen… We have to talk about this, not keep it silent,” says Grosso.
After many years of dealing with the trauma, she is satisfied with the work she does in the organization, which serves minorities.
“We have grown a lot in these years since we started in 2014. Many young girls have gone through our after-school programs and have overcome a history of abuse,” she adds.
I ask if it is possible to talk about a level of recovery after attending their programs.
“You can never completely eliminate them. Even for me, memories from years ago still surface; triggers will always exist. But that’s why we need to be prepared, hence the importance of our program. We have to keep working every day to overcome this problem,” she says.
She says she tries to always be alert when those discomforts arise at certain times.
“You can be completely calm, and suddenly those triggers come. What my practice has taught me is to prepare myself with all the tools I have and to counter those attacks that come. I can now say that I can deal with them. I do yoga, meditate, dance; all of that is what we try to share with our young girls,” she says.
And added, “We must find a balance and always be grateful. We must be there for others, to express gratitude. That is the true purpose of my life. Forget my other achievements. Every time I ask myself, I say, ‘I am here to help others, that is my true purpose in life’.”
Now more than ever, Sacramento needs to pass SB14 that punishes sex trafficking
If this cause speaks to your heart and you want to learn more about how to volunteer, support or donate, see below:
She Is Powerful
Website: www.sheispowerful.org
Instagram: @sheis_powerful
You can watch Isabella’s documentary at: www.sheisdocumentary.org
