Brenda Jackson is a North Richland Hills resident who turned her own experience of survival into a mission to help others. After enduring years of domestic abuse, she founded a faith-based nonprofit, I Can Still Shine, to provide support and resources for women and children escaping violent situations.

Jackson’s journey began when she left an abusive marriage in 1985 after 13 years of domestic violence. She moved to Texas seeking a fresh start, but later found herself in another abusive relationship. Eventually she escaped that situation as well and focused on rebuilding her life, channeling her experience into advocacy and service.

Fifteen years ago Jackson established I Can Still Shine in Richland Hills to offer practical and emotional support to survivors. Prior to 2011 she ran another organization dedicated to helping battered women, and her work has grown over the years into a sustained community resource that combines faith-based encouragement with concrete assistance.

The program’s reach is substantial: Jackson and her team report having worked with more than 16,200 clients. She emphasizes the organization’s focus on hope and safety, noting the importance of long-term support for people recovering from trauma. “We actually give hope,” she says. “That’s why we’re different. I mean, 16,200 clients later, and not one life lost.”

Jackson’s efforts have earned recognition in the local community, where volunteers, donors and partner agencies have helped expand the center’s services. Her work highlights how survivor-led initiatives can shape effective responses to domestic violence and build trust with people who need help.

Those seeking more information or wanting to support the organization can learn about services, volunteer opportunities and ways to donate at I Can Still Shine’s website: https://www.icanshine2.org/.