Meet Irene

Irene came to Casa de Amparo shortly after becoming a teenager. Before she found Casa de Amparo, she was living in an unsafe home, suffering from child abuse for seven years, which led to insomnia and paranoia. Irene found a safe home at Casa de Amparo and was able to focus on healing. She graduated high school while in Casa's Residential Services program and then joined Casa's New Directions program while she attended college at the University of California, San Diego.  

New Directions provided a fully furnished apartment so Irene could commute to college and save money on living expenses. During this time, she picked up journaling, and she learned that journaling allowed her to focus on her goals and dreams and learn how to heal.   

Irene embodies resilience and perseverance. Today, Irene creates journals to help people focus on gratitude, goals, dreams, and releasing their trauma. Her company is called Remove Your Shadow, and her journals are available online at Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and retailers worldwide.   

She also serves as a college professor, imparting the significance of journaling to young adults. Irene's story is a testament to the transformative power of support and determination.