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About the Founder
Latoya Spencer MSW, DSW-C Founder and Executive Director
Hi, my name is LaToya Spencer. Giving back and serving others is not just my career—it is my lifelong passion. My journey began with a dedication to serving low-income families, unhoused individuals, and at-risk youth, which quickly evolved into a deep, permanent mission to empower minority women and young girls.
Originally from Minnesota, I relocated to Arizona in mid-2018. Around that same time, in June 2018, I founded Strong Survivors Women Empowerment. Recognizing that our youth are our absolute future and require dedicated, early intervention, I intentionally expanded our mission and renamed the organization to Strong Survivors Women & Youth Empowerment (SSWYE) in November 2023.
Grounded in Experience & Academic Excellence
My dedication to creating lasting social change is backed by an extensive academic foundation and over 20 years of hands-on behavioral health and human services experience. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), and am currently a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate. As an AmeriCorps Alumna, I have long understood the transformative power of intentional, community-based service.
Throughout my career, I have worked firsthand with single mothers navigating homelessness, women fleeing domestic violence, and individuals from diverse backgrounds. During my time working at the Harriet Tubman center, I developed a profound connection to supporting women experiencing mental health disparities and acute psychological distress. These foundational experiences reinforced my dedication to creating culturally specific spaces where women can heal, advocate for themselves, and build true resilience.
A Passion for Systemic Change
My work is driven by a deep commitment to breaking generational cycles and ensuring that minority women and young girls have access to the resources, support, and encouragement they need to transition from surviving to thriving.
I understand firsthand the heavy impact of stigma, discrimination, systemic racism, and barriers to quality mental health care. For far too long, African American women have felt forced to struggle in silence due to the pressures of the "Strong Black Woman" schema—an expectation that frequently leads to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
I have made it my life’s mission to dismantle that silence. Through SSWYE, I am proud to cultivate a dedicated, trauma-informed sanctuary where minority women and youth feel fully heard, genuinely valued, and deeply understood—a community where they truly belong.
🏡 On a Personal Note
Beyond my professional and academic endeavors, my greatest joy and proudest achievement is my family. I am the single mother of four incredible daughters and a proud grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren, who inspire me daily to build a more equitable world for the next generation.
Vice-President
Danielle Spencer (MS) President
Hi, my name is Danielle Spencer. I am a proud minority woman whose early life experiences and teenage hardships shaped me into the resilient leader I am today. Those personal challenges did not define me; instead, they fueled my lifetime drive to give back, heal, and empower others. Today, I am the proud mother of three amazing children who inspire me daily to push further, work harder, and live each day with deep purpose.
Advanced Expertise in Mental Health & Healing
My professional and academic journey reflects my unwavering commitment to advocacy and clinical excellence. I hold a Master’s degree in Psychology and am currently advancing my clinical expertise by pursuing an additional Master’s degree in Counseling, specializing in Substance Abuse.
This advanced training allows me to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world healing. Throughout my journey, I have developed a fierce passion for supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness, ensuring they are met with the structural resources, dignity, and compassion they rightfully deserve.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Through Strong Survivors Women & Youth Empowerment (SSWYE), my mission is to uplift youth and women of color, encouraging them to recognize their inherent strength, overcome systemic challenges, and build brighter futures. My life has taught me firsthand that perseverance, backed by a strong community support network, can truly transform pain into lifelong purpose.
I am dedicated to using my story, my clinical background, and my platform to cultivate safe, trauma-informed spaces where women and youth feel completely seen, heard, valued, and supported. Together with SSWYE, I am honored to help break generational cycles, restore hope, and provide the strategic encouragement needed for our community to rise above their struggles and thrive.