Suzanne Wimberly
Suzanne Wimberly, director of the Harbor Safe House and Advocacy Center, a program of the Family Resource Agency, has been nominated for the prestigious L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth program, which honors female nonprofit leaders making an extraordinary impact in their communities. A lifelong advocate and relentless force for marginalized voices, Ms. Wimberly’s nomination is a well-deserved recognition of her decades-long commitment to justice, equity, and transformative community work.
Ms. Wimberly currently leads Harbor Safe House and Advocacy Center, a 30-year-old nonprofit dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Bradley and Polk counties. Under her leadership since 2022, the organization has secured over $1.2 million in funding and acquired a 4,200-square-foot safe house to expand its reach and services. Her visionary approach has turned the organization into a leader in survivor support and legal advocacy. Most recently, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of the region’s first Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a collaborative effort that brings together law enforcement, hospitals, and legal professionals to better support survivors.
Amber Curry, a Family Resource Agency Board of Directors Member who made the nomination said, "Suzanne is an absolute treasure as the program director for the Harbor Safe House and Advocacy Center. Her passionate work with our area's domestic and sexual violence victims makes her a wonderful candidate for the L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth program for female nonprofit leaders. We already know she is a woman of worth, but receiving this recognition and the grant money for Harbor Safe House would give Suzanne and our program a national platform. This is a tremendous and exciting opportunity. Who knows what avenues something like this could open, not only for those we serve in Bradley and Polk counties, but also for addressing the issues of domestic and sexual violence on a larger scale?"
Throughout her career, Ms. Wimberly has demonstrated an unwavering passion and commitment to underserved populations. Prior to her current role, she held leadership positions at Legal Aid and child advocacy programs in Tennessee and Georgia. Her political advocacy experience includes organizing environmental justice campaigns in Tennessee and Massachusetts and managing Congressional campaigns focused on social reform.
Ms. Wimberly’s tireless efforts have earned national recognition, including the USA Today’s Making a Difference Award and a grant from the Paul Newman Foundation for the Light of Hope Moonlight Walk in Memory of Melisha Gibson to promote healing and remembrance of all victims and survivors. In addition to her nonprofit work, she is a writer, a documentary filmmaker, a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Civil and Family Mediator, and a policy committee member with the Tennessee State Domestic Violence Coalition.
If selected as a L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, Ms. Wimberly will receive national recognition and a grant award to further the mission of Harbor Safe House. The nomination not only honors her leadership but also highlights the importance of supporting programs that speak up for those who feel silenced.
Based in Cleveland, Harbor Safe House provides emergency shelter, advocacy, and comprehensive support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout Bradley and Polk counties. The organization partners closely with law enforcement, healthcare providers, and the legal system to ensure coordinated responses that promote justice, healing, and long-term safety for those they serve.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse, please don’t wait to get help. Call our confidential crisis hotline at 423-476-3886. Support is available 24/7. You are not alone.