Meet Lisa Council

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Council. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.

Lisa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose through pain and tragedy. I am a survivor of 33+ years of verbal, emotional, sexual, physical and financial abuse. Abuse started for me as early as the age of 9 years old. During the age of 13 years old I was raped, and sexually assaulted, which lead me to endure a cycle of unhealthy and abusive relationships. At the age of 24, I lost my only sister to domestic violence. My sister, Lynda who was 5 years older than I was brutally murdered by her husband. She was the mother of two beautiful daughters who were the ages of 8 and 3 at the time of her death. Lynda was shot in the head 4 times at close range, stabbed 30+ times in the upper torso and her skull was crushed with a metal object. A part of me died along with my sister and my journey was quite painful and difficult. Ever since I was a young child, I always wanted to make a difference in other’s lives. Although at the time I didn’t quite understand what it meant, I later learned that through my own experiences and the tragedies of losing my sister, as well as my brothers, I went from feeling alone to wanting to inspire and encourage others to assure them that they were not alone. I am humbled and honored to share that I now dedicate my life as a Domestic Violence Advocate, to ensure that both victims and survivors receive the help they need in order to heal and to thrive. I am the host of a monthly podcast, which interviews former victims turned thrives, as well as offer education, tools, resources and support to victims of domestic violence. This also includes having therapists and mental behavioral specialists that offer counseling and coping skills.

I am also a three time best selling author, a National and keynote speaker and I was honored awarded with the 2025 United States Presidential Volunteer Award. My story won the 2017 Black Film Festival Award. I am the founder and CEO of Self Healing Ignites Flourishing Transformation (S.H.I.F.T.) Inc. and I Am Lynda’s Voice. It is an honor and a blessing to live my life being the voice for the voiceless and those who are suffering from the stigma of domestic violence and trauma.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the founder and CEO of Self Healing Ignites Flourishing Transformation (S.H.I.F.T.), Inc. which is in honor of my only sister who lost her life to domestic violence. SHIFT offers support, counseling services, education, housing assistance, community outreach, events, and attend court appearances for victims of domestic violence. I am also the host of a monthly podcast SHIFT, which airs internationally, on social media outlets and iHeart Radio. SHIFT offers inspiration, encouragement and education to both victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The areas that have been most impactful in my journey is:

My heart and compassion to inspire others.

My resilience and courage and to never give up.

My will, desire and zeal to want to keep learning, improving and growing.

My advice to anyone who are early in their journey is never give up, even in the rough times, keep going! Surround yourself with others who have been through what you’re going through. Never compare your journey to someone else’s. Your journey may not be easy, but you are worth it! More importantly the key principle to healing is to own your truth!!!

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The Bible has played a most important role in my development. As a survivor of domestic violence, I like countless others saw myself as my abusers saw me and what they told me. I once saw myself as unworthy of anything, unless, dumb, unattractive, incapable a failure, and not good at anything. The Bible taught and assured me that I was worthy, beautiful, unique, intelligent and I perfectly made in Gods image. My favorite scripture Psalm 46:5 “God is within her; she shall not fail.

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